Australia’s largest Indigenous arts event will go online for the first time in its 14 year history.
The not-for-profit DAAF Foundation will stage the event over a period of nine days from 6-14 August.
Minister for Tourism, Sport, and Culture, Lauren Moss commended the team for endeavouring to protect and preserve Indigenous culture.
DAAF Foundation Executive Director Claire Summers said the COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench into the works but it also reminded her of the importance of recording the ancient stories.
“The pandemic really brought to our attention how critical it was to make sure that we are focusing on cultural and language preservation,” Summers said.
Moving to a digital platform has also made it accessible to a global audience.
“Creativity can be expressed and shared in many ways, so moving beyond the boundaries of a physical fair made sense in 2020, particularly given our collective yearning for a sense of connection and meaning as we move out of lockdown,” Summers said.
Aboriginal Agency
Summers said that the creation of the DAAF Foundation in 2012 was a critical step in the evolution of the fair because the event became owned and operated by Aboriginal people.DAAF is internationally celebrated as a world-class event. Last year’s fair drew 2,000 artists and an attendance of over 17,000. It also generated $2.84 million in art sales, with 100 percent of sales going back to the centres, artists, and their communities. The fair had a record impact of more than $13.2 million in the Northern Territory.