Desert Mob is presented annually in Mparntwe/Alice Springs on Arrernte Country.
Desert Mob brings together hundreds of artists to celebrate desert culture in the heart of Australia. Desert Mob features an exhibition, artist talks and marketplace, as well as public programs and satellite events throughout Mparntwe and the region. From the opening night celebration to community studio visits and Desert Mob After Dark, art workshops and musical performances, Desert Mob is a cultural event for all the community.
Established by the Araluen Arts Centre in 1991 as the ‘Central Australian Aboriginal Art and Craft Exhibition’, Desert Mob is now one of the longest running First Nations’ art events in Australia. The inaugural event included the work of artists from 14 art centres, and in 2025 it showcases over 30 art centres. Many of the art centres that presented artworks in the first exhibition are also part of Desert Mob 2025.
With the support of Desart and the exhibition at its heart, Desert Mob expanded over the years to include an arts marketplace, symposium and performance. Desert Mob is a tangible and public assertion of the principle of ‘Culture First’, expressed in the work of artists from the Desart art centre membership.
