Considerations

There are moral, ethical and environmental considerations to art making. These ideas can also inspire and enrich your practice. When you make and display art, you are participating in a larger cultural conversation. This is why art is important to our society and a reason why art often engages with difficult and challenging ideas. Once your art is out in the world, it can have impacts beyond your original intentions both positive and negative. Your art practice will benefit if you consider the ethics of how and why you are making your work, and do your best to understand its potential reverberations in the world.

Try to scrutinize the artwork you are creating from multiple perspectives. Are there aspects of your work that others may interpret as harmful, even if that wasn’t your intention?

• Could your work be culturally appropriative? For example by using imagery or techniques from a culture other than your own without fully appreciating their meaning, history and importance.
• If you are making collaborative art or work that engages community, could it be exploitative?
• Are there ways your practise could be more environmentally sustainable?
• Do you use AI or other methods that may touch on the ethics of copyright?
• Are the people portrayed your work, especially in photography, film and video, aware of how you plan to exhibit and use their image? Could they feel it is an invasion of their privacy or made without their consent?

Depending on what type of artwork you are making and the issues it touches on, other considerations may arise. Ask yourself why you are making your art the way you are making it. Read articles and seek out resources about the concepts, methods and techniques you plan to use. Have other artists been criticised for similar work? If so, think about how they could have conducted themselves in a more ethical way. Attend critiques or ask for studio visits to get honest feedback. If a concern is raised about your work, don’t be defensive. Take it as an opportunity to research, reflect and open yourself to change.