STARS UNDER THE STARS

The Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Awards (NATSIAA) are back, as a stellar line-up of Australian musicians take to the stage as the winners are announced.

WORDS TIERNEY WHITE

THE TELSTRA NATSIAA is always a highlight on the national arts calendar, drawing thousands through the doors of the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) to witness the incredible works created around the country by First Nations artists.

Now in its 42nd year – making it the longest running and most prestigious Indigenous art award in the country – the NATSIAA features 71 Finalists across seven categories and mediums. This includes the coveted Telstra Art Award garnering a huge $100,000 for the overall winner, last year awarded to Noli Rictor, a Pitjantjatjara man and artist from Tjuntjuntjara in Western Australia for his work, Kamanti.

MAGNT Director Adam Worrall says it’s integral to our collective culture that we continue to champion First Nations art and artists.

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art is a vital part of the social and cultural life of Australia. This year's Telstra NATSIAA presents 71 exceptional works, selected from over 200 entries, providing a snapshot of the finest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art created in the past year,” he says.

“The continued support of Telstra is essential to ensuring these stories are seen, shared, and celebrated.”

The Telstra NATSIAA Awards Ceremony is held by the saltwater on the MAGNT Lawns and features a sweet line-up of revered Australian musicians.

Psychedelic band Velvet Trip headlines the big soirée, and is the dreamy creation of Wiradjuri man Zeppelin Hamilton, the band’s star rising quickly over the last year. He says he’s thrilled to be included in such an iconic Australian event.

“It’s such an honour. It feels like everything’s lined up very serendipitously,” he says.

“A while ago, when I was working on Emily Wurramara’s album with her, we wrote a beautiful song together called When We Go Back Home. The producer that was working on her record, Nara – which won an ARIA – reached out to me and asked if I was open to co-producing this track with them.

“[The producer] was James Mangohig, who eventually reached out to book me for the NATSIAAs, so it was this big, kind of, serendipitous series of events that had happened … I’m so grateful to be a part of such an iconic event, and it’s a big moment for me. I’m so excited to be a part of it.”

Hamilton returned to Darwin back in June for the first time in 10 years to perform with Dan Sultan and the Darwin Symphony Orchestra as part of Garrmalang Festival. He says celebrating First Nations culture is a collective experience for all.

“I think it’s really important for us to be celebrating, not just as First Nations people, but as a nation on a whole,” he says.

“For me, personally, the reason it’s important is because our stories are important. That self-determination and that ability to continue storytelling – which has been part of our culture for tens and thousands and forever years – is a way for us to continue sharing our stories, continue keeping our culture alive, and not only for ourselves, but to also open that conversation up to non-First Nations people as well, so they can engage with First Nations stories, and we can move, together, forward in a new direction.”

The psychedelic outfit is joined by Eleanor Jawurlngali, a Mudburra and Garrawa woman from Marlinja in the NT that has previously collaborated with Mick Turner from Dirty Three and award-winning cellist Stephanie Arnold, and also performs with her father Raymond Dimakarri Dixon in the duo Rayella.

Celebrated Darwin-born musician Leah Flanagan also features, a passionate advocate for Indigenous rights and social justice who draws inspiration from her family, including her mother and grandmother, who is a member of the Stolen Generations.

With these amazing musicians in tow, whilst acknowledging the incredible work of artists from around the country, the NATSIAA Awards Ceremony is set to be a magical experience. Pack a picnic and settle in for a very special night, and celebrate our incredible and resilient First Nations stars, under the stars.

Telstra NATSIAA Exhibition
UNTIL MON 26 JAN, 2026 
AT MAGNT

Telstra NATSIAA Awards Ceremony
WHEN FRI 8 AUG | 6-10PM
AT MAGNT LAWNS
COST FREE

INFO magnt.net.au

_{Image: Charlie Bliss}