ATADA Renames Itself, Shifting Focus From Antiquity to Authenticity in Tribal Art

The organization formerly known as the Antique Tribal Art Dealers Association now operates as the Authentic Tribal Art Dealers Association, a rebranding that swaps a word about age for one about legitimacy. Under the current bylaws, authenticity sits at the core of how the group defines the material its dealer members represent. The distinction carries weight for dealers, collectors, museums, appraisers and Indigenous artists alike: "antique" speaks mainly to chronology, while "authentic" opens questions of identity, authorship, cultural context and representation. The bylaws define "Authentic Tribal Art" and place that standard at the center of the organization's self-definition, though the text also leaves certain matters unaddressed. Examining precisely what the bylaws state, and what they omit, is presented as a useful exercise for understanding the organization's direction.