FIRST STORIES PROGRAM

Arts North West First Stories Program works with individuals and organisations to build and improve opportunities for Aboriginal arts and communities in our region.

Extensive community consultation and strategic partnerships guide the development of programs and partnerships designed to foster and develop paid opportunities for Aboriginal artists, and build cultural safety and competency throughout all Arts North West initiatives.

Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support (IVAIS) Funding is to support and foster Aboriginal artists in the New England North West. Arts North West has engaged three First Nations contractors to deliver a myriad of programs and projects throughout the North West to diversify and increase opportunities for Indigenous creatives.

view the ARTS NORTH WEST ABORIGINAL ARTS & Cultural STRATEGY 2024 - 2028 (pdf)

The Gadjigadji program

The Arts North West: First Stories Programs supports journeys that Promote Revitalising Arts and Cultural Programs in our Communities. Artists and arts workers can apply for various types of support to enhance their projects, which will contribute to the improvement of the First Nations arts sector within the Arts North West region.
The Gadjigadji program is ongoing and assessed monthly. Financial assistance is available though the program but the amounts that can b applied for vary each round.
The program also offers practical project support through Arts North West, including assistance from the Aboriginal Arts Officer, help with project delivery, and opportunities to strengthen outcomes for artists, communities, and the wider First Nations arts sector across the region.

aPPLY HERE

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.
Myall Creek Exhibition Opening Market | 6 JUNE 2026
Ceramic Break Sculpture Park, Warialda - 2535 Allan Cunningham Rd, Warialda Rail NSW 2402
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.
REGISTER HERE
NAIDOC Week Aboriginal Art & Culture Markets | 4 July 2026
Tamworth fITZROY PLAZA, fITZROY sTREET tAMWORTH
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

ceramic break sculpture park eoi for gather and trade

NAIDOC MARKETS EOI for gather and trade

Gunnedah First Nations Makers Expo is an inclusive gathering to showcase creativity and culture in our local artists and their practices. The event will bring together the vibrant and diverse skills of our peoples' vast knowledge bases, providing a platform for artists, makers, and cultural practitioners to present their work within a space built for making connection, learning, and exchange.

Artists are invited to actively demonstrate their creative processes, engage with audiences, and share insights into their practice. Whether through hands-on making, storytelling, conversation, or informal workshops, participants play an important role in creating an interactive and educational experience for the community.

📅 20th June, 2026 at The Gunnedah Town Hall

📍 152 Conadilly St, Gunnedah NSW 2380

⏳Bump In for each event starts at 8.00am *

⏰ Events times 10.00am -3.00pm *

⌛Bump Out for each event starts 3.00pm *

*Attendees will be informed of any changes to schedules prior to events

Artist Fee: Participation is free to presenting artists. Presenting artists will receive a $200 participation fee per site from ANW.

Gunnedah First Nations Makers Expo supports: The sharing and continuation of cultural and creative knowledge, Opportunities for artists to connect with new audiences, A deeper public understanding of artistic processes and cultural contexts, A welcoming and respectful environment for cross-cultural exchange.

This event also provides an opportunity for creative and cultural practitioners to develop and present work for potential inclusion in the Gunnedah NAIDOC Exhibition. Artists are encouraged to use this platform to create, test, or refine artworks for exhibition submission

Gunnedah First nations makers expo registration

First Stories: PROFILES AND PORTRAITS

Arts North West is heading to Tenterfield to support First Nations artists, makers and cultural practitioners through a free professional development opportunity designed to strengthen artist profiles and build confidence in presenting creative practice professionally.

First Stories: Profiles and Portraits offers one-on-one artist support sessions focused on two essential tools for building a sustainable creative career — professional headshots and artist biographies. Whether you are applying for exhibitions, markets, festivals, funding opportunities, residencies or promoting your work online, strong visual and written artist profiles are often the first introduction people have to your practice.

During each session, participants will receive a professionally photographed headshot alongside tailored support to develop, refine or update their artist bio. Arts North West staff will work directly with artists to help articulate their creative practice, cultural connections, artistic journey and professional experience in a way that feels authentic, confident and industry-ready.

This initiative is designed to support both emerging and established First Nations creatives who may be looking to strengthen their professional materials, apply for opportunities or further develop their creative careers. The sessions also provide an opportunity to connect with Arts North West, ask questions about funding and professional development pathways, and discuss future creative opportunities within the region.

The program aims to reduce barriers to participation by providing free access to professional resources and support that can often be difficult to access within regional communities. By investing in artists’ professional presentation and visibility, First Stories: Portraits & Pathways supports stronger representation of First Nations creatives across the arts and cultural sector.

📍 Tenterfield TAFE Makers Space
📅 Tuesday 30 June 2026

Bookings are essential, with limited one-hour sessions available.

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.

Gunnedah naidoc week exhibition

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.