Desart

28/10/2026

Arlpwe Art and Culture Centre are hiring! 📣

Want to work with artists doing exciting things?

Arlpwe is looking for a Studio Coordinator to join their team and work alongside an extraordinary group of Aboriginal artists and Elders.

Their artists are winning awards, exhibiting nationally, and building serious momentum across the Australian art world. Now they’re gearing up for the next round of major exhibitions + art fairs — and want you in the studio!

This is a 6-month fixed-term contract with the possibility of an extension to 12 months, subject to funding.

✨ Artist-led and community-owned
✨ $65K–$80K p.a. + allowances & entitlements
✨ Start date - February 2027

📍 Arlpwe Art & Culture Centre, Kaytetye Country | Central Australia

If you’re creative, organised, hands-on and genuinely excited by contemporary Aboriginal art, Arlpwe want to hear from you.

Learn more and download the full job description at: https://desart.com.au/job-opportunity/studio-coordinator-arlpwe-art-culture-centre-2/

Come to Ali Curung. Work with incredible artists. Help make what’s next.

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Image: Lincoln Corbett in the Arlpwe Studio. Photo courtesy of Arlpwe Art & Culture Centre.
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21/10/2026

Desart and the Central Land Council warmly congratulate Margaret Kngwarray Long of Utopia Art Centre who has won the $2,000 Desart People’s Choice Award as part of the 2026 Vincent Lingiari Art Award for her painting, Arnkerrth 2026.

Margaret Kngwarray Long paints Arnkerrth, the Mountain Devil, her mother’s Dreaming from her country, Atnangkerr.

“Amaroo old station. That’s where I was born. Where I grew up. I used to go to Utopia Homestead school when I was a young girl. A long time ago.

My father was working doing station work. Mustering for tucker. No money. We moved all over. Queensland and Northern Territory side. Argadargada Station, Waite River Station, Lake Nash, Mount Skinner. Everywhere. My father’s working. We went and sat down, all the ladies and young girls. We were sitting down at Waite River and Argadargada for a long time. Hunting in the Eugene River. My family were learning me. Learning to ride horse, too.

Atnangkerr Country we used to go with my aunties. Gloria, Kathleen, Violet. I was watching them doing painting. Making canvas and batik. We were working there at Utopia Homestead all together. When I was young. Batik first then painting now.”

- Margaret Kngwarray Long

Across the exhibition period, thousands of people visited the Araluen Arts Centre to view the exhibition with hundreds casting their vote for the Desart People’s Choice Award. Votes were also submitted online with all exhibitive works receiving a vote!

Although the Award exhibition has ended, works can still be viewed online at https://desertmob.com/vlaa-exhibition/

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Images: 1. Margaret Kngwarray Long, Arnkerrth 2026, synthetic polymer paint on linen, 211 x 151 cm. Photo by Fiona Morrison, courtesy the artist and Desart. 2. Margaret Kngwarray Long, courtesy Utopia Art Centre. 3. Vincent Lingiari Art Award 2026 exhibition at the Araluen Arts Centre. Photo by Fiona Morrison, courtesy Desart.

21/10/2026

30/09/2026

Last chance to apply! Applications for Arlpwe Art and Culture Centre's Studio Coordinator role close this Friday, 2 October. ⏰

Join the Arlpwe team in Ali Curung, NT and work alongside an extraordinary group of Aboriginal artists and Elders in this exciting, full-time role.

If you’re creative, organised, hands-on and genuinely excited by contemporary Aboriginal art then this role is for you.

To learn more about the role and download the Position Description, visit: https://desart.com.au/job-opportunity/studio-coordinator-arlpwe-art-culture-centre-2/

📌Applications close 5PM (ACST) this Friday, 2 October 2026. Don't miss your chance to join the Arlpwe team!

Arlpwe Art & Culture Centre Ali Curung, NT | Kaytetye Country $60,000–$85,000 p.a. + allowances and entitlements | Start date negotiable Work where culture, art and community come together. Arlpwe is looking for a Studio Coordinator to join their team and work alongside an extraordinary group of A...

21/09/2026

ART CENTRE JOB OPPORTUNITY 🔆

Are you Arlpwe Art and Culture Centre's next Studio Coordinator?

Join the team and work alongside an extraordinary group of Aboriginal artists and Elders!

Based in Ali Curung, Central Australia, Arlpwe is a 100% Indigenous owned organisation representing artists from the Kaytetye, Alyawarr, Warlpiri and Warumungu nation.

Their artists are winning awards, exhibiting nationally and internationally, and building serious momentum across the Australian art world. Now they're gearing up for the next round of major exhibitions and art fairs — and want you in the studio!

✨ Artist-led
✨ Community-owned
✨ Culturally grounded
✨ $60K–$85K p.a. + allowances & entitlements
✨ Start date negotiable.

If you’re creative, organised, hands-on and genuinely excited by contemporary Aboriginal art, we want to hear from you.

Learn more and apply at: https://desart.com.au/job-opportunity/studio-coordinator-arlpwe-art-culture-centre-2/

Applications close 5PM (ACST) Friday 2 October 2026.

Images: 1. Iris Rice in the Arlpwe Studio. Photo courtesy Arlpwe Art and Culture. 2. Nancy Long Nungarrayi and Rene Long Nungarrayi with their works, Pereltye 2025, Arlpwe Art and Cultural Centre, Desert Mob 2025. Photo by Sara Maiorino (). 3. Desert Mob 2025 featuring works by Arlpwe Art and Culture Centre. Photo by Sara Maiorino.

15/09/2026

Celebrating 50 years of land rights through art, story and culture during the opening week of Desert Mob.

The Vincent Lingiari Art Award was created to honour the leadership, courage and strength of Mr Lingiari and all our old people who fought for their land and water.

"The entries tell powerful stories about all that we have protected," said CLC chair Warren Williams on opening night.

"To all the artists who entered this year: congratulations and thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your art lifts us up and inspires us to keep fighting for our families. We hope it will reach those in power who might otherwise be out of reach."

The opening week also featured an artist talks panel hosted by CLC general manager Dr Josie Douglas, and the premiere of our new film documenting the fight for land rights from the 1970s to today.

The Vincent Lingiari Art Award exhibition is on now at the Araluen Arts Centre, catch the exhibition before it closes October 18.

12/09/2026

Moving conversations, stories, film and music filled the Araluen Arts Centre theatre yesterday at what was an incredible day of Artist Talks and a special celebration of the 50th anniversary of land rights!

Desert Mob continues today with the bustling Desert Mob Art Market starting at 10AM at the Araluen Arts Centre precinct.

The art market is free to attend and will feature over 30 art centres selling paintings, ceramics, punu, weavings, sculptures, textiles and more.

Join artists from Yarrenyty Arltere Artists from 11am for a free soft sculpture workshop. Inspired by the much-loved soft sculptures created at the art centre, get creative using recycled and hand-stitched materials to your own special artworks.

Our presenting partners 8CCC Community Radio 102.1fm - Alice Springs & Tennant Creek will be broadcasting live with interviews and performances by Tommy Gunn Hargraves, Alice Kings, DJ Graham Jnr, and Fejo & The Cruizers.

Food and great coffee will be available too. Remember to bring along your drink bottle to take advantage of the refill station generously provided by Power and Water, which helps us reduce waste.

This is a free event open to all the community.

Plan your morning and learn more at www.desertmob.com

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Images: Desert Mob 2026 Artist Talks at the Araluen Arts Centre. All images by Sara Maiorino (). Courtesy Desart.

11/09/2026

Some action shots from the Desert Mob opening in Mparntwe, celebrating 50 years of land rights and the power of art.

Congratulations to Elizabeth Ngwarraye Bonney for winning the Vincent Lingiari Art Award, and Joseph Williams Jungarrayi for winning the CLC Delegates Choice Award.

You can check out all the artworks in the 2026 Vincent Lingiari Art Award at the Araluen Arts Centre until 18 October 2026. In the words of Desart chief executive Philip Watkins, “their art makes lore and culture visible.”

CLC chair Warren Williams thanks all the artists from across Central Australia who entered works.

“Your art lifts us up and inspires us to keep fighting for our families,” he said.

At the Artist Talks today, we heard CLC general manager Josie Douglas, Vincent Lingiari’s granddaughter Rosie Smiler, Desart CEO Philip Watkins, writer and academic Marcia Langton AO, artists and Singleton native title holders Lindy Brodie and Heather Anderson speak about the history of land rights and the role of art in this fight. They also spoke about the High Court’s decision to stop the Singleton Station water licence and how the battle for water rights has only just begun.

We hope everyone enjoys Desert Mob this weekend!

11/09/2026

The 2026 Vincent Lingiari Art Award is on now at the Araluen Arts Centre!

Presented by Desart and the Central Land Council, the Vincent Lingiari Art Award celebrates the momentous 50th anniversary of the passing of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act (NT) 1976 through this year’s exhibition theme Our Country, Our Culture: 50 Years of Land Rights.

Join us this Thursday 10 September for the announcement of the winners of the Vincent Lingiari Art Award major prize and the Central Land Council’s Delegates Choice Award alongside the 2026 Desert Mob opening night celebrations.

Be sure to cast your vote for the Desart People’s Choice Award by Sunday 18 October either in person or online at: https://shorturl.at/2dWV9

Learn more about the stories behind the art and the land rights movement at Desert Mob Artist Talks with special panel and film screening by Central Land Council. Tickets on sale now: https://events.humanitix.com/desert-mob-artist-talks

The Vincent Lingiari Art Award is open daily from 10am – 4pm at the Araluen Arts Centre, Mparntwe/Alice Springs and viewable online at https://desertmob.com/vlaa-exhibition/

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Images: Vincent Lingiari Art Award 2026 exhibition at the Araluen Arts Centre. Photography by Fiona Morrison. Courtesy the artists and Desart.

10/09/2026

What a magical evening on Arrernte Country! ✨

A sincere thank you to everyone who joined us last night for the official opening of Desert Mob 2026 and celebration of the Vincent Lingiari Art Award. Thank you to Elaine Kngwarraye Peckham, Desart Board Committee Member, Tanya Singer, Desart CEO, Philip Watkins, Central Land Council Chair, Warren Williams, and Minister Jinson Charls for their official opening of Desert Mob. We'd also like to sincerely thank the Vincent Lingiari family representatives, Trisha Smiler and Rosie Smiler and all artists and art centres who joined us in celebration. From the buzz of the gallery atmosphere to the expansive sounds of Eleanor Jawurlngali, we hope you all had a wonderful night!

The Vincent Lingiari Art Award and Desert Mob exhibitions can be viewed at the Araluen Arts Centre from 10AM – 4PM daily with free entry to the gallery all weekend.

Can’t see the exhibition in person? View and purchase works online here: https://desertmob.com/

The Desert Mob 2026 program continues today with Artist Talks commencing from 10am at the Araluen Arts Centre. Tickets available on the door (catered lunch sold out).

The popular art market is also back from 10am tomorrow with live broadcast from our presenting partners, 8CCC Community Radio 102.1fm - Alice Springs & Tennant Creek. There'll be live music from Tommy Gunn Hargraves, Alice Kings and Fejo & The Cruizers and delicious food and coffee to keep you going throughout the day! Remember to bring along your drink bottle to take advantage of the refill station generously provided by Power and Water, which helps us reduce waste.

View the full program of events including satellite exhibitions at www.desertmob.com or pick up a program at local coffee shops and galleries across Mparntwe.

Image captions: Desert Mob 2026 Official Opening Night. All images by Sara Maiorino (), courtesy Desart.