Desart (Association of Central Australian Aboriginal Art and Craft Centres)

Desart (Association of Central Australian Aboriginal Art and Craft Centres)
Name	Desart (Association of Central Australian Aboriginal Art and Craft Centres)
Formation	1980s
Type	Peak body
Headquarters	Alice Springs
Region served	Central Australia
Membership	Aboriginal art centres

Desart (Association of Central Australian Aboriginal Art and Craft Centres) is an association representing Aboriginal art and craft centres across Central Australia, acting as an advocacy, training and marketing body that supports cultural maintenance, ethical practice and economic development for Indigenous artists and communities. It liaised with art centres, collectors, galleries and funding bodies to promote Central Australian visual arts traditions and contemporary practice. Desart played a coordinating role in linking remote communities to urban and international markets, cultural institutions and policy-makers.

History

Desart emerged in the 1980s amid a surge of recognition for Central Australian art movements associated with Papunya Tula, Utopia (Northern Territory), Hermannsburg (Hermannsburg Mission), Njoolaril and other community centres, forming alongside institutions such as the National Gallery of Australia, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Ian Potter Centre and regional galleries in Alice Springs. Early activity intersected with events like the Alice Springs Beanie Festival and initiatives by the Australia Council for the Arts, responding to issues highlighted in reports by the Human Rights Commission and debates in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly about Aboriginal cultural enterprise and intellectual property. Over decades Desart adapted to shifts driven by the Indigenous Art Code, changes in funding from the Australia Council, and sector developments connecting to the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia and international exhibitions at institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Structure and Membership

Desart operated as a member-based organisation representing a network of community-run art centres including those in Papunya, Utopia, Yuendumu, Kaltukatjara (Docker River), Irrunytju and Finke (Aputula), linking artists like those affiliated with Papunya Tula Artists and collectives featured by the National Museum of Australia and National Gallery of Victoria. The governance model echoed practices in peak bodies such as ANAT and Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory with an elected board, executive staff and committees focused on training, ethics, intellectual property and marketing, interacting with regulatory frameworks like the Copyright Act 1968 and advocacy networks including the National Association for the Visual Arts.

Activities and Programs

Desart delivered programs for cultural maintenance, skills training, exhibition coordination and business governance, collaborating with partners such as the Australia Council for the Arts, National Gallery of Australia, Art Gallery of South Australia and regional galleries across South Australia and Victoria. Its activities included curatorial support for touring exhibitions to venues like the Art Gallery of New South Wales, assistance with artist residencies connected to institutions like Tate Modern and promotion through fairs such as Melbourne Art Fair and galleries represented by agents linked to Sydney Contemporary. Desart also provided guidance on ethical sales practices aligned with the Indigenous Art Code and developed workshops referencing principles used by organisations such as the Aboriginal Benefits Foundation.

Advocacy and Cultural Policy

Desart engaged in policy advocacy on copyright, provenance and cultural heritage, interfacing with bodies such as the Australian Copyright Council, NIAA and parliamentary inquiries in the Federal Parliament of Australia. It supported protocols for ceremony, custodianship and cultural safety used by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies and contributed to consultations involving the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and heritage instruments administered by the Australian Heritage Commission. Desart campaigned against exploitative trade practices and worked with initiatives like the Indigenous Art Code to strengthen artist protections and market transparency.

Economic Impact and Market Development

Desart influenced regional economies by strengthening income streams from art sales for communities in locations such as Central Desert Region, MacDonnell Ranges and East Arnhem catchments, connecting to retail and auction markets in Melbourne, Sydney and international markets in London, New York and Paris. Its market development work addressed supply chain issues observed in reports by the Productivity Commission and aimed to increase returns to artists via gallery partnerships, ethical accreditation and collaborations with collectors, brokers and institutions including the Art Gallery of New South Wales and auction houses like Sotheby's and Christie’s that feature Aboriginal art.

Projects and Partnerships

Key projects included touring exhibitions, cultural mapping initiatives and training schemes delivered with partners such as the Australia Council for the Arts, National Museum of Australia, Desert Mob and regional arts organisations including Desert Centre for the Arts and community centres in Mutitjulu, Papunya Tula Artists, Utopia Artists and Hermannsburg Potters. Desart forged relationships with universities like Australian National University, research bodies such as the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies and funding agencies including the Gandel Foundation and state arts agencies to support catalogues, publications and international presentations at venues like the British Museum and National Gallery of Victoria.

Recognition and Awards

Desart and its member centres were recognised through sector awards and acknowledgements by institutions including the Australia Council for the Arts, National Gallery of Australia and regional award programs such as the Western Australian Indigenous Art Awards and inclusion of artists in honours like the Order of Australia and national exhibitions such as Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award. Member artists and centres featured in major prize lists, museum acquisitions and scholarly work published by entities like the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia and university presses.

Category:Aboriginal art in Australia Category:Arts organisations based in Australia