Attracting Visitation: Desert Mob 2019 Opens Today

Now in its 29thyear, one of the nations most anticipated Aboriginal art and cultural events, Desert Mob 2019, opens today at theAraluen Cultural Precinct in Alice Springs until 20 October 2019.

The TerritoryLabor Government has again partnered with Desart and the exhibition will spanthree galleries and present close to 260 new artworks selected by 32 artcentres.

The Desert Mob Symposium will be heldtomorrow, 6 September, to celebrate the artistic and cultural achievements ofthe artists from Desart-member Aboriginal art centres and will featurepresentations by Aboriginal artists and special guests that explorecontemporary concerns through art grounded in deep cultural knowledge.

The Desert Mob MarketPlace returns onSaturday 7 September where art lovers can purchase art directly fromAboriginal-owned art centres with all proceeds going back to artists, their artcentres and communities.

Desert Mob now attracts some 10 000 visitors eachyear from around Australia and the world. Last year, the Desert Mob 2018exhibition generated over $1 million in total sales for Aboriginal communities andartists, providing a boost to the local economy and local jobs.

For moreinformation visit www.desertmob.nt.gov.au

As noted by Minister for Tourism, Sportand Culture, Lauren Moss:

Desert Mob isrecognised nationally and internationally as a significant arts event,showcasing emerging practices and innovations in Aboriginal art from thedesert.

Featuring amajor exhibition, an affordable art market and an all-day symposium, Desert Mob2019 continues its tradition of acknowledging and celebrating the vastcultural, linguistic and geographical diversity of Aboriginal artists,including several Mparntwe (Alice Springs) based art centres.

Seeinghundreds of Aboriginal artists on site alongside thousands of tourists, and thesense of pride and celebration of Aboriginal art and culture, reinforces whyCentral Australia is the rightful home for a national gallery, that willshowcase and celebrate a globally significant, Australia-wide art collectionfrom the worlds oldest continuous culture.

Quotesfrom Member for Braitling, Dale Wakefield:

Desert Mob continuesto draw thousands of visitors and collectors to Alice Springs for an event thatis truly unlike any other.

Investing inour Aboriginal arts and culture industry is also about investing in tourism -both of which are major economic drivers and create jobs here in the CentralAustralia.

As noted by Departmentof Tourism, Sport and Culture, Senior Director of Araluen Cultural Precinct,Felicity Green:

The AraluenCultural Precinct is proud to welcome back Desert Mob in partnership withDesart. It is a partnership that goes back close to two decades and continuesto grow year on year. It is now a major event the whole of Alice Springs looksforward to.

Desart membersfrom Aboriginal-owned art centres across the Northern Territory, SouthAustralia and Western Australia will once again be in attendance, presentingnew arts projects and artworks by emerging and established Aboriginal artists.

Desert Mob isthe desert art epicentre, bringing Aboriginal artists to the beating heart ofthe country, Mparntwe, to reinforce and celebrate their culture together forthe thousands of visitors who flood into the Precinct over this very specialweekend.

As noted by CEO Desart,Philip Watkins:

CentralAustralia is the home of the Aboriginal art movement and Desert Mobconsistently demonstrates the vibrancy of artwork from the region, through anoutstanding program of exhibition, symposium and marketplace.

Desartis proud of all the artists and artworkers who share their cultural knowledgethrough contemporary art practice, affirming their identity and continuousconnection to country.

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