The Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Belongs On Your Bucket List

Fancy a chance to thaw those frigid digits while mingling with the big guns of Australian Indigenous art? If a Top End escape is on the cards, we suggest you time that sun-soaked break for the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair. Running from 6 to 11 August 2024, this annual event brings together the work of more than 1500 artists and designers, plus industry buyers and enthusiasts of all stripes.  

Of course, there are workshops to get stuck into, plus painting demos, dance performances and panel discussions. Held on Larrakia Country, at the Darwin Convention Centre, the fair drew a crowd of almost 16,000 last year (plus more than 13,000 people shopped the goods online). And did we mention that entry is free?

Every dollar made from art sales goes directly to the remote community-owned art centres. And with more than 70 centres attending – representing makers from the desert to the coast – you’ll be blown away by the diversity of the work. Expect prints, carvings and canvas paintings, plus fibre art, textiles and clothing. 

top JOY GARLBIN, BABBARRA WOMEN’S CENTRE; FABRIC DESIGN BY KAREN SHUAN, YALANJI ARTS (PHOTO BY ALISON GEORGE, CATSEYE PRODUCTIONS); REGINA WILSON, DURRMU ARTS (PHOTO BY LEICOLHN MCKELLAR) THE RED FLAG DANCERS middle DAPHNE BANYAWARRA FROM RAMINGINING (PHOTO BULUBULA ARTS) bottom (left) THE RED FLAG DANCERS

As for workshops, there’s plenty on offer, from shell-and-raffia jewellery-making taught by Torres Strait artisans to watercolour landscape sessions, where you’ll have the opportunity to paint alongside artists inspired by the Hermannsburg School, including the descendants of Albert Namatjira. For those in the industry, there are free professional development sessions, including grant-writing and concept-planning workshops. Little artists will be kept busy, too, with free painting and lino-printing classes. 

top KEN WAYNE KANTILLA, NGARUWANAJIRRI ART CENTRE; WIK & KUGU ARTS CENTRE; JULIEANNE NGWARRAYE MORTON, ARTISTS OF AMPILATWATJA bottom YN THORPE, KAIELA ARTS (PHOTO BY JAMES HENRY)

Over the years, fashion has become a major part of the program. For the full experience, we suggest you snap up seats at the Country to Couture Runway Shows (full disclosure: Peppermint happens to be the biased – and very excited – Premium Media Partner). There will be 22 stunning collections to admire, featuring the big names of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island design community (including Gammin Threads, Magpie Goose and Ikuntji Artists), plus non-Indigenous collaborators (among them, Linda Jackson AO and Akira Isogawa).

THE DARWIN ABORIGINAL ART FAIR RUNS FROM 6 TO 11 AUGUST 2024 ON LARRAKIA COUNTRY AT DARWIN CONVENTION CENTRE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO DAAF.COM.AU.