STORIES THAT SPEAK TO COUNTRY
For a 43rd year, The Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Awards (NATSIAA) returns to bring artists together to celebrate the very best of First Nations art.
WORDS BROOKE GIBBS
INSET CHARLIE BLISS
A HIGHLIGHT ON the national arts calendar, this year’s winners are revealed at a special Awards Ceremony at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT), showcasing the extraordinary depth, diversity and brilliance of contemporary First Nations art.
NATSIAA continues to bring together artists from remote Art Centres to small townships to inner-city studios, with culture, storytelling, and creative innovation converging to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art.
The 64 compelling artworks selected from 221 entries this year reflect themes of intergenerational storytelling, the continuation of culture, connections to Country, and the enduring impacts of Australia’s colonial history of individuals and communities.
Presented by MAGNT, the Awards remain a vital platform for nurturing and celebrating Indigenous artists, providing a national and international stage to showcase their work.
MAGNT Director Adam Worrall says the Award was established in 1983 to celebrate the validity and cultural diversity of contemporary Indigenous artists at a time when it was largely undervalued and under appreciated.
“While it began as a small, 10-day exhibition, with a prize pool of $2,000, today it’s the longest running and most prestigious art award in the country,” he says.
“It totally represents that important place in Australian history – it’s documented contemporary, the best of contemporary Indigenous countries for almost 40 years, and we’ll continue to do that in the future.”
With each entry offering a unique perspective while collectively reflecting the richness of Indigenous artistic practice today, Mr Worrall says he is impressed by the new and exciting emerging artists on display this year.
“There’s 64 extraordinary fine artists this year representing more than 40 communities across Australia. Out of those finalists, 15 emerging artists are featured, and they’re hanging beside those important senior artists who have brought their stories back to MAGNT over many years,” he says.
“I think the thing that most impresses me this year is the incredibly high quality of works and the incredible, powerful stories that are represented by female artists.”
This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award. Named in honour of the late Yolŋu leader, artist and cultural advocate, Wandjuk Marika OBE, the Award celebrates artistic excellence in three-dimensional practice while recognising the profound legacy of one of the Northern Territory's most influential cultural figures.
The Awards carry a total prize pool of $190,000, including the prestigious $100,000 Telstra Art Award, alongside category prizes recognising excellence in painting, bark painting, works on paper, multimedia, sculpture, and emerging artistic practice. NATSIAA offers a chance to experience works that challenge, educate and inspire in equal measure.
The Northern Territory features heavily on the Finalist list, with 42 of the 64 selected artists calling the Territory home.
