An Indigenous Visual Art Action plan will be developed to support First Nations Australian artists and crack down on inauthentic Indigenous art.
The federal government's response to a parliamentary report on the impact of inauthentic Indigenous art on First Nations Australians is expected to be tabled on Wednesday.
The plan was announced on Tuesday by Communications Minister Paul Fletcher and Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt.
"The action plan and tabling of our response to the House of Representatives inquiry comes at a time when the long-term effects of COVID-19 are beginning to emerge, so it is timely to think about how we rebuild a vibrant and sustainable Indigenous visual arts sector," Mr Wyatt said.
Minister Fletcher acknowledged that Indigenous art is important to the cultural landscape of Australia and provides economic opportunities to Indigenous communities, and that it had been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Until the start of COVID-19, art sales had been growing for almost a decade, but the pandemic has dramatically impacted the industry ... which only strengthens the need for a plan," he said.
The ministers have launched a consultation paper that will be used to support the co-design process between the government, Aboriginal artists and other stakeholders.
"As part of this consultation we want to hear from stakeholders across the Indigenous visual arts sector - artists, art centre directors and managers, arts workers, art dealers, gallerists, art market professionals, purchasers, collectors, industry bodies or peak bodies," Mr Wyatt said.
"I invite all interested stakeholders to have their say to inform an action plan that will help the sector recover from COVID-19 and achieve maximum benefit for artists and their communities."
