White hands, black art: NT Arts Minister takes up ‘valid and numerous’ concerns with Tony Burke

NT Arts Minister has written to Tony Burke to push the ‘valid and numerous’ concerns Indigenous art industry leaders have about a SA-led probe into the APY Art Centre Collective.

Federal Arts Minister Tony Burke with APYACC board member Sally Scales in June. Photo: Supplied

Northern Territory Arts Minister Chansey Paech has written to his federal counterpart, Tony Burke, to push the “valid and numerous” concerns Indigenous art industry leaders have about a South Australian-led investi­gation into the APY Art Centre Collective.

The peak Indigenous arts bodies said it was essential the SA investigation “fully understands the seriousness of alle­gations … levelled against the management of the APYACC.”

In a long-running investigation by The Australian, numerous artists, former studio staff and others have made serious allegations about Indigenous art being interfered with by white staff in APYACC studios.

There have also been allegations of bullying, fraudulent documents and money being used as a form of coercive control.

All the allegations have been refuted by the APYACC board and management.

Darwin recently hosted a clutch of annual events including national Indigenous fashion, arts and music awards as well as the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, which saw Aboriginal artists and arts figures and thousands of art lovers and tourists fly in from across the country to celebrate Indigenous culture.

“During these events … I had formal and informal conversations with the peak arts bodies that protect and promote the interests of Aboriginal artists across the Northern Territory, SA, Western Australia and Queensland,” Mr Paech said in the letter, which was obtained by The Australian and sent to Mr Burke and to other federal ­politicians.

“They have relayed their concerns about the proposed SA government inquiry into allegations of ‘interference’ by management and staff of the APY Art Centre Collective,” he wrote.

“Their concerns are valid and numerous.”

Their key concerns, he wrote, were:

• That the SA investigation panel be expanded to include people who understand the “intrinsic history, connection and depth of knowledge stored within Tjukurpa and ancestral painting rights” so that the “inquiry can fully understand the seriousness of the allegations that have been levelled against the management of the APYACC”.

• That the management of the APYACC should stand down for the inquiry.

• That the terms of reference be made public and mechanisms be put in place to allow ‘interested parties’ to contact the panel.

• That clear guidelines be set out on how the inquiry will seek submissions, organise and transcribe interviews, and that assurances be given that “those who may ultimately be accused of wrongdoing” not have access to that information.

• That a guarantee is given to artists that they will be protected from threats of recrimination.

Mr Paech and his SA counterpart, Andrea Michaels, have both previously called upon the management of the APYACC to stand down, as have the leaders of peak bodies representing the vast majority of the Indigenous arts centres in Australia, so that the investigation into the organisation can be held without any impediment.

APYACC manager Skye O’Meara has refused to stand down, and the centre’s board has declined to force her to do so.