Things you should know about reselling of art

When you purchase an original artwork, you might keep it for a lifetime, pass it down through your family, donate it to a collection or, one day, decide to sell it.

If you do decide to resell an artwork purchased through Aboriginal Art Co, there are a few things worth knowing - particularly about provenance and Australia’s Artist Resale Royalty Scheme.

Can Aboriginal Art Co resell my artwork?

We receive many enquiries from art collectors wanting to sell artworks they have previously purchased. Aboriginal Art Co does not sell artworks on behalf of third-party collectors and does not participate in the secondary art market. So unfortunately, we won't be able to assist you. 

Our model is focused on working directly with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and Art Centres. This way Aboriginal Art Co can ensure artworks are authentic and sourced ethically, directly from the artist or Art Centre. Artists are generally receive 60–70% of the sale price, with our 30-40% commission contributing to the costs of exhibiting, promoting and selling the work and operating Aboriginal Art Co as a not-for-profit arts organisation supporting a community of artists and artsworkers.

Working this way is important to us. Our purpose is to create opportunities and income for living First Nations artists and the Art Centres and communities that support their practices.

If you decide to resell an artwork you purchased from Aboriginal Art Co, you will need to do so privately or through an appropriate auction house, gallery or art dealer that operates in the secondary market. 

Planning ahead

When you purchase an original artwork, its documentation is important. At Aboriginal Art Co, artworks from an art centre valued over $250 has a Certificate of Authenticity.

Keep the certificate, invoice and any information supplied with the artwork together, even if the work hangs on your wall for decades. These records help establish provenance, the history and origin of the artwork, and can be important if the work is later sold, donated, valued or passed on.

For commercial resales of $1,000 or more, the resale must be reported under the Resale Royalty Scheme to the Copyright Agency so they can determine whether the artist or another right-holder is entitled to the 5% royalty.

What is the Artist Resale Royalty Scheme?

Australia’s Resale Royalty Scheme was introduced in 2010 to ensure visual artists can continue to benefit financially when eligible artworks are resold through the commercial art market.

For eligible commercial resales of $1,000 or more (including GST), a royalty of 5% of the sale price is payable to the artist or, in some circumstances, their beneficiaries. The scheme is administered by Copyright Agency on behalf of the Australian Government.

For example, if an eligible artwork is commercially resold for $5,000, the gross resale royalty is $250. Not every resale attracts a royalty. Eligibility depends on factors including when the artwork was acquired, the artist’s eligibility and how the artwork is resold.  

Why does this matter for First Nations artists?

The Resale Royalty Scheme is particularly significant for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.

An artist may sell an artwork early in their career for a relatively modest amount, only for that same work to later sell on the secondary market for significantly more. The resale royalty helps ensure artists can share in the increasing economic value of their work as their careers and reputations grow. This is particularly important given the history of exploitation and “carpetbagging” in the Aboriginal art market, where artists have not always received a fair share of the financial value generated by their work.

First Nations artists are major beneficiaries of the scheme. Copyright Agency’s 2025 Annual Report states that, since the scheme began in 2010, more than 2,200 artists have received payments and 64% of those artists are First Nations. In the 2024–25 financial year, 55% of royalties paid went to First Nations artists.

This is one reason the scheme is so important to a strong and ethical First Nations art market: value created over time can continue to flow back to the artists whose work created that value.

Collecting art means becoming part of its story

Buying an artwork isn’t simply a transaction. As a collector or artwork owner, you become part of the ongoing history of that work.

Keeping its documentation together, maintaining its provenance and making sure the artist’s resale rights are respected if the work changes hands all contribute to a stronger and more transparent First Nations art market.

And if an artwork becomes considerably more valuable over time, we think it’s only right that the artist who created it gets to share in that success.

Further information

Australian Government — Resale Royalty Scheme: arts.gov.au/funding-and-support/resale-royalty-scheme

Copyright Agency — Resale Royalty Scheme: copyright.com.au

Note: This article provides general information only. Resale royalty eligibility can depend on the circumstances of a particular sale. Check current Copyright Agency or Australian Government guidance if you are planning to resell an artwork.