2026 Vincent Lingiari Art Award to celebrate 50 years of land rights

The fourth iteration of the Vincent Lingiari Art Award will celebrate the anniversary of the passing of the landmark Aboriginal Land Rights Act (Northern Territory) 1976.

Presented by the Central Land Council (CLC) and the peak arts body for Central Australian Aboriginal Arts and Crafts, Desart, the national award honours the legacy of Vincent Lingiari, the 1966 Wave Hill Walk-Off and the struggle for land rights in Australia. Since the inaugural award in 2016, Aboriginal artists whose country is in the CLC region have submitted works in a wide range of media.

*Vincent Lingiari Art Award inaugural winner Marlene Rubuntja with her artwork ‘My Future is in My Hands’, 2016. Photo: Courtesy of Central Land Council.*

Desart and CLC have announced that the 2026 award will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976, which represents the first attempt by an Australian government to legally recognise the Aboriginal system of land ownership and put into law the concept of inalienable freehold title. The award will offer a $10,000 major prize to the outstanding artwork in the exhibition, the CLC Delegates’ Choice Award of $2000 and the Desart People’s Choice Award of $2000.

CLC chair Warren Williams underlined the historic connection between art and land rights.

“Our old people have always used their artistic skills to fight for their land,” he says. “Just look at the Yirrkala Bark Petitions and the Barunga Statement, where they also used ochre to paint up for ceremony. Today we are still using art to make the case for our water rights.”

The former campaign was explored in Larissa Behrendt’s excellent 2025 documentary, One Mind, One Heart.

*Native Title Holders of Singleton Station appealing the Singleton Water Licence in Darwin. Photo: Courtesy of Central Land Council.*

Desart’s chief executive officer Philip Watkins acknowledges CLC’s distinguished service, saying Desart is “honoured” to partner again to present the Vincent Lingiari Art Award.

“Our artists today are the inheritors of the legacy of people like Vincent Lingiari, who fought hard to have our land and other rights recognised,” Watkins says. “Aboriginal-owned and governed art centres continue to embody the spirit and self-determination of the land rights movement, and we look forward to recognising and celebrating the ancient connection of Country and Culture through the 2026 Vincent Lingiari Art Award.”

Desart CEO Philip Watkins, *VLAA 2021 winner* *Grace Robinya and CLC executive manager policy and governance Dr Josie Douglas at the opening of the Vincent Lingiari Art Award 2021. Photo: Oliver Eclipse, courtesy Desart.*

Exhibition

The award exhibition, Our Country, Our Culture: 50 Years of Land Rights, will open on 17 August 2026 at the Araluen Arts Centre in Mparntwe (Alice Springs). The winners will be announced on 10 September, during the official opening celebration of the Vincent Lingiari Art Award, which will coincide with the official opening of Desert Mob 2026.

Kelli Cole, a Warumungu and Luritja woman from Central Australia, will curate the award. According to Desart, Cole has helped shape the presentation of Indigenous art on a national stage, contributing to National Indigenous Art Triennials at the National Gallery of Australia and recently leading the curation of Emily Kam Kngwarray at the Tate Modern in London. She has been engaging with Aboriginal art centres across the CLC region and Desart membership about the award since late last year.

“I look forward to every entry, as each piece represents the enduring power of our culture,” Cole says. “Art has always been the way we make ourselves heard and that will never change.”