FIRST STORIES PROGRAM

2026 Gather & Trade Events

NAIDOC Week Aboriginal Art & Culture Markets | 4 July 2026

Tamworth Fitzroy Street Plaza, Tamworth NSW 2340

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.

REGISTER HERE 

Arts North West is proud to be attending the National Indigenous Art Fair 2026, taking place 3–5 July at The Cutaway, Barangaroo. Visit us at Booth A1, where acclaimed artist Tyler Stackman will mentor emerging artist Bonnie Paterson as they showcase and sell an exceptional collection of handcrafted Aboriginal artworks. Representing the rich artistic voices of the New England North West region, they join more than 100 First Nations artists from across Australia in one of the nation's premier celebrations of Indigenous art, culture, and storytelling. Don't miss this opportunity to connect directly with artists and experience the diversity, strength, and creativity of contemporary Aboriginal art.

Our mentor and mentee program

Each year, Arts North West creates a pathway for emerging Aboriginal artists by partnering them with an established artist who has previously exhibited at the National Indigenous Art Fair. This mentorship provides invaluable professional development, industry experience, and access to one of Australia's most significant First Nations art markets.

In 2026, Tyler Stackman of Gurruka Arts is mentoring emerging artist Bonnie Paterson of Maruma-Li Yurrun. Tyler is sharing his knowledge and experience across every aspect of participating in a major national art fair. Having successfully exhibited at NIAF before, Tyler offers Bonnie first-hand insight into navigating one of the country's largest and most prestigious First Nations art events.

This opportunity builds confidence and professional skills but also creates a meaningful pathway into the national arts sector, providing the opportunity to exhibit alongside some of the nations most acclaimed Aboriginal artists and connect with collectors, galleries, and audiences from across Australia.

Buy here, and the money goes straight to the artist

The National Indigenous Art Fair is an ethical marketplace where every purchase makes a direct impact. Through Arts North West, 100% of all artwork sales are returned to the artists, ensuring that the benefits flow directly back to the creators and their communities. When you buy from our stall, you're not just purchasing a beautiful piece of art—you're investing in Aboriginal artists, supporting cultural practice, and helping sustain creative businesses across the New England North West region. Discover original paintings, handcrafted jewellery, textiles, homewares, and other unique works, all sold by the artists themselves. Meet the makers, hear the stories behind the work, and take home something truly authentic, knowing your purchase directly supports the person who created it.Bring cash or card, connect with the artists, and take home a piece of living culture straight from the maker's hands.

Meet the artists

Tyler Stackman — Gurruka Arts. A Thunghutti artist and cultural craftsman with ties to the Gamilaroi and Biripai peoples. His work blends traditional art with modern contemporary techniques, across painting, drawing, and wood carving and burning. His goal is to share his art and culture with the wider community, and to teach young Indigenous people that culture is our identity, something to be preserved and protected.

Bonnie Paterson — Maruma-Li Yurrun. A contemporary Gamilaroi/Weilwyn artist who grew up in Dubbo on Wiradjuri Country, with family lineage from Coonabarabran and Warren, and has lived in Tamworth most of her adult life. Rivers run through her work. She sees them as scars on the land that keep flowing and healing over time. At its heart, her art is about healing: honouring where we've been, recognising where we are, and embracing the journey forward.

 About NIAF 2026

NIAF turns seven this year and lands in NAIDOC Week. More than 30 Art Centres and over 100 artists travel in from across the country, and last year the fair drew 10,000 visitors over the weekend. Between the stalls, you can watch cooking demonstrations, join a workshop, and catch live music and dance.

Event details

• Dates: Friday 3 – Sunday 5 July 2026

• Opening Night: Friday 3 July, 5:30–8:30pm

• Art Fair: Saturday 4 July 10am–5pm, Sunday 5 July 10am–4pm

• Location: The Cutaway, Barangaroo (Gadigal Country)

• Entry: Children 12 and under free

• Tickets: https://tickets.lup.com.au/Indigenous-Art-Fair-2026?cat=cat-registration

Find Arts North West at booth A1.

GUNNEDAH NAIDOC EXHIBITION OPEN CALL FOR CULTURAL CREATIVES!

First Nations artists are invited to take part in the NAIDOC Week Art Exhibition 2026 at the Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Gallery, marking 50 years of NAIDOC Week. This milestone exhibition is a celebration of culture, story, and artistic expression, honouring the strength and continuity of First Nations voices.

Artists are encouraged to submit works that reflect identity, Country, community, and the evolving narratives that shape contemporary practice.

This is a meaningful opportunity to exhibit within a significant cultural program, connect with audiences, and contribute to a vibrant and reflective showcase of First Nations art.

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)