A partnership that began in 2009 looks set to continue for the next four years with Wesfarmers announcing this week that it has increased its support of the National Gallery of Australia becoming the gallery’s official Indigenous Art Partner from 2012.
The new partnership valued at $1.4 million will encompass the ongoing support of the Wesfarmers Arts Indigenous Fellowship program and the 2nd National Indigenous Arts Triennial.
The Arts Indigenous Fellowship and Leadership program is a national initiative aimed at increasing the involvement of Indigenous people in visual arts management across Australia’s gallery and museum sector.
Head of Wesfarmers Arts Ms Helen Carroll said “Wesfarmers is committed to promoting the role of art and culture in our society-in particular, the central place that indigenous culture occupies in defining the contemporary face of Australia and our national identity on the world stage.
“The National Gallery of Australia continues to lead the way in the display and promotion of Indigenous art as demonstrated by the opening of the 11 new Stage One Indigenous art galleries in 2010, as well as the launch of the Wesfarmers Art Indigenous Leadership program and the staging of the second National Indigenous Art Triennial, it’s exciting to be working with a dynamic company like Wesfarmers on these projects, “said Mr Rupert Myer AM, Chairman of the National Gallery of Australia.
The National Gallery of Australia and Wesfarmers will present Undisclosed the 2nd National Indigenous Art Triennial at the gallery in Canberra from May 11 to July 10 2012 before embarking on a national tour.
Culture Warriors’ was the 1st Triennial and attracted over 260,000 visitors on its national tour which opened in Canberra in 2007 and ended in Washington DC in early 2010.
The National Gallery of Australia invited Carly Lane curator of Indigenous Art at the gallery to curate the exhibition; works featured will be in a range of media, including paintings on canvas and bark, sculpture, work on paper, photo media, new media and large scale installations.
This 2nd triennial extends the narrative of the 1st and invites viewers to unearth the hidden layers and subtle meanings in the works of twenty wonderful contemporary Australian artists, Franchesca Cubillo, senior curator of Indigenous Art at the gallery says “undisclosed is an exciting snapshot of contemporary Indigenous Art that will challenge ,inspire and captivate.”
Looks like another great exhibition to add to our diary.
