The Heritage Center at Red Cloud Indian School hosts seminar for Native artists

PINE RIDGE, South Dakota—The Heritage Center at Red Cloud Indian School will host “Promote and Protect Your Authentic Indian Art and Craftwork,” a free seminar presented by the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, on Friday, November 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Eben Hall on the Red Cloud campus in Pine Ridge, South Dakota.

The workshop will cover a range of topics important to Native artists, including trademarking, copyrighting, patenting, Internet marketing and other business-related topics.

“It is important that artists both on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and around our region understand their rights and opportunities,” says Peter Strong, director of The Heritage Center. “This seminar will offer a platform for new marketing and promotional ideas, and will provide a forum for participants to network and share their experiences and art with other Native artists.”

According to the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, the misrepresentation of art and craftwork as genuine Indian products continues to have devastating effects on tribal economies nationwide. The Indian Arts and Crafts Act makes it illegal and fraudulent to market art and craftwork as Indian made when it is not made by a Native as defined by the act.

Strong says the workshop at Red Cloud Indian School is The Heritage Center and IACB’s effort to make the workshop more accessible to artists on the reservation. In addition to the seminar at Red Cloud, the IACB will offer a session on Saturday, November 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at The Journey Museum in Rapid City.

For more information, contact the IACB at 888/ART-FAKE or iacb@ios.doi.gov.