Fake Indigenous art should not be tolerated in Tropical North Queensland. It harms the livelihoods of First Nations people and can infringe copyright and moral rights. The tourism industry is encouraged to make sure any art they retail is authentic. Any piece of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art from an art centre worth more than $250 will come with an authentication certificate.
There are a number of guides to assist including the Indigenous Art Code which discusses how to buy ethically. QTIC also has a Best Practice Guide for working with First Nations Tourism in Queensland which explains Indigenous cultural and intellectual property.
[Say no to fake art – TTNQ Fortnightly Pulse – 8 March 2023]