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An Aboriginal artist has accused the Adelaide 36ers basketball team of attempting to exploit her, saying she was asked to work on a jersey design in exchange for little more than free tickets.
Key points:
- The Adelaide 36ers club has since apologised, saying it was "extremely sorry for the hurt" it caused
- It is not the first time Elizabeth Close has been asked to work for free
- She says the incidents highlight the exploitation of artists
Elizabeth Close said she was contacted just over a week ago by the NBL club, which requested she design the team's jersey for an upcoming Indigenous round.
When she quoted her fee, she said the club offered her tickets and promotional opportunities on social media rather than payment.
"A club is wanting to put an Aboriginal design on a uniform as a signal to the community of their commitment to reconciliation … but they want to exploit an Aboriginal artist in the process of doing it," the Adelaide-based artist said.
"I don't believe the intent was racially motivated. However, having said that, it does show an alarming amount of short-sightedness.
"What's the motivation for wanting to have an Indigenous uniform in the first place? Will it be used as a PR stunt? That's unacceptable.
"If it's genuine and meaningful and you really want to signal your commitment to reconciliation, then you should be prepared to pay for it."
Ms Close elaborated on social media, accusing the club of "virtue signalling" and saying her work was "hard to place value on, but that value definitely isn't free tickets to a basketball game".
"You think it's entirely appropriate to demand professionalism, but not pay for those professional services," she said.
In an email to Ms Close obtained by the ABC, the artist was advised the team did not have a budget for the project because it had been allocated before the NBL announced it would hold the Indigenous round.
Instead, the staff member offered "profile-building opportunities" and "contra in the form of tickets to the Indigenous game".
The club has since issued a statement apologising to Ms Close.
"Elizabeth Close was one of the artists we approached to support us on this project and in hindsight we acknowledge it was not done so in the appropriate manner. In our learnings, we are extremely sorry for the hurt and offence we have caused," the club said.
"[We] will ensure moving forward with these types of projects we do so in a way that is respectful."
In the statement, the club said it was talking to a "number of interested Indigenous artists for the design of our Indigenous jersey" and had engaged Adelaide Crows star Eddie Betts to consult on the project.
"The club has not yet finalised who the Indigenous artist will be, but are happy to pay for the service or accept a volunteer service, depending on the wishes of the artist," the club said.
'I don't want other artists exploited'
Ms Close, who is a Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara woman, has been working as an artist in Australia and abroad for more than a decade.
It is not the first time she has been asked to work on a project free of charge, and said the practice of offering exposure in exchange for work was "not uncommon in the art world" but was nevertheless "distasteful".
In 2017, Qantas issued an apology after asking Ms Close to work on a NAIDOC Week project without committing to paying her.
"This practice of working with artists is completely unethical, particularly when you're doing it around something that you want to use as a banner to fly your commitment to reconciliation," she said.
She said the 36ers requested the design reflect the theme of "belonging", and said she had already created artwork for uniforms worn by the Adelaide Thunderbirds' players.
"They were amazing to work with despite having less revenue," she said.
She said when approached by the 36ers, she quoted "industry standards … based on other similar projects".
"It wasn't outlandish and [it was] in line with what I've done with the size and scope of similar projects," she said.
The NBL has also been contacted for comment.
Ms Close said she was concerned about the club's approach in the future.
"I don't want other artists to be exploited, particularly emerging artists, because you can't keep the lights on with exposure, it doesn't pay the bills," she said.
Topics: nbl, basketball, aboriginal, indigenous-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander, painting, community-and-society, arts-and-entertainment, adelaide-5000, sa, australia