Illustrators Australia

Once there was an illustrator called Sam.* Sam was commissioned by a big, bad agency to do a “really small” illustration that was only going to appear for a very short time on a “piddly, little brochure”. Sam, being eager to land the job, offered to do it for a really competitive rate, fully trusting that the agency was going to use it only for the purpose stated during the brief. Imagine Sam’s surprise when she entered a gift store one day and found her work on a tea towel, a coffee cup and a calendar – profit-making merchandise for which she hadn’t received a single extra cent!
Sam wasn’t sure what to do and felt powerless against the might of the agency. So she closed her eyes, crossed her fingers and said three times, “I wish I had some friends who could help. I wish I had some friends who could help. I wish I had some friends who could help...” and ka-boom! Illustrators Australia was born.
*(not her real name)
Not quite. The story of Illustrators Australia involved a lot more work from its founding members, but was born from the need to develop a collective that could work together to protect the rights of individual illustrators against exploitation by employers.
Originally conceived by Faye Plamka who put the call out to fellow illustrators in 1989, Illustrators Australia developed from discussions about mutual problems faced by illustrators. After much hard work figuring out the legalities of forming an association and establishing a code of conduct, IA was enthusiastically launched to the illustration community.
Since that time, IA has grown and developed in many ways. But one way we haven’t changed is that we have always been run by illustrators, for the benefit of illustrators. If you are interested in becoming part of the Illustrators Australia community why not join now?
Please contact our administrative officer Bernard Wale on 1300 720 181 (within Australia) or visit www.illustratorsaustralia.com
Everyone in Melbourne is welcome to come along to Illustrators Australia's inaugural Festival of Illustration!
Visit www.illustratorsaustralia.com for more details.