Selling Yarns

Australian Indigenous textiles and good business in the 21st century

 

Papers

Cross cultural project

Session: Collaborations 3:35 - 4:55 pm, Sunday, 13 August 2006

Marita Emily Baker

Gallery Assistant, Kaltjiti Arts

Abstract

Kaltjiti Arts is involved in a unique strategic partnership with Better World Trading and traditional Kashmiri Artisans. Crossing cultural barriers, images of art work produced in Fregon, South Australia are sent to Kashmir, India to be transformed into traditional textiles. The resulting pieces are sold across Australia at selected museums and private galleries. The unique business model ensures artists maintain full ownership over the intellectual property of their images. The artists are paid regular royalties, but as well, they are the owners of a healthy cash flow generated by the project. The focus is on fine art content, rather than on the expected and even demanded predictable images often offered on manufactured product. This has elevated the project from a creator of memorabilia to that of affordable art.

As a result the quality and profile of both art as a career opportunity of the art itself has been elevated. Original art works are now in demand from the centre, as an adjunct to the rugs, but also in their own right. Over 40 artists are now involved, and recently another art centre from the Anangu Pitjantjatjra/Yankunytjatjara Lands, Tjala Arts, had joined as well. The broadening of the base for the project will help ensure it's continued success.

Artists at the centre were predominantly senior women. Young women and men are now showing an interest in exposing and developing their artistic talent. Success is breeding success, and opportunities for the transfer of inter-generational knowledge are strengthened.

After some initial resistance there is acceptance as the win win project that it is. The concept is poised to expand the benefits to more people in Australia and overseas. Carolyn describes the relationship as, "providing a real exchange, economic, intellectual cultural and traditional, between diverse cultures, promoting understanding and positive links to each other. Relationships that are good for global health."

See also: Marita Emily Baker's biography