Promoting and protecting the legal and cultural rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
The Colin Biggers & Paisley Foundation collaborates with numerous organisations to promote and protect the legal and cultural rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples throughout Australia.
At its inception, the Colin Biggers & Paisley Foundation established a major partnership with the Arts Law Centre of Australia to collaborate in the area of Australian artists and arts organisations across all art forms.
The partnership has a specific focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, in line with a common commitment to promoting and protecting their cultural rights and helping them access quality legal services.
The Arts Law Centre is Australia’s independent national community legal centre for the arts. Arts Law provides free or low cost specialised legal advice, education and resources to Australian artists and arts organisations across all art forms, on a wide range of arts related legal and business matters.
The Arts Law Centre’s ‘Artists in the Black’ program delivers targeted services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists nationally. Artists in the Black works with Aboriginal women and their children to provide access to legal advice, information and education about their rights so that they may gain financially from their artworks. Artists in the Black stands up for appropriate recognition, protection and respect for Indigenous cultural and intellectual property, and helps Indigenous artists and creative organisations develop sustainable arts and cultural practices. Underpinning this initiative is a focus on economic empowerment.
Through a range of major fundraisers, including the Artists in the Black Challenge, the Colin Biggers & Paisley Foundation has raised in excess of $100,000 for the Arts Law Centre of Australia.