FIRST STORIES PROGRAM

2026 Gather & Trade Events

Arts North West is inviting Aboriginal artists, makers and cultural practitioners from across the New England North West and beyond to be part of Gather & Trade 2026.

We welcome expressions of interest from artists working across (but not limited to):

• Visual art

• Jewellery and adornment

• Textile and fibre arts

• Woodwork and carving

• Cultural craft

• Ceramics

• Bush products and cultural objects

Artists will benefit from:

• Paid market opportunities ($200 per stall holder or $500 if there is more than 5x artists represented at the stall

• Promotion through Arts North West networks

• Access to regional audiences and cultural tourism markets

• Connection with other Aboriginal creatives across the region

Gather & Trade is part of Arts North West’s commitment to supporting Aboriginal artists, strengthening cultural economies and creating platforms where culture can thrive.

By bringing artists together across multiple events and locations, Gather & Trade aims to:

• Create sustainable income opportunities for artists

• Strengthen regional cultural networks

• Support the sharing of knowledge, story and cultural practice

• Increase the visibility of Aboriginal creativity across the region

Through these gatherings, culture is celebrated, stories are shared and Aboriginal artists continue to shape the creative future of regional NSW.

Yuga-Li Festival Artisan Markets

Wallabadah | April 11–12 2026

Set against the sweeping landscape of the Liverpool Plains, the Yuga-Li Gathering Festival is a vibrant celebration of culture, creativity and community. The name Yuga-Li comes from the Gamilaroi language and means “celebration,” reflecting the spirit of the event.

Held at the Art Shack at Wilgabah, the festival brings together live music, cultural workshops, artisan markets and storytelling across an immersive weekend experience. Visitors can participate in hands-on cultural workshops such as weaving, clap-stick making and other traditional arts while enjoying performances and community activities.

Through Gather & Trade, Aboriginal artists will have the opportunity to:

• Sell original artworks, craft and cultural objects

• Share traditional and contemporary making practices

• Connect with festival audiences and cultural visitors

• Build new networks across the creative community

The Yuga-Li markets attract visitors who are eager to engage with authentic Aboriginal art and cultural knowledge, creating a powerful platform for artists to share culture in a meaningful setting. Complete the EOI below to register as a stall holderWallabadah | April 11–12 2026

Set against the sweeping landscape of the Liverpool Plains, the Yuga-Li Gathering Festival is a vibrant celebration of culture, creativity and community. The name Yuga-Li comes from the Gamilaroi language and means “celebration,” reflecting the spirit of the event.

Held at the Art Shack at Wilgabah, the festival brings together live music, cultural workshops, artisan markets and storytelling across an immersive weekend experience. Visitors can participate in hands-on cultural workshops such as weaving, clap-stick making and other traditional arts while enjoying performances and community activities.

Through Gather & Trade, Aboriginal artists will have the opportunity to:

• Sell original artworks, craft and cultural objects

• Share traditional and contemporary making practices

• Connect with festival audiences and cultural visitors

• Build new networks across the creative community

The Yuga-Li markets attract visitors who are eager to engage with authentic Aboriginal art and cultural knowledge, creating a powerful platform for artists to share culture in a meaningful setting. Complete the EOI below to register as a stall holder.

Myall Creek Exhibition Opening Market

Ceramic Break Sculpture Park, Warialda | 2026

The opening of the Myall Creek Exhibition at Ceramic Break Sculpture Park will bring artists, visitors and communities together in a powerful cultural moment of reflection, creativity and storytelling.

Set within the unique landscape of the Ceramic Break Sculpture Park in Warialda, the event will launch a major exhibition responding to the history and cultural significance of the Myall Creek site.

As part of this gathering, Gather & Trade will present an Aboriginal artisan market, creating space for artists and makers to:

• Present works connected to Country, memory and storytelling

• Share traditional cultural practices and contemporary artforms

• Engage with audiences attending the exhibition opening

• Connect with artists, curators and regional arts audiences

The sculpture park setting provides an extraordinary backdrop where contemporary art and cultural practice sit within the natural environment, creating a memorable experience for artists and visitors alike.

NAIDOC Week Aboriginal Art & Culture Markets

Tamworth | July 2026

Each year NAIDOC Week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia.

In Tamworth, Gather & Trade will activate a vibrant NAIDOC Market, bringing together Aboriginal artists, makers and cultural practitioners to showcase the depth and diversity of regional cultural practice.

These markets will feature:

• Aboriginal art, jewellery, textiles and cultural craft

• Bush products and handmade objects

• Cultural storytelling and creative demonstrations

• A celebration of living culture and creative enterprise

NAIDOC markets are an opportunity for the broader community to support Aboriginal artists directly, creating space for meaningful cultural exchange and strengthening the region’s Aboriginal creative economy.

Aboriginal arts steering committee

Arts North West supports the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities to celebrate and practise their cultures and to fulfil creative and cultural aspirations. Furthermore, we recognise and respect that Aboriginal people have a right to self-determination particularly in respect to cultural matters. This includes making decisions about preserving and sharing their traditional and contemporary cultural knowledge and practices.

Arts North West, through the Aboriginal Cultural Support Program, provides dedicated, cohesive, and regionally-based support for Aboriginal arts and cultural development which will allow our community greater access to opportunities to strengthen culture through arts practice, projects and career development.

The NENW Aboriginal Arts Steering Committee supports Arts North West with cultural guidance and decision-making, strategic planning, advice and feedback and will be developing respectful and sustainable relationships based on trust and respect for our cultural values and our histories. The NENW Aboriginal Arts Steering Committee is comprised of two Aboriginal volunteer representatives from each of the contributing LGAs in our region.

Arts North West Aboriginal Arts Steering committee 2024/25

Tyler Stackman-Green (Walcha)

Leanne Pryor (Gunnedah)

Raquel Clarke (Moree)

Amy Allerton (Tamworth)

Ethan Towns (Narrabri)

Waabii Adele Chapman-Burgess (Glen Innes)

Tania Hartigan (Liverpool Plains)