Australia's leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, music and cultural events will shine this week in Darwin , attracting people from across the country.
Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF), National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA) and the National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) will showcase stunning artwork, musicianship and culture with the public invited to be a part of the action.
DAAF Foundation kicked off celebrations last night with fashion show Country to Couture, National Indigenous Fashion Awards take place tonight and the flagship art fair DAAF will take place from from 9-11 August.
Entry to DAAF is free, with attendees able to buy artworks from a selection of 1500 artists from 70 art centres from across Australia. There is also a range of workshops from weaving to painting to jewellery making. To register for free entry to DAAF or to purchase tickets to the workshops head to daaf.com.au [http://www.daaf.com.au]
The NIMAs celebrates 20 years of recognising Indigenous artists. A star-studded line-up featuring Jessica Mauboy, Dan Sultan and 3% will entertain the crowds on Saturday, 10 August at the Darwin Amphitheatre between awards. Nominated artists include Electric Fields, King Stingray and Budjerah for Artist of the Year; The Kid Laroi, Emma Donovan, Dan Sultan, Jessica Mauboy and Troy Cassar-Daley for Album of the year. Tickets can be purchased at darwinfestival.org.au [http://www.darwinfestival.org.au]. To see the full line-up and list of awards nominees visit nima.musicnt.com.au [http://www.nima.musicnt.com.au].
Some of the best Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists will be recognised for their stunning works at the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA) at a ceremony featuring performances from a line-up of female musicians including Dr Shellie Morris AO and Emily Wurramara.
NATSIAAs is the most esteemed Indigenous art award in the country with the recipient of the Telstra Art Award receiving a $100,000 prize. Five other awards which include the Telstra General Painting Award and Telstra Bark Painting Award receive a $15,000 prize.
This year, 72 finalists from across Australia have been selected from a total of 238 entries. Works range from painting on bark or canvas to etching and weaving.
The exhibition can be viewed now at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory with a ceremony to announce the winners to take place on Friday 9 August 2024 at 6pm. The NATSIAA exhibition is on at MAGNT until 27 January 2025.
The events are supported by the Northern Territory Government through Northern Territory Major Events Company's funding program.
Quotes from Northern Territory Major Events Company CEO Suzana Bishop:
"We are proud to continue to highlight events that celebrate and display the Territory's connection with Aboriginal culture. Events like these articulate the uniqueness of the Territory and our oldest culture.
"Darwin is the home of culture, and to celebrate Australia's best Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander talent in music, art and fashion across a week of events is fantastic. Territorians and visitors are encouraged to get out there, attend an event or two and learn about, and celebrate First Nations culture."
Quotes from DAAF Foundation Executive Director Claire Summers:
"The Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair will ignite the Top End this August, allowing visitors to view the art of over 1,500 Indigenous artists and designers, with a genuine opportunity to hear directly from artists about our First Nations' cultures, storytelling and expression through art, fashion, and design.
"We feel privileged to provide this global stage. It's inspiring to witness the market growth and appreciation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and fashion since the Fair began 18 years ago."
Quotes from 2024 Telstra NATSIAA Creative Director Ben Graetz:
"I am incredibly excited to present this year's Telstra NATSIAA Awards Ceremony.
"The program this year is a powerful showcase of the diverse and rich talents of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, highlighting their exceptional contributions to art, music and cultural heritage. This celebration is not only a tribute to their creativity but also a testament to their enduring spirit and resilience.
"We also have a few surprises up our sleeves, so watch out for another announcement soon!"
Quotes from NIMAs Creative Director Ben Graetz:
"As the Creative Director of the National Indigenous Music Awards, I am excited to be a part of this year's awards which are the culmination of two decades of Indigenous musical brilliance.
"Each year we come together to honour our diverse First Nations music from across Australia. I cannot wait to celebrate with everyone this year under the stars at Darwin Amphitheatre on Larrakia Country for a memorable night of First Nations musical excellence."
