DAAF 2026 with Jodie

Thanks to support from Aboriginal Regional Arts Alliance, Southern Tablelands Arts and Regional Arts NSW, I was recently able to attend and participate in a 10-day leadership program held in Darwin for Aboriginal Arts Workers across NSW and participate as a selling artist alongside 4 other regional and remote NSW Aboriginal Artists at the ARAA stall at the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair.

This opportunity connected both regional and remote creatives and arts workers in attendance to the larger Regional Arts sector across our state. During the program we attended various galleries and curated talks throughout Darwin, looked at different models of presentation, pricing, and support for artists across various independent galleries, met and spoke with the curators of both the NATSIAA awards at MAGNT and Incarceration at Contemporary Gallery of NT. These opportunities provided in-depth knowledge across collaborating with artists far and wide to deliver stand out exhibitions and support Aboriginal Arts across the country, the complexities that can be faced with applying for opportunities, travel and transporting artworks across large areas, and curating the many different styles, mediums and works into a set space to flow and tell a story.

We also had the opportunity to attend Country to Cotour on both nights and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, designers and the stunning clothing and accessories they make across our country.

Opportunities for curating, engaging with potential buyers, pricing, and sharing our stories as artists abounded during the Art Fair along with moments to engage with other artists and stalls, participate in workshops and talks learning new skills and connecting with creatives from across the country. Live performances by many mobs were also enjoyed.

The leadership and creative cohort spent much time talking with each other about opportunities that could occur across different RADO networks allowing arts workers and creatives to collaborate and provide touring exhibitions across our state, along with many discussions occurring around collaborations between the creatives in attendance.

Goals were set by all participants for both their own professional creative practice and for artists in the areas their RADO’s service, including professional development on the less creative side of running a business, opportunities for curating and participating in groups projects and exhibitions, professional presentation of works, and supporting artists to take the next step in progressing their practice.

This experience has left me inspired and motivated to make changes leading to better outcomes for myself as a creative and for the creatives across the regional and remote NSW area.