Question mark over future of Indigenous art prize

Aboriginal Art Directory | 21.10.08

ABC Online reports: The future of one of the country's richest Indigenous art prizes is being discussed at a forum in Darwin.

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award is considered one of the most prestigious Indigenous art awards in the country.

The $40,000 top prize also makes it one of the richest.

The award has been running in the Top End for 25 years and to mark the milestone a public forum is underway in Darwin to discuss the award's future.

About six art centres pulled out of this year's award because of concerns over industry practices.

Today's forum has questioned if the relationship between artists and dealers should be better scrutinised by the pre-selection panel.

Arts bodies also say the annual award is no longer a celebration of Indigenous culture but rather a corporate event.

URL: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/17/2394443.htm?section=entertainment

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