Around Town

In town for the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair? Here are a few more exciting events to add to the diary.

Words | Rose of Sharon Leake

Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA)

Image: NATSIAA. Banner image: Installation view of NATSIAA 2023, Images courtesy of MAGNT

The Telstra NATSIAAs are the longest running First Nations art award in Australia, awarding $190,000 across seven categories. Presented by MAGNT, the 41st year of the NATSIAAs attracted 238 entrants, of which 72 have been selected as finalists. 21 of these are emerging artists. The 2024 finalists were selected by a panel comprising Kelli Cole, Director Curatorial and Engagement, National Aboriginal Art Gallery, Janina Harding, Creative Victoria Senior Project Manager, Victorian First Peoples Art and Design Fair and Rebekah Raymond, MAGNT Curator of Aboriginal Art and Material Culture. Finalists include Gaypalani Waṉambi, Johnathon World Peace Bush, Motorbike Paddy Ngal, Thea Anamara Perkins, Brian Robinson, Janet Fieldhouse, Betty Muffler, and Bugai Whyoulter. Not to be missed is the awards ceremony, held on the sprawling MAGNT lawns.

The Details:

- Where: Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT), Larrakia Country, Darwin
- When: Award Ceremony, Fri, 9 Aug 2024 & Exhibition, now until 27 Jan 2025
- For more information, click here

Darwin Festival

DF24 Wayfinder_Dancenorth Australia_Credit_ Amber Haines

Image: Wayfinder, Dancenorth Australia, Photographer Amber Haines, Image courtesy of Darwin Festival

Darwin Festival is set to take over the city with 18 days of events. This year’s program boasts a strong presentation of visual arts. At Paul Johnstone Gallery see Pujiman Wanti, celebrating three Martumili matriarchs. At Outstation Gallery are Wurrandan Marawili’s etched road signs and natural ochres on bark and wood (presented in association with Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Art Centre). At Karen Brown Fine Art catch Manankurra, a celebration of love of Country with local artists Isa McDinny, Stewart Hoosan, Nancy McDinny, Selma Hoosan and Julian Brown. The Northern Centre For Contemporary presents a series of exhibitions celebrating the diverse work of First Nations artists from around the country.

The Details:

- Where: Various locations around Larrakia Country, Darwin
- When: From 8 - 25 Aug
- For more information, click here

National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs)

Image: National Indigenous Music Awards, 2023, Image courtesy of NIMAs

Held annually on Larrakia Country, the National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) is one of Australia’s most prominent music awards. Showcasing the diverse sounds of First Nations music from all corners of Australia, the NIMAs shine a spotlight on emerging talent as well as acclaimed artists. Experience a night under the stars at Darwin’s historic amphitheatre, applaud the winners, soak up the ambience and look back at 20 years of Indigenous music at this star-studded event. Last year, event producers MusicNT announced its multi-year sponsorship with Amazon Music, boosting the event to even greater heights.

The Details:

- Where: Darwin Amphitheatre, Larrakia Country, Darwin
- When: Saturday 10 Aug
- For more information, click here

Country to Couture and National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA)

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A post shared by Indigenous Fashion Projects (@indigenousfashionprojects)

DAAF Foundation’s Indigenous Fashion Projects return with two iconic fashion events in the lead up to the Fair. Attend the vibrant Country to Couture showcase, with 21 First Nations collections across two runway shows on August 6. Then celebrate the excellence and innovation of First Nations peoples in fashion and textiles at the National Indigenous Fashion Awards sunset ceremony on August 7.

The Details:

- Where: Darwin Convention Centre & Deckchair Cinema, Larrakia Country, Darwin
- When: 6 - 7 Aug
- For more information, click here

GARMA Festival

Red flag bunggul flying dust 2023 MJT garma_230808_mjt_2990_xh

Image: Red flag bunggul flying dust, 2023, MJT, Image courtesy of GARMA

Hosted by the Yothu Yindi Foundation, this four-day festival showcases traditional miny’tji (art), manikay (song), bunggul (dance) and story-telling, and is an important meeting point for the region's clans and families. This year’s festival is themed Gurtha-Wuma Work-gu, a Yolŋu phrase signifying Fire, Strength and Renewal. The festival brings together leaders for panel discussions on a range of issues, with an overarching celebration of Yolŋu life. The event is held at a Gumatj ceremonial site near Nhulunbuy on the Gove Peninsula.

The Details:

- Where: Gulkula ceremonial site, Gove Peninsula
- When: From 2 - 5 Aug
- For more information, click here

SALON des Refusés

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A post shared by SALON des Refusés (@salondesrefuses_natsiaa)

In 2013, Matt Ward of Outstation Gallery and Paul Johnstone of Paul Johnstone Gallery curated the first SALON des Refusés, an exhibition of works submitted but not accepted into the Telstra NATSIAA. A decade on, SALON is a key event in SALON Art Projects annual exhibition calendar. The high-quality works presented in this show prove just how high the standard is at the NATSIAA, which only gets higher each year. In 2023, SALON Art Projects introduced a People’s Choice Award with a value of $2,000.

The Details:

- Where: The Gardens, Larrakia Country, Darwin
- When: From 7 - 24 Aug 2024
- For more information, click here

Ngini Ngawula Pikaryingini (Our Stories)

Image: Conrad Tipungwuti Kamilowra, Kulama warnarringa, japarra, japalinga (sun, moon and stars), locally sourced earth pigments on linen, 150cm x 120cm, 2023. Photo by Will Heathcote. Image courtesy of the artists, Jilamara Arts and Crafts Association.

Presented by Munupi Arts & Crafts Association and Jilamara Arts & Crafts Association, Ngini Ngawula Pikaryingini (Our Stories) is a poignant evocation of the distinctive worldview of the Tiwi people that encapsulates their ancient wisdom, traditions and mythologies.

The Details: