Kate Podger was yesterday named as the curator for the 27th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award.

Ms Podger has more than 10 years experience in the indigenous arts industry, most recently at the Araluen Arts Centre in Alice Springs.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for me,” she said.

“2010 is a year of growth and evolution for the awards and is especially exciting with the inclusion of the inaugural Telstra New Media Award. I am really looking forward to receiving the entries for this new category.”

Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory acting director Darlene Lion said Ms Podger would bring vast experience to the role.

“In her role at Araluen Art Centre Ms Podger presents an exhibition program that provides an interpretive experience to the development of key indigenous art movements in Central Australia, including art works by Albert Namatjira and his contemporaries, the early Papunya artists,” she said.