One of the nation’s premier Aboriginal art and cultural events is set to open on Thursday 8 September.

Presented by the Araluen Arts Centre with partner Desart, Desert Mob 2016 includes hundreds of artworks and events for visitors to attend and participate in.

Desert Mob has become a nationally significant annual review of art from art centres across Australia’s desert lands since it was established by the Araluen Arts Centre in 1991.

Araluen Cultural Precinct Director Dr Mark Crees said Desert Mob 2016 continues the tradition of presenting new, vibrant and experimental works by emerging and established artists from Desart member art centres from the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia.

“No other annual exhibition presents as clearly the shifting dynamic mix of traditional and contemporary art practice of Aboriginal artists from desert art centres,” Dr Crees said.

“Desert Mob is unique among Aboriginal art exhibitions with artists and their art centres selecting the artworks to be exhibited, rather than through a pre-selection process.

“The Desert Mob 2016 exhibition will span three galleries, presenting over 250 artworks, including paintings, ceramics, works on paper, photography, sculpture and installation works, by 236 artists from 31 art centres.”

The opening weekend of Desert Mob 2016 will feature three days of significant events, including the official exhibition opening, a symposium of artist and art centre presentations as well as an affordable art MarketPlace.

The Symposium will be hosted in the Araluen Arts Centre Theatre between 10am and 3.30pm on Friday 9 September. The Symposium is free and catered lunch is available at a cost of $25 by prior registration at www.desart.com.au

Desert Mob MarketPlace takes place between 10am and 2pm on Saturday 10 September at the Araluen Arts Centre. Numerous art centres will be represented, offering high quality artworks at the affordable price of $500 or less. This is also an opportunity to meet and speak with artists who attend the event. This large, vibrant outdoor/indoor market event provides an opportunity for unique interaction between artists, art centre staff and buyers.

Desert Mob 2016 continues a tradition of revealing and celebrating the vast geographic, linguistic and cultural diversity of Aboriginal artists from south to the APY Lands, north and west to the Gibson Desert, Kimberley and Pilbara regions of Western Australia, and across the central and southern Northern Territory, including several Alice Springs based art centres.

For further information please visit www.desertmob.nt.gov.au

Media contact – Dr Mark Crees 8951 1126

Authorised by Hugo Leschen for the Department of Arts and Museums, 9-11 Cavenagh st, Darwin.