New association formed to represent dealers, auction houses and consultants.

By Supplied, on 06-May-2011

An alliance between leading auction houses, antique and art dealer associations and art consultants has lead to the formation of the Australian Antique and Art Market Federation (AAAMF). The inaugural Chairman of the AAAMF, Jolyon Warwick James of the Australian Antique & Art Dealers Association, said the purpose of the organisation was to " join together in sending in a single combined response to the press, art bodies, and Government as and when the commercial sector’s interests are under challenge."

"The antique and art trade has previously been unable to make a cohesive response to challenges due to fragmentation. The need for a combined voice has now been met. The AAAMF brings together the most powerful trade organisations to speak together on points of common interest."

Members have agreed to share information and combine forces and resources to research, monitor and publicise issues of common concern.

Each member organisation is represented by a single committee member.

Initial signatories to the heads of agreement signed by member organisations are the Australian Antique and Art Dealers Association (AAADA), the Art Consulting Association of Australia (ACAA), the Australian Commercial Galleries Association (ACGA), the Australian and New Zealand Association of Antiquarian Booksellers (ANZAAB), the Australian Indigenous Art Trade Association, and the auction houses Bonhams, Christies and Menzies Art Brands.

Whilst this covers all of the major antique and art associations in Australia, at this stage there are only three auction house members. It is understood that in order to keep the committee at a manageable level, only the major auction houses  will be eligible for membership.

The AAAMF has been modelled on theThe British Art Market Federation (BAMF), which has a very similar membership structure, comprising the leading antiques and art associations and the three leading UK auction houses: Sotheby's Christie's and Bonhams.

Current hot local issues on the AAAMF's agenda include the Artists Resale Royalties and The Cooper Review.

Representing three distinct groups within the art and antiques industry - auction houses, dealers and consultants - the aspirations of each group have not and will not be always 100% aligned on all issues.

However on most issues it will allow a united voice to be put for the trade, and evidence that this is long overdue can be seen from the fractured trade response to  the 2008 Senate inquiry into the Resale Royalty Scheme and in 2010, the conundrum created for the trade by the Cooper Review into the Superannuation Industry.