Desert perspectives – Aboriginal arts workers in remote art centres
Desert perspectives – Aboriginal arts workers in remote art centres Report
CRC-REP Research Report
- Author(s): Acker, T, Congreve, S
- Published: 2016
- Publisher: Ninti One Limited
- Volume: CR013
Abstract: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art centres are a significant feature of remote Australia. The 85 or so art centres (Woodhead and Acker 2014) support the creative and cultural expression of thousands of Aboriginal people and, between them, produce a majority of the artworks that enable a national and international market to operate. These art centres fulfil a range of roles for their communities, beyond providing commercial and artistic programs (Acker and Woodhead 2014, Australian Government 2012, Altman 2005). Located in isolated and marginalised communities that are characterised by a deficit of opportunities standard in the rest of Australia, art centres deliver a fluid and responsive mix of services, often unrelated to their core business of making and selling art, but intrinsic to their social and cultural licence to operate. Increasingly, one of these roles is to provide employment and training. The research results presented here focus on one of the most significant changes underway at art centres throughout Australia: their shift to becoming employers and the prominence of Aboriginal arts workers in the operations of many art centres. These changes are closely linked to changes in government policy and funding. This research report is linked to the wider work of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Economies project, which is investigating and reporting on key parts of the supply chain linking remote area artists, art businesses and consumers. The aim of the project is to contribute evidence to negotiating change and opportunity within the sector and to support initiatives that build economic participation for remote area artists through the application of research results. A further aim is to provide some evidence on the place and value of employment in remote Aboriginal communities, particularly given the often negative perceptions by mainstream Australia of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander attitudes to work (Beyond Blue 2014, Gibson 2010). The research project that informed this report complements earlier work undertaken by the Art Economies project examining the push, pull and shock factors facing non–Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff in their work in remote community art centres (Whittle 2013, Seet et al. 2015). While completed separately, together these studies provide some new perspectives on the reality of remote community employment. Among the findings of this work is the limited research into employment or human resources in remote community settings, particularly outside of the health sector; extant research is focused on attracting and retaining external staff (Haslam-McKenzie 2007, Mahood 2012). Summary of findings: • Arts worker employment is highly valued by employees: Personally, professionally and socially, all arts workers rated their employment highly. • A wide range of professional, personal, social and cultural benefits are generated for arts workers: Tangible and intangible benefits were created. Tangible benefits included financial independence, making better health choices and gaining skills and adding capacity to the art centre. Intangible benefits included increased confidence and self-esteem, cultural knowledge and family support. • Attitudes to work are characterised by high levels of confidence: Arts workers rated their work attitude and quality very highly and reported few difficulties or doubts. A number of arts workers stated their interest in growing their work responsibilities and moving into more senior roles. • Arts workers saw few alternative employment options: Arts workers saw their future employment closely tied to the art centre, with few looking beyond their current employment. • Relocation for work was not viable: There was almost unanimous response that employment needs to be local. • Career path: One third of arts workers were interested in developing a career from their work and becoming an art centre manager. • Significant numbers of arts workers continue to make art: Over 40% of arts workers report artmaking as their primary task, although employment program funding guidelines state arts workers cannot be employed for the purpose of creating artworks. • Tenure: While there is turnover of staff who are employed for less than 12 months, those arts workers who stayed for more than a year remained in the job. • Working hours: Nearly three-quarters of all arts workers were part-time employees. One-fifth of arts workers worked full time. • Ambition: Almost one-third of arts workers want to advance their careers and become art centre managers. Almost half of arts workers wanted to access further training and skills.
- Urls: http://www.nintione.com.au/resource/CR013_DesertPerspectivesAboriginalArtsWorkers.pdf Available from
- Publisher Location: Alice Springs