Fourth Edition of NIAF to Launch NAIDOC Week

The National Indigenous Art Fair will return this year, bringing together artists and creatives around the country for a two-day event showcasing the very best of First Nations art, design and fashion. Presented at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Sydney, the fair will draw collectors from around the country, having seen more than 10,000 visitors attend their 2022 edition.

“The NIAF represents an incredible gathering of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives from across Australia and all the different styles of art of those regions, with many artists travelling from the far corners of Australia — places like Aurukun in remote Queensland, and Ramingining, the Tiwi Islands and Yuendumu in the Northern Territory” says Peter Cooley, CEO of First Hand Solutions Corporation, who organise the fair, “it presents a rare and exciting opportunity for Sydneysiders to interact directly with the makers.”

The fair will be kicking of NAIDOC Week in style, embracing the theme of ‘For Our Elders’ with a program of music and dance, as well as a bushfoods area. The fair will also see a group of weavers and fibre artists gathered from across Australia working together to create a woven sculpture, with visitors able to view the installation as it forms and grows across the two-day period. Blak Markets will also be making a return to this year’s edition.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for Sydneysiders to visit a gathering of Indigenous creatives all in one place”, continues Cooley, “we ensure the art fair is an ethical marketplace where you can buy artworks directly from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from remote community-owned art centres in the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia”.

Attending Art Centres include Artists of Ampilatwatja Aboriginal Corporation, Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation, Walkatjara Art, Ikuntji Artists Aboriginal Corporation, Maruku Arts, Injalak Arts, Bula’Bula Arts, Anindilyakwa Arts, Marrawuddi Arts & Culture, Munupi Art, Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts, Durrmu Arts, Babbarra Women’s Centre, Barkly Regional Arts, UMI Arts, Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre, Wik & Kugu Arts Centre, Tjarlirli and Kaltukatjara Art, Cheeditha Art Group, Minyma Kutjara Arts Project, Nagula Jarndu and APY Art Centre Collective. Several artists will also be in attendance as part of the First Hand Solutions’ ‘Heart in Art’ program, which aids in the professional development of artists working in remote communities.

The fair runs across Saturday 1 July and Sunday 2 July, with entry by gold coin donation to support attending artists. For more information, visit the fair’s website here.