An Aboriginal arts centre has been cleared of breaching consumer laws, over allegations non-indigenous arts workers meddled with indigenous art
The allegations against the APY Art Centre Collective were first published in The Australian newspaper in 2023, sending shockwaves through the Aboriginal art industry.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has investigated the collective and found no breaches of consumer law, Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said in a statement issued Friday.
The art centre collective has welcomed the findings, saying the accusations were unfair and incorrect.
"White Hands on Black Art is a false story and now we are vindicated," it said in a statement.
"The findings prove what we have always known, that there is no doubt that the integrity and honesty of our artists and their work is of the highest professional standard."
The collective works with artists from the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands that spread across the northern part of South Australia.
The first-nations owned organisation markets the artworks of more than 500 Anangu artists through galleries in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.
But the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations has directed the collective to clean up its books, the agency revealed Friday.
It will investigate one allegation raised in a separate probe into the accusations of interference.
Other allegations made against the collective lacked evidence, or fell outside the agency's purview, it said.
"It is important that procedural fairness is afforded and any investigation or possible regulatory action is not compromised," the office said in a statement.
The corporate watchdog said media coverage of the allegations had prompted important discussions on the cultural and social issues around Aboriginal art and the management of community art studios.
"These broader cultural issues fall outside the provisions of the Australian Consumer Law and the ACCC's enforcement powers," the deputy chair said.
Proposed federal legislation to protect Indigenous cultural and intellectual property may be a more suitable way to address these issues in future, she said.
An investigation by the National Gallery of Australia, which was forced to put its Ngura Pulka – Epic Country exhibition on hold after the initial allegations aired, determined the APY artists had exercised effective control over the creation of their paintings.
