Arts Law Centre of Australia
Arts Law is Australia's only national community legal centre for artists and arts organisations.
Since 2004, its Artists in the Black service has delivered targeted legal services to First Nations artists and arts organisations. By supporting our Indigenous arts community to understand the legal and business issues around their work, the service empowers them to generate better income streams, develop stronger business practices and take action against exploitation. An essential part of this work is providing services ‘on country’ to foster relationships of trust.
2019 Pitch
Funds raised: $23,000
Artists in the Black is a program ran by the Arts Law Centre of Australia, providing targeted services to First Nations artists and art organisations nationally. Robyn was pitching for funding at TFN Live Sydney to take this program to art centres in Arnhem land and the Kimberleys.
The impact…
The Arts Law Centre of Australia provide legal protection for our First Nation artists, who are often exploited for their artwork with little to no recognition, financial or otherwise. By working with these artists and protecting their artworks they are not just securing their income from the work, but they also protect the culture. Many of Australia’s First Nations artists live in remote and regional Australia, limiting their access to relationships and support from law firms. To bridge this gap, Arts Law’s Artists in the Black program pitched for funding to perform outreach and come to them.
With the money raised at TFN Sydney, the Artists in the Black program were supported to make 6 trips to regional Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia. They were able to provide wills to 101 Aboriginal artists, as well as facilitating professional development sessions for 108 Aboriginal artists and arts workers. Another outcome of these trips was the establishment of ongoing partnerships between 4 regional art centres and 4 law firms/practices.
“While at Mangkaja Arts in Fitzroy Crossing in May 2019, Arts Law drafted a will for an elderly senior artist, who is now living in assisted care but still maintains his art practice. His English language skills are poor and he was assisted by his niece in providing instructions and reviewing the will before signing. It was an excellent opportunity to record his testamentary wishes to ensure his estate would be distributed in accordance with those wishes. Whilst at one of the art centres in Arnhem Land, a licensing proposal came in from a broadcaster of a large international sporting event about using one of the artist’s designs on the sports presenters’ clothing throughout the event. It was a great marketing opportunity for the artist and the art centre as well as financially rewarding. Whilst there we were able to assist the art centre draft a licensing agreement as well as negotiate licensing fee for the artist which was double what was initially proposed.” - Robyn Ayres, CEO
Read their Impact Report
Learn more about Arts Law Centre of Australia.
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