Taking place in Alice Springs from 11 September to 26 October, the lauded Aboriginal arts exhibition promises a vibrant showcase of work by Indigenous artists and Elders.

Commemorating its 34th annual opening, Desert Mob will be taking residence at the Araluen Cultural Precinct in Alice Springs/Mparntwe and promises a packed schedule of artistic exhibitions and panel discussions. 

Presented by Desart, peak arts body of the Central Australian Aboriginal Arts Centres, the organisation has been in operation since 1992 and today represents over 8000 artists. 

Incorporating more than 30 art centres situated across some of Australia’s most remote regions, this year’s celebrations will present a broad swathe of artists from Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory. 

Artist Alison Milyika Carroll at the Ernabella Arts ceramics demonstration

A high point of the Australian arts calendar

For more than 30 years, Desert Mob has granted a richly deserved platform to artists continuing the traditions of the world’s oldest existing culture. At a time when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists are often overlooked for their contribution to Australian culture, Desert Mob stands as an enduring flag in the sand for Indigenous art. 

With a comprehensive program of events and artist panels to be announced in early July, attendees of this year’s Desert Mob can expect an active roster of events, including the exhibition’s opening ceremony celebrations, artist talks, a marketplace where you can support Aboriginal artists, and much more. 

Art workshops will also be running, as well as evening curator talks that will shine a light on the stories behind the diverse range of works on display throughout the exhibition. Those unable to attend the festivities within the Araluen Cultural Precinct itself will be able to access Desert Mob’s satellite events across the Alice Springs region. 

Yarrenyty Arltere artists workshop at the Desert Mob Marketplace

A beacon of recognition in Australian arts

Incorporating 40 independently governed Aboriginal Art Centres under its purview, Desart services a membership area spanning 1.2 million square kilometres. Chief executive officer Philip Watkins is proud of the arts body’s ongoing legacy of exposure for a minority of the Australian population that is still fighting for recognition within the arts community. 

“For more than 30 years, Desert Mob has celebrated the immense contribution of Aboriginal artists and their art centres to this land of many nations now known as Australia,” Watkins says. “Our far-reaching reputation has seen our culture enthusiastically received into some of the most significant collections, galleries and museums around the world.”

Photography by Sara Maiorino.