National Indigenous Art Fair 2022
From 2—3 July, Sydney’s Circular Quay is activated by the National Indigenous Art Fair — featuring art from across the country, First Nations performances, bush food cooking demonstrations, and a collaborative weaving project.
Words: Emma-Kate Wilson I Photography: Courtesy of NIAF
Yalma Galban by Michael Anning. Photo: Courtesy of NIAF. Main hero Image: Bábbarra Designs. Photo: Courtesy of NIAF.
After the challenges from the last two years with covid lockdowns, floods and fires, this year’s National Indigenous Art Fair comes together as a celebration from the far corners of Australia — places like Ceduna, Haasts Bluff, the Tiwi Islands and Yuendumu.
‘Australia-wide mobs have been through a tough two years together, particularly with the pandemic. But the NSW mob have also been through devastating fires and floods,’ says Peter Cooley, CEO of First Hand Solutions Aboriginal Corporation, founders of the event. ‘As a result, we want to come together in Sydney and highlight the positives coming out of these challenges and showcase and celebrate our resilience.’
Bringing together over 50 art and design stalls, opened by an Indigenous smoking ceremony, the fair features a host of celebrations. Performances by Mi-kaisha and Djinama Yilaga Choir, Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness Aboriginal Dance Group, artist and performer, Nadeena Dixon and Wagana Dancers are joined by storytelling in the sand, circle and boomerang painting, and dance workshops.
‘Once again, we are holding our communal weaving circle, though to keep it COVID safe, it will be a weaving line this year, and we will be working on another famous Sydney landmark,’ Peter adds. ‘So far, we have woven the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House. But you will have to come along to see what we are doing this year!’
The fair reveals an exciting breadth of bushfood with Indigenous chef Matthew Atkins whipping up cooking demonstrations, as will Aboriginal cuisine experts Mirritya Mundya. There will also be food trucks at the event, offering up a delicious bushfood feast and IndigiGrow nursery selling a variety of native bushfood plants and herbs to take home.
Ngwarle Untye, Cora Lynch Alukura Womens Business. Photo: Courtesy of NIAF
Donna Ferguson, Kaltukatjara Studio. Photo: Courtesy of NIAF
“There is a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony on both mornings. It is just the most colourful display of culture, and it takes place right on Sydney Harbour, where the remote artists love coming to visit.”
‘The National Indigenous Art Fair symbolises an incredible gathering of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives, with many travelling from the far corners of Australia — places like Ceduna, Haasts Bluff, the Tiwi Islands and Yuendumu. It enables First Nations people to come together and celebrate,’ says Peter Cooley. Photo: Courtesy of NIAF
As with previous years, the fair reflects on the 2022 NAIDOC theme: Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! with a lively panel discussion. ‘This is an opportunity for us to reach out to communities around Australia and ask them what is happening and how can we all work together as one to highlight these issues,’ says Peter. ‘This includes things like mining and fracking, not having access to services and water, and fighting for the ongoing existence of the Homelands where many artists live.’
While the fair celebrates resilience, culture and art, it continues to add another layer — inviting the public to meet the artist behind the works, connecting metro Australia with remote and rural communities. In turn, after the fair, the artists participate in a two-day professional development program.
‘It is part of what we call the Heart in Art program, where we, as an urban Aboriginal organisation, host artists from remote communities while they are in town and connect them to not only the Sydney marketplace but to arts and cultural organisations across the city,’ says Peter. ‘Before COVID, these remote communities hosted our urban youth and took them out on Country to pass on their knowledge, so this is definitely a two-way exchange.’
The National Indigenous Art Fair holds an essential role in Australia’s understanding of culture, community, and Country. Inspiring Sydneysiders to visit remote places and learn on Country in the future while bringing Aboriginal culture into their day-to-day.
NATIONAL INDIGENOUS ART FAIR 2022
SATURDAY 2ND - SUNDAY 3RD JULY
Overseas Passenger Terminal, 130 Argyle Street, The Rocks NSW