Telstra Art Awards Consults Arts Community
The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) announced today (24th Sept) that it will be holding open discussions about the future direction of the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards.
MAGNT Acting Director Apolline Kohen said the forums, aimed at Indigenous artists and those who work with the Indigenous arts industry will be taking place in Alice Springs next Monday and Darwin in early October, followed by a national teleconference in November 2008.
This year the Telstra Art Awards reached its 25th Silver Jubilee year, and we feel its time to look towards the future of the awards and how we can continue to best serve the indigenous art industry, Ms Kohen said.
In 25 years the Telstra Art Awards have continued to grow and evolve in response to changes in Indigenous arts practice and the market as a whole, so its timely to now go back to the grassroots of the awards “ the Indigenous artists and representatives “ to hear their views.
Discussions will focus on the indigenous art industry as a whole, as well as potential areas of review for the Telstra Art Awards.
Both the Alice Springs and Darwin forums will be facilitated by Director Red Hot Arts, Lucy Kenneth and speakers include MAGNT Acting Director Apolline Kohen, MAGNT Senior Curator Aboriginal Art and Material Culture, Franchesca Cubillo and DesArt Executive Officer. John Oster.
The national teleconference will include indigenous artists and representatives from across the country, as well as State and National Museum representatives.
The Alice Springs Forum will be held from 9.30-3.30pm Monday, 29 September in the Andy MacNeill Room in the Town Council building , cnr Gregory and Todd. And the Darwin Forum will be held from 9.30-3.30pm Friday, 17 October in the MAGNT Theatrette.
