Gather & Trade 2025

Gather & Trade 2025: Celebrating First Nations Artisans and Culture

Arts North West continues to champion vibrant cultural exchange and First Nations creativity across the New England North West through a series of meaningful public events that bridge art, community, and country.

At the Yuga-Li Gathering Festival held at the Art Shack @ Wilgabah on Country near Wallabadah, Arts North West’s Gather & Trade Aboriginal Artisans Market celebrates Indigenous artistry within a broader program of music, workshops and cultural exchange. Against the stunning backdrop of the Liverpool Plains, visitors can explore handcrafted jewellery, textiles, weaving, paintings and photography, and connect directly with makers while experiencing First Nations culture in a welcoming, communal festival setting.

Gather & Trade also plays a poignant role within the Myall Creek Memorial Events at Warialda’s Ceramic Break Sculpture Park. Here, Arts North West partners with the Sculpture Park to present a First Nations Myall Creek Memorial Exhibition alongside artisan markets — honouring the resilience and living culture of Aboriginal artists while commemorating the legacy of the Myall Creek massacre and the ongoing journey of truth-telling and reconciliation. Seventeen regional First Nations artists have been featured, bringing voice and presence to this significant cultural moment.

During the festive season in Tamworth, Arts North West brings local Aboriginal creativity into the heart of community celebration with its Mini Gather & Trade Aboriginal Artisans Market stall at the Baiada Carols in the Park. This pop-up market at Bicentennial Park invites families and visitors to experience and purchase unique handcrafted works while enjoying the region’s cherished Christmas traditions of carol singing, live entertainment and community spirit.

Together, these initiatives reflect Arts North West’s commitment to elevating First Nations cultural expression, nurturing artistic economies and fostering connection across communities through shared creativity and cultural celebration.