Facts and figures
Australia’s First Nations businesses make a very important contribution to economic value across Australia and in Queensland. According to the Reserve Bank of Australia, the First Nations Business sector is growing at about 4% fuelled by an increase in demand.
The National Indigenous Australians Agency’s Indigenous Business Sector Strategy 2018-28 is helping more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people build sustainable businesses that will support themselves, their families and their communities.
Australian Government - Productivity Commission
Fast facts highlighted in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visual arts and crafts – Study report – November 2022:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visual arts and crafts markets are strong, dynamic and growing.
- Total sales exceed $250 million annually – including at least $35 million in artwork sales and $80 million in sales of merchandise and consumer products.
- Average income for the 7300 artists who sold art through an art centre in 2019-2020 was just over $3200.
- For artists not working through art centres, average income was about $6000.
- Non-Indigenous authored products accounted for up to $54 million of spending, representing well over half of total spending on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander souvenirs in 2019-2020.
Creative Australia
Living Culture presents arts and culture data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS) about Indigenous Australians’ engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts, festivals, languages and broadcasting, and attendance at arts and cultural venues and events. The data can be explored through interactive dashboards or downloaded in detailed tables with breakdowns by a range of characteristics, including by state/territory and remoteness areas.
Living Culture contributes to the growing body of evidence about the critical role of culture as the foundation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander wellbeing.
For more information about Indigenous arts support and research, visit Creative Australia.
Business development resources
Below you'll find some resources and information that may help to build and grow your arts business.
Here are some resources to help you create a business plan and share responsibilities in your business.
Business planning
A business plan details the important aspects of your business and identifies where you are, where you want to be and how to get there. A basic business plan is a good place to start your business preparation. You can also use a business plan to help expand an existing business or when reviewing the performance of your business.
When should you review and update your business plan?
Your business plan is a living document and should change as your business changes. It is helpful to set reviews of your business plan at regular intervals (quarterly or annually).
These questions may help you review your business plan:
- Does the plan still match your business goals?
- Are there changes in the trends of your market or audience?
- Are there other factors impacting on your business? (e.g. technological or financial changes)
- Is the plan still relevant and useful in guiding your business?
Tips and tools
For more information on writing a business plan, visit our Resources page.
Indigenous Business Australia holds online workshops for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who want to increase their knowledge of business fundamentals and take the next step towards business ownership - find out more about the Business Essentials workshops.
Governance - your rules, values, culture, membership, leadership and decision-making
It is useful to think of governance as being about how people choose to collectively organise themselves to manage their own affairs, share power and responsibilities, decide what kind of society they want for their future, and implement those decisions.
To do that they need to have processes, structures, traditions and rules in place so they can:
- determine who is a member of their group
- decide who has power, and over what
- ensure that power is exercised properly
- make and enforce their decisions
- hold their decision-makers accountable
- negotiate with others about their rights and interests
- establish the most effective and legitimate arrangements for getting those things done.
(Source: The Australian Indigenous Governance Institute)
More information: The Australian Indigenous Governance Institute (AIGI) is an is an independent, Indigenous-led centre for governance knowledge and excellence.
AIGI provides the Indigenous Governance Toolkit - an online resource developed for Indigenous communities, individuals and organisations searching for information to build their governance. The toolkit covers all the basics and has examples of ideas that work from other groups, tools to help you get started and useful guidance to sustain your efforts.
Are you interested in connecting with other professionals across the arts and business sector?
Mentoring for Growth (M4G) - Business Queensland
Mentoring for Growth (M4G) offers eligible businesses free access to volunteer business experts who provide insights, options and suggestions relating to challenges and opportunities you are experiencing in your business.
To be eligible your business must have:
- an Australian business number (ABN)
- Queensland headquarters or significant Queensland operations
- a business plan in place
- commenced business operations
- a specific business opportunity or challenge to discuss.
Find out more and register your business for a M4G mentoring session
Ask a Mentor - Business Queensland
The Ask a Mentor article series provides information and tips from Business Queensland's M4G mentors on different topics, plus the opportunity to join the mentors in free panel webinars.
Explore the Ask a Mentor articles
Events and training finder - Australian Government
Are you interested in government-run or government-funded events and training for your business? These events can help you improve your business skills, learn about government grants or grow your network.
Black Coffee – Indigenous Business Network
Black Coffee is a monthly grassroots Indigenous business networking gathering held in regions around Australia.
Originating in Queensland but now Australia-wide, the goal of the Black Coffee movement is to provide a platform to connect micro and small business owners around the country. Indigenous business owners and professionals, along with their supporters, get together and yarn with the aim to build relationships and grow networks.
Find a Black Coffee event near you
Queensland Indigenous Business Network
The Queensland Indigenous Business Network is a commercial network connecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business owners to help build their business capacity and knowledge and to support each other.
Indigenous Business Gateway
Search and discover Indigenous business suppliers (registration required).
Creating culturally safe workplaces for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples - Business Queensland
Building cultural capability within your business is a continual process, encompassing cultural awareness, cultural competence and cultural safety. Business Queensland's resources can help you:
- build awareness and cultural safety in your workplace
- provide support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees
- ensure your business can be better positioned to respond to present and future workforce needs.
Do you need legal help with contracts, intellectual and cultural property or disputes?
Arts Law
Arts Law offers a range of services and information including contract templates.
Arts Law's Artists in the Black program provides tailored advice, resources and education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait artists and arts organisations. Get free legal advice and help with your questions, have documents reviewed or resolve your problems.
Queensland Small Business Commissioner
The Queensland Small Business Commissioner (QSBC) provides a range of services for small and family businesses under the Small Business Commissioner Act 2022 focused on enhancing the operating environment for small and family businesses in Queensland and reducing the time and costs associated with resolving disputes involving small businesses.
The QSBC can help with small business disputes including:
- retail tenancy disputes
- small business lease disputes.
Free online workshops and support services are available to help grow your creative business.
Indigenous Business Australia (IBA)
IBA offers tailored workshops to help customers to meet the challenges faced at each stage of the business life cycle.
Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
The ATO provides free webinars to help you strengthen your business and improve your financial knowledge.
Access the ATO's small business resources
Digital capabilities
Interested in learning more about developing the digital capabilities of your business? The Digital Solutions – Australian Small Business Advisory Services program works with small businesses to make the most of digital tools and offers broader advice specific to business needs such as:
- how digital tools can help your small business
- websites and selling online
- social media and digital marketing
- using small business software
- online security and data privacy.
Explore the Digital Solutions program
Business Launchpad - Business Queensland
Use this online tool to generate a tailored guide on licences, permits, codes of practice and regulations from across government to help you start and run your business.
Tip: when you search your Primary Business activity, type 'creative art services' in the field.
More information
Arts Queensland's Resources page has a range of useful links to business planning, budget and finance and marketing resources.
Business Queensland has a calendar of workshops, webinars and other events that provide advice and assistance to businesses - explore the business events calendar.
The Queensland Indigenous Business Network (QIBN) is a representative body for Indigenous small business across the state. The QIBN supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses to achieve business growth, employment growth and community success by connecting with a range of government and private sector procurement opportunities.
Image: CIAF 2025 Art Fair Kuku Bulkaway Arts, Artisans Showcase. Credit: CIAF 2025.
In-page image: CIAF 2025 Art Fair Opening Night Art Fair Showcase. Credit: CIAF 2025.