After attracting more than 22,000 visitors over two days last year, the National Indigenous Art Fair is returning to Gadigal Land this winter. This is your invitation to explore a vibrant ethical marketplace showcasing creations from remote and local First Nations artists, designers and makers from across the country. The annual two-day festival is marking its fifth year in 2024 at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in the Rocks, over the weekend of June 29-30.
This event is a unique opportunity to peruse and buy artworks, textiles, jewellery, ceramics and artefacts directly from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from remote community-owned art centres from the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.
The Art Fair also offers visitors the chance to experience Indigenous culture first-hand through a two-day festival program of dance, cultural displays, interactive Indigenous weaving circles, and workshops for adults and children. There will also be the opportunity to taste and learn about native bushfood.
“It is a rare opportunity to meet artists from some of the most remote parts of Australia and provides them an opportunity to promote and sell their artworks and host workshops demonstrating their unique arts and cultural practice,” says Peter Cooley, the CEO of First Hand Solutions, the Sydney-based Aboriginal corporation that spearheads the festival.
In the lead up to the Art Fair, artists will travel to Sydney to participate in First Hand Solutions’ Heart in Art program which provides economic and professional development opportunities and exchange between urban and remote First Nations communities.
Everyone is welcome to come down to the fair to look, listen, learn and join in the program of talks, demonstrations, tastings, workshops, live music and dance performances kicking off from 10am-5pm on Saturday, and 10am-4pm on Sunday.
Entry is a donation of $2.50 to support remote artists attending the event. Children under five years old are free. The Overseas Passenger Terminal is easily accessible by public transport and on foot from Circular Quay. For more information visit niaf.com.au and follow @nationalindigenousartfair on Instagram.
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