Working together to create impact: NIAF returns

The National Indigenous Art Fair (NIAF) offers visitors the opportunity to experience Indigenous culture first-hand through a two-day festival program running alongside a marketplace of Indigenous artworks, textiles, jewellery, ceramics and artefacts by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from art centres in the remotest parts of Australia. The involvement of UTS in the early stages of the development of such a major festival which now brings up to 22,000 visitors through the door, has made a large social impact. 

UTS Alumni and General Manager of the National Indigenous Art Fair, Sarah Martin, remembers contemplating the idea of their small Aboriginal Corporation running a large festival, “initially we started the Blak Markets as there was little or no marketplace for Aboriginal business in art, craft, tourism and bushfood to sell their products, so First Hand Solutions created the first Blak Markets in La Perouse 11 years ago”. 

A few years later, they realised that remote artists also wanted to be connected to the Sydney marketplace. 

“It seemed a no brainer when we saw the tourist buses in the Rocks taking people to buy Aboriginal art, we knew it was the ideal place to hold an art fair. We managed to negotiate the use of the Overseas Passenger Terminal for no cost but it was the size of the venue which was daunting for such a small Aboriginal Corporation". 

We were lucky to be connected with Lecturers Luke Tipene and Christina Deluchi from the School of Architecture, in the Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building at UTS together with First Nations Wiradjuri artist, Joel Sherwood Spring, who helped to design the first iteration of the space as well as working on the layout, exhibition design and graphic strategy for the inaugural 2018 event.

Now in its fifth year, students from Interior Architecture at UTS are also working with the Art Fair as part of their degree. To date, their work includes developing a signage design project that works with existing structures at the location to provide engaging and noticeable signage, not only demonstrating an ability to take on a complex brief, but also utilising what’s on hand to create something new. 

Further, since Covid-19 the Cultural Resilience Hub at Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research at UTS has also been involved. Associate Professor Pauline Clague and Research Assistant Ash Little came on board to assist with the capacity building of the organisation to create effective processes for the Art Fair, as well as develop new ideas and professional development programs, providing policy input and further research into the impact NIAF has for the community. 

“Bringing the artists down before the Fair commences to do some professional development helps to enhance skills, see what is currently being exhibited in galleries around the city, and provides access to some of the most up to date 3D technology and its applications that can create artwork or enhance new concepts on how to display art.” 

The partnership has also seen the employment of UTS student, Miah Madden, who is working as both a First Nations team member at the Australian Design Centre and an assistant curator on the Art Fair. 

“Since the NO on the referendum last year, we saw some people trying to divide our artists and cultural values between our remote communities and our cities,” says Pauline Clague. 

“We have lots of work still to do to help Australians engage and learn more about our people. More than ever NIAF allows our community to show the range of artists from around the country, and to connect and engage with our artists as the first contact point to celebrate that we are still here,” Pauline said. 

“For us at the Cultural Resilience Hub at Jumbunna, we wanted to make sure we could add value to what First Hand Solutions is trying to do, building capacity and celebrating the work that is done from the grass-roots up.” 

Last year the Fair drew in over 22,000 visitors across two days. This year there are added community-led programs, performances, food and free workshops. 

The National Indigenous Art Fair will be held at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, The Rocks, on Saturday June 29 and Sunday June 30, 2024. Entry is a donation of $2.50 to support remote artists attending the event. Children under 5 years old enter for free. All proceeds from purchases at the Fair go directly back to the artist and First Nations communities.