Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation tells Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro to not use events as ‘political platform’ following Youth Justice changes
The executive director of Australia’s largest Indigenous arts festival has told the NT Chief Minister not to use the event as a political prop, following controversial youth justice changes.
Australia’s largest Indigenous arts festival has cautioned the Northern Territory Chief Minister against using the event as a political prop following controversial youth justice changes.
On Wednesday, Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation executive director Claire Summers confirmed she had asked Lia Finocchiaro to not attend celebrations in her official capacity as the Chief Minister.
“(She) was advised by myself that the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair is not a political platform,” Ms Summers said.
The art director clarified Ms Finocchiaro was not “uninvited”, but was told she was only welcome to attend in a personal capacity.
Ms Summers said the decision was made in the wake of controversial youth justice changes passed through NT parliament last week, allowing spit hoods to be used on children in detention, and removing the ‘principle of detention as a last resort’.
Lawyers, human rights advocates, First Nations leaders and medical experts all warned the changes would disproportionately impact First Nations children.
The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency said as of Wednesday there were 60 Territory kids in detention, 95 per cent of whom identified as Indigenous.
Ms Summers said in the week celebrating First Nations art and excellence in Darwin, there was an overwhelming feeling of heartbreak due to these changes.
She said DAAF worked with more than 40 NT Aboriginal art centres, and it was “their babies that are being incarcerated”.
“It’s their babies that are being trapped, and it’s because they’re victims of systemic racism,” Ms Summers said.
“They’re victims of being ignored because they live so far away, and are just seen by the decision makers of the day as being an inconvenience — It’s not right.”
The 10th annual Country to Couture runway show ended with all 50 First Nations models facing the crowd with their fists up, which Ms Summers said was “showing their power”.
“The one thing the legislation did last week is took the power away,” she said.
“And the symbolism of ending Show Two … with the models having their hands up in the air was to say: ‘You can’t take my power. You can’t take who I am, and I am proud of who I am’.
“And we stand proud, we stand together.”
“(But) our communities are hurting, my staff are hurting, the models that walked down that catwalk — most of which are Darwin-based- are hurting,” she said.
“Yet Aboriginal people, and certainly the art centres we support, if anything they are survivors.
“Like all things that our First Nations people here in Australia have to endure, we will endure this.”
Ms Summers said these political decisions came despite the annual arts festival “deeply” relying on the NT Government to support the free-entry fair, where 100 per cent of commissions went back to the artists.
On Wednesday, NT Arts Minister Jinson Charls confirmed $500,000 in funding over the next five years to support First Nations capacity building projects such as the DAAF.
Ms Summers acknowledged Ms Finocchiaro had been a “big fan” of DAAF for years, however it was understood she had accepted the festival organisers’ advice and was only welcome to come in a personal capacity.
“She has quietly, I believe, accepted to just come in her own time and show her support with her family, as opposed to using our event as a space to justify any actions that were taken last week,” she said.
“And I respect her for that.”
“I do hope that she takes the time to wander around the fair in her own time, and see what beauty does exist in the Northern Territory, and the richness that is right here on our doorstep.”
Ms Finocchiaro was contacted for comment, with her office confirming she would be attending the DAAF official opening on Thursday evening.
“The Chief Minister has been a supporter of DAAF for many years,” a spokeswoman said
“(She) looks forward to engaging with participants.”
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Originally published as Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation tells Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro to not use events as ‘political platform’ following Youth Justice changes
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