Central Australian artists in the running for Telstra Award

Aboriginal Art Directory | 01.04.09

Author: Jeannette Button

Aboriginal Art Centres from central Australia have reserved their very best works for the 2009 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award later this year.

With the close of entries last Friday (27 March) the Art Centres have indicated that their entries for the 2009 Telstra Art Award represent the pinnacle of works available on the market.

John Oster Executive Officer of Desart, the professional association representing Central Australian community Art Centres, said that the artists’ involvement was a great vote of confidence in the Telstra Art Award.

“Artists from central Australia continue to regard the Telstra Art Award as the most prominent Aboriginal art award in the nation and entries this year represent the strongest showing from Art Centres in many years.”

The Museum and Art Gallery Northern Territory (MAGNT) Acting Director Apolline Kohen said that she looked forward to the arrival of the central Australian artworks adding that it was always exciting to uncover the amazing talent and fascinating stories of the Aboriginal art.

“The Telstra Art Award is the first and longest running Indigenous art award in the country and gives Indigenous artists, from all around Australia, a fantastic opportunity to gain significant exposure for their works.”

Art Centres are reporting that their sales are holding up well in the current economic crisis largely because of their distinctive place in the market as promoters of strong authenticity and cultural values.

Art Centres are especially keen to show off their best to continue to inspire market confidence.

The 26th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award will be announced at the opening of the exhibition on Friday, August 14 in Darwin.

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For more information and to arrange interviews:
Jeannette Button, Creative Territory, (08) 8941 9169, 0407 727 080

About Desart
Desart is the Association of Central Australian Aboriginal Art and Craft Centres owned and managed by Aboriginal people. The Art Centres are community-based enterprises which deliver economic growth as well as many social and cultural benefits. They strive to ensure artists work in decent conditions, receive fair returns and have their rights protected.

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