Tim Acker describes the Cultural Enterprise project, which is part of the Enterprise Development program.

1. Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Art Economies Project

2. Who we are…
Dr Lisa Stefanoff – Post Doctoral Research Fellow
University of South Australia
Jessica Booth – Masters Student
University of South Australia
Dr Alice Woodhead – Project Economist
Southern Cross University
Tim Acker – Principal Research Leader
Curtin University

3. Art Economy Research Questions…
What is the scope and scale of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander ‘art economy’?
How can fragility be reduced?
What new market opportunities are there for artists and/or their
enterprises?
How can current art business models be improved?
What training/advocacy/recommendations can be made through
research to contribute to a more robust sector?
Opportunities for research students, community researchers and
others to gain skills and experience.

4. Artists Agents Audiences

5. Community
Education
Wellbeing Artists Agents Audiences
Location
Age/Gender
Education

6. Location
Circumstance
Economy
Community
Education
Wellbeing Artists Agents Audiences
Location
Age/Gender
Education

7. Location
Circumstance
Economy
Community
Education
Dealers
Wellbeing Artists Galleries
Agents Audiences
Art Centres
Location
Age/Gender
Education

8. Location
Number/Supply
Circumstance
Economy
Business Models
Community
History
Education
Dealers
Wellbeing Artists Galleries
Agents Audiences
Art Centres
Location
Facilities
Location
Age/Gender Funding
Education
Federal HR
Medium State
Private

9. Location
Number/Supply
Circumstance
Economy
Business Models
Community
History
Education
Dealers Buyers
Wellbeing Artists Galleries
Agents Collectors
Audiences
Art Centres Audiences
Location
Facilities
Location
Age/Gender Funding
Education
Federal HR
Medium State
Private

10. Location
Number/Supply Public
Circumstance Galleries +
Economy Museums
Business Models
Community National
History
Education
International
Dealers Buyers
Wellbeing Artists Galleries
Agents Collectors
Audiences
Art Centres Audiences Prizes
Location
Facilities
Location
Age/Gender Festivals
Funding
Education
Journalists/
Federal HR Writers
Medium State
Private

11. Location
Number/Supply Public
Circumstance Galleries +
Economy Museums
Business Models
Community National
History
Education
International
Dealers Buyers
Wellbeing Artists Galleries
Agents Collectors
Audiences
Art Centres Audiences Prizes
Location
Facilities
Location
Age/Gender Festivals
Funding
Education
Journalists/
Federal HR Writers
Medium State
Private

12. How we’re doing our research…

13. How we’re doing our research…
Art outside of art centres: artists and the free market in Alice Springs.
Interviews with artists and agents, in and around Alice Springs, to
understand the scale of this sector and the business models at work in
it. Potentially create resources for artists who work in this zone to
improve their professional practice/options.

14. How we’re doing our research…
Art outside of art centres: artists and the free market in Alice Springs.
Interviews with artists and agents, in and around Alice Springs, to
understand the scale of this sector and the business models at work in
it. Potentially create resources for artists who work in this zone to
improve their professional practice/options.
How many, how much? How big is the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander art sector?
Collecting financial data from as many participants as possible.
Modelling and mapping the data within and between the three zones,
building a picture of art sector dynamics. Aim to create baseline for
policy, service delivery and education/training.

15. How we’re doing our research…
Art outside of art centres: artists and the free market in Alice Springs.
Interviews with artists and agents, in and around Alice Springs, to
understand the scale of this sector and the business models at work in
it. Potentially create resources for artists who work in this zone to
improve their professional practice/options.
How many, how much? How big is the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander art sector?
Collecting financial data from as many participants as possible.
Modelling and mapping the data within and between the three zones,
building a picture of art sector dynamics. Aim to create baseline for
policy, service delivery and education/training.
Consumer dynamics: what are people buying and why?
Audience surveys and interviews at key sites and with a range of
galleries, collectors etc. What motivates audiences can help with
marketing and education.

16. How we’re doing our research…

17. How we’re doing our research…
E-commerce + merchandise: new ways for artists to access markets.
Interviews + surveys with galleries/manufacturers/retailers to
understand the business models at work in this sector – and how
artists might better access these opportunities.

18. How we’re doing our research…
E-commerce + merchandise: new ways for artists to access markets.
Interviews + surveys with galleries/manufacturers/retailers to
understand the business models at work in this sector – and how
artists might better access these opportunities.
Human resources: management qualities in art centres.
Interviews + surveys with current + past art centre staff, unpacking
they nature of this work – and how to better support future staff.

19. How we’re doing our research…
E-commerce + merchandise: new ways for artists to access markets.
Interviews + surveys with galleries/manufacturers/retailers to
understand the business models at work in this sector – and how
artists might better access these opportunities.
Human resources: management qualities in art centres.
Interviews + surveys with current + past art centre staff, unpacking
they nature of this work – and how to better support future staff.
Why choose art ? Professional choices in remote settings.
Interview-based case study of artists + their professional motivations.

20. How we’re doing our research…
E-commerce + merchandise: new ways for artists to access markets.
Interviews + surveys with galleries/manufacturers/retailers to
understand the business models at work in this sector – and how
artists might better access these opportunities.
Human resources: management qualities in art centres.
Interviews + surveys with current + past art centre staff, unpacking
they nature of this work – and how to better support future staff.
Why choose art ? Professional choices in remote settings.
Interview-based case study of artists + their professional motivations.
Art centres as micro-enterprise: remote area entrepreneurship,
successes, failures and opportunities.
Comparative case study of art centres in three regions, looking at
success/failure factors, threats and opportunities and what changes
could be made to address these.

21. Who we work with…

22. Who we work with…
Project Community: 15 Institutions
105+ Art centres 5 Government agencies
35+ Galleries and dealers
6 Peak bodies

23. Who we work with…
Project Community: 15 Institutions
105+ Art centres 5 Government agencies
35+ Galleries and dealers
6 Peak bodies
Project Partnerships:
Desart
Office for the Arts
AIATSIS
Keringke Arts

24. Achievements…
Consultations and planning with artists, art centres, galleries,
dealers, curators and more.
150+ engagements with clients and end-users.
Meeting with art centres in Cairns, Darwin, Alice Springs, Perth
and out bush.
Project planning and approvals complete.
Project documentation in place and Steering Committee
established.
Recruitment nearing completion.
Field work and data collection about to commence.

25. Project Details…
Contact:
Principal Research Leader
Tim Acker – Curtin University
E: tim.acker@curtin.edu.au
P: 0410 038 226

26. Partners of Ninti One