An Association of Antique American Indian and Tribal Art Dealers Dedicated to Authenticity and Integrity
While attending a show in 1988, a small group of independent tribal art dealers got together for dinner. The dinner conversation turned to their mutual concern for the apparent and damaging lack of ethical standards for the business at large. From that discussion and those that followed, was born the concept of a professional association of dealers that would provide education for the public and set standards for the trade. An organization of honest and informed sellers that would afford buyers a new and much needed sense of security.
That organization became ATADA, the Antique Tribal Art Dealers Association. As members, we offer buyers a guarantee that objects we sell are as represented regarding age, authenticity and extent of restoration (if any). Furthermore, this guarantee allows buyers a full refund if the object proves to be other than represented. We also ensure that objects have been properly acquired and fall within the restrictions of laws concerning cultural sensitivity.
Since that time, we grew to sponsor our own vetted shows and, in a continuing effort to educate the public, offer seminars drawing on the expertise of recognized authorities, many of whom comprise our membership.
In the early 1990s the majority of our attention was turned to dealing with new legislation pertaining to cultural patrimony. These are issues that affect all of us and our future in this profession. In that direction, our elected ATADA officers continue to work alongside government legal agencies in an ongoing effort to clarify these new standards. We are also working to address issues that affect everyone's property rights, to clarify the interpretation of what is problem/questionable material, and to help bring reason to the interpretation and enforcement of NAGPRA issues.
In the late 1990s, ATADA began to take new directions which provide needed services for the collecting community and for the membership . We established www.atada.org and started publicizing thefts of American Indian and Tribal Art. The ATADA theft alerts led to several major recoveries of stolen art and have a significant deterrent effect. We provided group insurance for members' collections at attractive rates. Most current members find that this is a very important reason for membership in ATADA. Our web site grew to include a Legislative Alert page, serving the dual functions of educating our readers in the US laws that govern transactions in tribal materials and of bringing to the members' attention proposed legislation that may change the way that we conduct business and possibly threaten to close down part of the areas in which we collect. The ATADA publications (The ATADA News and The ATADA Membership Directory) have been given a bright new look and add value to membership in ATADA. Recently, ATADA has worked in association with promoters to help vet their shows, recruiting a group of qualified volunteer experts. ATADA vetters assisted at the Santa Fe Historic Indian and World Tribal Arts show in 2006 with remarkable success, and a new group will vet The Marin Show: Art of the Americas show in San Rafael, California in 2007. We hope that vetted shows will soon become the standard in our industry. Finally, we have established the Lifetime Achievement Awards to honor individuals who have made significant and long term contributions to studying and collecting American Indian and Tribal art. The first group of awards will be presented at the ATADA banquet in San Rafael on February 24, 2006. The ATADA bylaws are in the process of being rewritten to reflect the changes in direction that have occurred in recent years. ATADA has become an association that is synonymous with integrity in the industry and provides numerous valuable services for the collecting community and its members.
It is true that we are addressing these issues with all the seriousness they deserve. It does not, however, overshadow our highest-priority goals, which are: 1) to encourage the public to educate themselves in the cultures these objects represent and the roles they played within the cultures; and 2) to provide a set of standards for the trade and present ourselves to the public as a trustworthy association of art dealers adhering to the tenets outlined in our bylaws. These can only promote better understanding.
We would be happy to send you a complimentary newsletter to introduce ourselves to you. Our work is far from finished. If you wish to help achieve our goals, we invite you to join us. We encourage you to apply for membership.
Please direct inquiries and report errors, omissions, and corrections to Alice Kaufman at Alice@ATADA.org, phone 415-863-3173.
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Last modified on 15-Jun-08 by the ATADA Webmaster.
