‘NAIDOC Week’ is an annual celebration of the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia. On from 7 to 14 July there is a range of activities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities to get involved in. Festivities include the National NAIDOC Awards Ceremony, in recognition of Indigenous Australians who work to improve the lives of people in their community and who are a voice for Indigenous issues, as well as exhibitions and events, which coincide with ‘NAIDOC Week’ and showcase the remarkable creative practices of Indigenous artists.
Judy Mengil, 2015, natural ochre on canvas, 140 x 100cm. Courtesy Warringarri Aboriginal Arts, Western Australia and Artitja Fine Art, Western Australia
Highlights: Artitja Fine Art is showing ‘OUR LAND | OUR PLACE’ a visual interpretation of the importance of place and story, in Perth from 8 July. From 13 July Art From the Margins Gallery, Brisbane has ‘Listening, Healing, Connecting’ by artist Duane Doyle showing alongside artworks from Indigenous communities reflecting on the NAIDOC theme of ‘Voice. Treaty. Truth’, which is also the focus of the ‘NAIDOC19’ exhibition at Arts Academy Post Office Gallery, Victoria until 14 July. In Sydney, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia screens ‘No Way to Forget’ with four episodes of ‘Trans Black’ on 9 July and ‘Servant or Slave’ on 11 July, between these on 10 July is a panel discussion with speakers from Aboriginal education, the screen industry, Aboriginal women’s advocacy and the arts. Hazelhurst Arts Centre showcases 50 works by 16 Indigenous watercolour artists until 9 July, and Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative artists express their concerns and ideas about what ‘Voice, Treaty, Truth.’ means to them, on view until 28 July.
