CULTURE EXCHANGE
Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF) returns to transform the Darwin Convention Centre on Larrakia country into a vibrant, bustling hub for connection, creativity, cultural exchange, and growth.
WORDS RITA HORANYI
IT’S THE LARGEST event of its kind in the country, bringing together over 80 Aboriginal Art Centres and 1,600 artists to celebrate the depth, breadth, diversity, and breathtaking creativity of First Nations arts and culture.
Drawing arts lovers and collectors together from right around the globe, DAAF has always been more than an opportunity to peruse and purchase exquisite art – although it certainly continues to do that.
An immersive cultural experience and a rare opportunity to meet artists from remote communities, DAAF facilitates opportunities for learning and knowledge exchange, not only through the dazzling array of art but also through its engaging public program.
This year’s program is one of the most exciting to date, with public workshops on weaving, jewellery-making, boab nut carving, soft sculpture, and painting. There are also children’s workshops to keep the little ones engaged, arts and culture demonstrations and, of course, unmissable performances in the DAAF sandpit. You can also catch a thought-provoking seminar that delves into the way data assists in the repatriation of First Nations artworks and cultural artefacts.
Finding new ways to amplify First Nations voices and cultural perspectives is at the heart of what makes DAAF special. This year, DAAF is further amplifying these voices and perspectives through a collaboration with Agency Projects to present UNTOLD, a program of First Nations led conversations that bring artists, creatives, cultural leaders, and academics together from across the country.
Taking place just down the road from DAAF on the Peninsula Lawn at the Darwin Waterfront Precinct, DAAF Artistic Director Simon Carmichael says UNTOLD offers punters an opportunity to delve deeper into First Nations ideas and culture.
“These types of conversations can really open up new ways of thinking and deepen cultural understanding,” he says.
Curated by Mayatili Marika and Leila Gurruwiwi, this year’s UNTOLD program is extending its offering from four to five days, and features engaging conversations on topics ranging from fashion and sustainability to First Nations curatorial perspectives to digital archiving. Confirmed speakers include Sophie Gerhard, Coby Edgar, Troy Casey, and Shanysa McConville, and there’s also an exciting tour around some of Darwin’s top galleries guided by Coby Edgar to look forward to.
In addition to opening spaces for cultural dialogue, DAAF is remarkable for the sense of community it creates.
“One of the most powerful aspects of DAAF is the sense of connection it fosters, bringing people together, sparking shared learning, and building lasting relationships,” Carmichael says.
“It’s not just about the exchange between artists and audiences, it’s also about the rich dialogue and inspiration that happens amongst the artists themselves.”
A perfect example of this kind of valuable networking and exchange is the Cultural Keepers program, run during DAAF in partnership with The University of Melbourne.
“Each year we run the Cultural Keepers Program ... that connects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander curators with remote community artists, arts workers, and Art Centres. It sparks creative collaborations, new opportunities, and long-term partnerships that often grow well beyond the Fair itself. By strengthening networks and supporting knowledge exchange, it helps build a stronger and more connected sector.”
Celebrating and strengthening the richness and diversity of the First Nations arts sector is crucial, and events like DAAF clearly have a huge impact in fostering sustainable creative careers for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. Of note is that 100 percent of the sales from DAAF go directly back to Art Centres, the artists, and their communities.
“It makes the impact of all the work all the more significant. Being part of something that’s artist-led and community focused is what makes this role so fulfilling for me,” says Carmichael.
Of course, no DAAF would be complete without a treat for fashion lovers. The ever-popular Indigenous Fashion Projects events – Country to Couture and National Indigenous Fashion Awards – return this year, showcasing the creativity and innovation of contemporary First Nations textile and fashion design.
2025 marks the tenth anniversary of Country to Couture, and DAAF acknowledges this significant milestone with installations that reflect on the achievements of the high energy runway show over the past decade.
“Since its launch, the event has become a powerful platform for First Nations designers and artists to showcase their work both nationally and internationally ... The milestone also honours trailblazers who have shaped the event and reinforces an ongoing commitment to cultural integrity, innovation, and the elevation of First Nations voices.”
With so many different kinds of artworks on offer – paintings, fibre art, ceramics, textiles, fashion, jewellery, and sculpture – plus cultural experiences to immerse yourself in, this year’s DAAF is set to be another extraordinary event for anyone interested in exploring the richness and diversity of First Nations cultures.
Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Opening Ceremony
WHEN THU 7 AUG | 5.30PM
COST $75
Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair
WHEN FRI 8 – SUN 10 AUG
COST FREE | REGISTER ONLINE
AT DARWIN CONVENTION CENTRE & ONLINE
INFO daaf.com.au
Agency UNTOLD Talks
WHEN WED 6 - SUN 10 AUG
COST FREE
INFO agencyprojects.org
Header, inset and thumbnail: Elizabeth Ngwarraye Bonney, 'My Grandmother's Country' (detail), 2024, acrylic on heavy linen, 122x76cm. Image courtesy of Artists of Ampilatwatja. Inset: Angkuna Baker, Indulkana Community. Photo: Rhett Hammerton, courtesy of Iwantja Arts
A Decade of Country, Culture and Couture
FEAST YOUR EYES on fabulous fashion and colourful threads, as the best of First Nations fashion and textile design descends on Darwin, with two special events presented by the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation’s Indigenous Fashion Projects.
Since their inception, Country to Couture and the National Indigenous Fashions Awards (NIFA) have become major events in the Australian fashion scene, championing First Nations excellence in cultural expression and design, and building crucial bridges between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and the global fashion industry.
This year, Country to Couture celebrates 10 years of showcasing and developing First Nations fashion and storytelling. Over the past decade, the much-loved event has platformed more than 120 collections and 1,000 unique looks, modelled by 250 First Nations models.
“It’s hard to believe Country to Couture began as a modest showcase nestled amongst the Art Centre booths at the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair in 2016, and is now the largest showcase of Indigenous fashion in Australia,” says Indigenous Fashion Projects Manager, Michelle Maynard.
With two breathtaking runway shows platforming a bumper 21 collections – Show 1: Threads of Country, and Show 2: Rising Colours: The BLAK party – this year’s milestone event is set to be an unforgettable celebration of culture, Country, craft and, of course, stunning couture.
Fashionistas can follow up these exciting shows with the National Indigenous Fashion Awards, a glamorous evening at Darwin’s iconic Deckchair Cinema that celebrates the design and storytelling achievements of 38 nominees across seven award categories, including the prestigious Fashion Designer Award supported by Country Road.
But there’s no need for FOMO if you can’t make it to these fashionable festivities under the stars. You can also tune in to see coverage of the event on NITV, and be among the first to find out the winners of the 2025 Awards.
Country to Couture
WHEN TUE 5 AUG | SHOW 1, 5PM SHOW 2, 8PM
AT DARWIN CONVENTION CENTRE
National Indigenous Fashion Awards
WHEN WED 6 AUG | 7PM, DOORS 6PM
AT DECKCHAIR CINEMA
COST $45
INFO ifp.org.au
Inset: National Indigenous Fashion Awards. Photo: Marley Morgan
MEET THE COVER ARTIST
ELIZABETH WAS BORN in Tennant Creek. Her mother Eileen is one of the original artists of Ampilatwatja, and for many years, they would sit and paint together.
Elizabeth is one of the senior traditional healers in Ampilatwatja.
"I still hunt my Grandmother's Country for goanna, bush medicine, and yams.
I hunt all year round, hunting and walking through the Country makes me happy.
When I look at the distant hills I can feel my Grandmother. Bush flowers are everywhere. Painting and printing my Grandmother's Country reminds me about those times."
Image: Elizabeth Ngwarraye Bonney
