By Travis Johnson
Campaigning Arts Organisation Big hART, the Namatjira Family, the Namatjira Legacy Trust and law firm Arnold Bloch Leibler have announced that the copyright to Indigenous artist Albert Namatjira’s works has finally been returned to the Namatjira family, following a protracted eight year legal battle.
“After a long battle we are happy to get the copyright back. For our future, for our children’s future and
for our grandkids, and all our families” said Gloria Pannka, Albert Namatjira’s granddaughter. “A very big thank you on behalf of the Namatjira families to Big hART. Without your help and the help of the lawyers we wouldn’t have got it back.”
As detailed in the documentary Namatjira Project, the Australian government took ownership of Namatjira’s works upon his death in 1959, due to his family not tat that time being recognised as citizens of Australia. The copyright was sold to an art dealer in 1983, greatly complicating the Namatjira family’s efforts to reclaim their legacy.
Key to the final resolution was the intervention of Australian entrepreneur and philanthropist Dick Smith, who acted as a go-between for the claimants and copyright holder Philip Brackenreg. Sophia Marinos, Chair of the Namatjira Legacy Trust and Producer of Big hART’s Namatjira Project, said, “We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank Dick Smith for his significant contribution in facilitating this historic resolution. We would also like to acknowledge the key role Arnold Bloch Leibler has played pro bono, in getting this campaign to where it is today. This is a great moment for the country, and will go a long way to ensure the legacy of Albert Namatjira will thrive into the future.”
Mark Leibler, Senior Partner at Arnold Bloch Leibler, described the event as “an important, tangible demonstration of Indigenous recognition that will ensure the legacy of Albert Namatjira enriches future generations of Australians.”
