Plans for Melbourne Zoo’s 150th birthday celebration are under review following complaints from artists and their representatives with regard to a copyright clause, The Age reports today.
The Zoo has called for local artists to submit decorative designs for fibreglass elephant sculptures to be displayed at the Zoo are on the streets of Melbourne. The elephants will subsequently be auctioned to raise money for the Zoo’s threatened species program.
However, a clause in the application requires artists to renounce their ”entire right, title and interest” in the works; with copyright being assigned to Melbourne Zoo and the program’s British organiser, Wild in Art.
The Age reports that a backlash by local artists has led to a review of the copyright and design guidelines in the application by Zoos Victoria.