Darwin Visual Arts

It’s been a long journey, but Darwin Visual Arts is ready to throw open its doors after a big move and re-brand.

After several months of relocating and construction, the organisation is finally ready to get some art on the walls of the new gallery and kick off their jam-packed year of programming in its new home at Harbour View Plaza.

Gallery manager Belinda Kinitavaki says she’s excited to welcome everyone to the new space with the member’s show Fluidity. 

“We’re moving in to a more positive space,” she says.

“We’re going to make it the best we can – I’m really happy that we’ve got a decent gallery to work with, which is so much better than where we were.”

The opening will be a chance to celebrate the re-brand, from Darwin Visual Arts Association (DVAA), to Darwin Visual Arts, but it's also an opportunity to reflect on the importance of Artist Run Initiatives (ARI) in the Top End arts community.

“It's really important for artists to have the freedom to show their work without a commercial pressure, and to also get feedback,” Kinitavaki says.

“If you’re serious about your artwork and developing a career as an artist, you need to be having regular exhibitions - it helps with development and that's not always easy to access for emerging artists.”

As well as regular exhibition opportunities, DVA also hosts workshops, artist’s talks and offers mentoring for both artistic development and business skills.

“We’re here to create a sense of community, which is really important for the development of artists. It helps you feel like you’ve got your own tribe, and also opens discourse, which is really healthy for a developing artists.”

Fluidity Fri 3 May - Sat 18 May | Opening Fri 3 Mau, 6pm | Darwin Visual Arts, Harbour View Plaza | Free | dvaa.net.au