Araluen Cultural Precinct Acting Director Marion MacLean today thanked the community for its strong support of this year’s Desert Mob, with almost 150 works sold during the 25th Anniversary Exhibition.

“A total of 148 artworks were sold, totalling $308,130 in value sold from the Exhibition which opened on 3 September and closed on 1 November 2015,” Ms MacLean said.

“This is a great result and up on last year’s Desert Mob Exhibition, which achieved $297,500 in sales across 135 artworks.

“I thank the local Alice Springs community and visitors to the Araluen Cultural Precinct for their support of Desert Mob this year and congratulate the artists and organisers who achieved such a great outcome.

“Today, Desert Mob is a leading national arts event featuring an exhibition of recent artworks from Aboriginal art centres in Central Australia, a MarketPlace of artworks and a Symposium led by artists from the region that explores concepts and ideas around art creation and the culture that informs it.

“It is a celebration of Desart (Association of Central Australian Aboriginal Art and Craft Centres Incorporated) member art centres from the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia in a unique experience that explores and showcases Aboriginal art and culture from Central Australia.

“The Desert Mob exhibition is the only event in Australia that offers a snapshot of what is currently happening in contemporary art from Aboriginal owned art centres across the Central Australian region, a distance spanning over a million square kilometres and the birthplace of the modern Aboriginal art movement.”

An initiative of the Araluen Arts Centre in 1991, the Desert Mob exhibition began its life as an opportunity to support art centres and promote Aboriginal art from Central Australia to a wide audience.

From its inception, all works in the Desert Mob exhibition have been offered for sale.

The exhibition provides a unique chance to experience current trends in Aboriginal owned and managed art centres in Central Australia, in the one venue.

Ends

Media Note -  For further information / interview please contact Araluen Cultural Precinct A/Director Marion Maclean on 89511128.