We are one step closer to having a National Aboriginal Art Gallery, with the Northern Territory government releasing the concept designs for the new arts hub. Opening in 2028, the NAAG will exclusively house work by First Nations artists, showcasing the artistic legacy of one of the world’s oldest continuous cultures.
National Aboriginal Art Gallery Reference Group Co-Chair Franchesca Cubillo says, “This remarkable gallery shines a spotlight on the beauty, power and importance of Aboriginal art and provides a unique space in which to preserve First Nations peoples’ storytelling and share their timeless stories through art and culture.”
The announcement follows years of debate over the site, which was confirmed earlier this year after the acquisition of Anzac Oval was finalised with the Alice Springs Town Council. The gallery is intended to be part of a larger precinct that includes a Tourism Centre, and will be a space that fosters local engagement through art programs, events and festivals.
The building, designed by BVN Architecture and local architects Susan Dugdale & Associates, features a cultural welcoming circle, event space, healing gardens, cafe, atrium, and Kwatye (water) play area.
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Chansey Paech says, “The gallery will stand as an iconic architectural statement driving tourism, enhancing liveability, and providing social and economic benefits, creating a lasting positive impact.”
The National Aboriginal Art Gallery (NAAG) is anticipated to open in 2028.
Suggested Reading
65,000 Years brings truth telling to art history
65,000 Years: A Short History of Australian Art is an extraordinary account of the unique art of this continent, published alongside a landmark exhibition at the Potter Museum of Art. Necessary and urgent, it tells the story of Indigenous Australian art; a new art history unlike anything we’ve seen. For Jane O’Sullivan, it’s a remarkable and must-read book.
Jane O'Sullivan
Oslo Davis reimagines art terms
In a new series of illustrated postcards available as a free gift with purchase only at the Art Guide Bookstore, Oslo Davis takes on classic and contemporary art terms and genres and reimagines what they could be referring to.
Oslo Davis
The major exhibitions open in each capital city this summer
With so much to choose from, we’ve rounded up the major summer exhibitions in each capital city, open all summer long. Spanning Yayoi Kusama, Magritte, the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, and many more.
Art Guide Australia
Present moments at the Gold Coast Triennial
Now showing at Home of the Arts (HOTA), the sophomore Gold Coast Triennial, Here and Now, brings together 42 contemporary artists to represent the depth and dynamism of the city’s artistic community.
Sally Gearon
Scaling new heights
A new exhibition at the Australian National Capital Artists Inc (ANCA) asks 12 artists—including Dan Powers, S.A.Adair, Emma Beer and Lisa Sammut—to explore scale: from the miniature to the monumental.
Michelle Wang
Icons from Italy
Heide Museum of Modern Art’s summer blockbuster exhibition is unveiling the breadth and beauty of Italian modernism through design. With over 170 objects spanning sixty years, Molto Bello explores the cultural impact of this period of creativity and invention.