Ahead of the next digital Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair from August 06-11, Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation (DAAFF) executive director Claire Summers and creative director Nina Fitzgerald discuss why it is a pivotal time to be celebrating the work of Indigenous designers.
There has never been a better time to support Australian Indigenous artists and designers.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and fashion provides a conduit to connect to the rich culture, stories, traditional practices, and histories of our First Nations Peoples.
These creative processes also provide a safe space to communicate ideas and transcend the cultural and historical barriers that prevent us from understanding one another.
The Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation (DAAFF) exists to provide vibrant and exciting platforms for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and culture with a reputation for innovation, diversity and cultural integrity.
Established in 2012, DAAFF is a not-for-profit Indigenous organisation, owned and governed by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Centres and peak bodies it represents.
This business model is particularly prominent in remote regions of northern and central Australia.
Art Centres play an important role in maintaining and strengthening cultural practices.
They operate as meeting places and offer opportunities for training, education, career pathways and enterprise.
They also play a vital economic role in remote communities.
This economic aspect is crucial not only to the Indigenous art and craft industry, but also to the health of Indigenous communities generally.
Art Centre sales are often the only externally generated source of income.
In August of each year DAAFF presents the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF) which celebrates the rich cultural and artistic diversity of some 2,000 artists.
DAAF is the only national event of its kind and has secured a reputation as one of the country’s most significant and internationally recognised arts events.
The Fair provides visitors a genuine opportunity to meet Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, performers, and Arts Workers, who have travelled to Darwin from some of the most remote regions of Australia.
Additionally, the Fair is a significant networking event for these Indigenous artists, performers, Arts Workers and curators.
The Fair charts the future of the vibrant and evolving Indigenous art scene, and supports the ethical purchasing of Indigenous art.
For many years DAAFF has supported the growing success of textile design from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, as well as independent designers and creatives.
Both tell the unique stories, often grounded in ancient lore, of Australia's First Peoples through contemporary and accessible forms.
The Global Financial Crisis of 2007-2008 took its toll on the Indigenous fine art industry, with a further assault in 2011 when investors were prohibited from displaying artworks purchased through self-managed superannuation funds.
It was a difficult time for artists, Art Centres and commercial galleries alike.
It therefore became imperative that Art Centres found ways to diversify their businesses and attract new markets.
The re-emergence of textile art and design was a prime example of how the implementation of different mediums and techniques, that are positioned at an affordable price point, can awaken a sleeping giant.
Indigenous textile design was contemporary, of high quality, and was suddenly being devoured by audiences again!
DAAF was one of the first promotional platforms that dared to pair textile design with fine art.
This caused controversy within the broader arts sector, and the art fair was criticised for combining ‘craft items’ with contemporary art.
However, the response to textiles at DAAF defied the critics, and now there are some 25 Art Centres that produce fabric as a core part of their business.
To support this growing avenue of artistic expression, the Foundation worked alongside textile artists and designers to successfully launch the Country to Couture fashion showcase in 2016.
Now held annually, it celebrates the marriage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander contemporary fine art, textiles and fashion, in a vibrant runway show.
This has led to exciting collaborations with both local seamstresses and well-known Australian designers.
The event also supports emerging and established independent designers from across Australia.
Building on the amazing success of Country to Couture in 2019, the Northern Territory Government supported the establishment of the National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA) last year.
The inaugural event was held on 5 August 2020, via a live broadcast through NITV’s social channels.
The NIFA celebrates the innovation, diversity and ethical practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and fashion designers, whilst, importantly, contributing to the capacity building of the sector.
The awards include six categories celebrating everything from wearable art to fashion design, community collaborations, environmental and social contributions.
NIFA is committed to supporting the growth of Indigenous excellence right across the fashion industry.
In its inaugural year there were 33 nominations, highlighting the high calibre of First Nations textile and fashion creatives that already exists in the sector.
However, to ensure these brands, designers and artists continue to thrive, the fashion industry needs to continue to champion First Nations excellence and commit to the provision of longer term support and development opportunities.
In embracing diversity and the increased representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fashion creatives, there needs to be a shift in processes, to acknowledge the Indigenous knowledge systems that have existed for millennia.
This is an ongoing conversation and an everyday job. DAAFF's broader fashion program is called the Indigenous Fashion Projects. The support of broader Australian industry has been remarkable.
DAAFF is so excited to have built partners from the fashion industry that support the NIFA Awards including Country Road and RMIT. Country Road is also a major sponsor of Country to Couture.
DAAFF is also delighted to have partnered with David Jones to develop the Pathways Program, which is being designed to provide vital mentoring and professional development opportunities for First Nations textile and fashion designers.
These remarkable partnerships mark a long term commitment by the Australian fashion industry to support the growth of Indigenous fashion, and to ensure it can be embedded into the future of the Australian fashion narrative.