National Aboriginal Art Gallery concept images revealed

Plans are under way for the National Aboriginal Art Gallery to recruit a local Indigenous workforce, as the first concept design is released to the public. View the images here.

Alice Springs’ long-awaited National Aboriginal Art Gallery has been tipped to bring in more than 50,000 extra visitors to Central Australia each year, as new concept designs are revealed.

Arts Minister Chansey Paech and National Reference Group co-chair Franchesca Cubillo revealed the plans for the four-level gallery on Friday.

The concept plans feature a water play area, cultural welcoming circle, top floor event space, healing gardens to protect sacred sites, a cafe and a four-level atrium.

Tipping the gallery to deliver an extra 53,000 tourists each year, Mr Paech said the venues design had been “founded on First Nations principles”.

Arts Minister Chansey Paech and National Aboriginal Art Gallery Reference Group Co-Chair Franchesca Cubillo unveil the concept plans for the National Aboriginal Art Gallery. Photo: Laura Hooper.

“The idea is this is a place for black excellence, this is a place to showcase art, and art by it’s very definition is controversial, I want controversial pieces hanging in the gallery, I want truth telling to happen in the gallery, I want this to be a place where First Nations people can come and talk about the reality of real issues,” he said.

“This is to be a place that is controlled by Aboriginal people for Aboriginal people, it is not to be seen as black-cladding, this has to have an Aboriginal workforce, this has to have Aboriginal curators, preservers, gallery managers, stationed officers.

“This is to be a premier destination in this country to showcase the importance of that work, but also to provide a safe space for Aboriginal people to come and work and express themselves.”

Concept pictures of the exterior of the National Aboriginal Art Gallery in Alice Springs. Picture: supplied.

Ms Cubillo said local Indigenous people were already being trained to be employed at the gallery.

“We are already talking, planning, encouraging, training First Nations people locally and thinking about those strategies so that there is employment from the very beginning of this project,” she said.

“The professional development opportunities have been factored in and strategised even before the ground is turned, we are just so excited for our communities, our artists and our mob.”

Mr Paech said he was working with the federal government to secure artwork produced by iconic Indigenous artists currently located in the National Gallery of Australia for the new venue.

Concept pictures of the interior of the National Aboriginal Art Gallery in Alice Springs. Picture: supplied.

“A number of those predominant pieces come from the magical lands of Central Australia, we’re talking about amazing works from the Arrernte nation, we’re talking about Yuendemu doors, Papunya boards, the amazing work from the Utopia homelands movement, the amazing work of Albert Namatjira,” he said.

Mr Paech said construction procurement for the gallery would be finalised by the end of the year, with construction to start at the beginning of 2023.

The federal and Territory governments have committed $80m and $69m respectively to the project.

National Aboriginal Art Gallery Reference Group Co-Chair Franchesca Cubillo said the reference group were already considering professional development opportunities for First Nations people in the galleries design. Photo: Laura Hooper.

The gallery will be located on Anzac Oval in Alice Springs’ CBD, following the government finalising its takeover of the land in March.

The site of the gallery has been a controversial topic. Anzac Oval was initially rejected by Arrernte Elder Doris Stuart Kngwarreye because of its spiritual significance to Mparntwe custodians.

Mr Paech emphasised in the unveiling the government had heavily consulted with local community groups and organisations including Lhere Artepe, but accepted not every Indigenous person would approve of the gallery’s position.

Mr Paech reveals said he never expected “every Aboriginal person” would accept the project and its location. Photo: Laura Hooper.

“I never had the position that every Aboriginal person has to accept the project, that’s just never going to happen, but certainly we’ve left all doors and opportunities open for all First Nations people and traditional owners to provide commentary and thought on the project,” he said.

The government has announced plans to build a new multi-purpose community precinct at Kilgariff Estate to replace Anzac Oval, which is expected to feature two playing surfaces and supporting infrastructure for use by the rugby league and general community.

Mr Paech said Sports Minister Kate Worden had been engaging with local sporting groups who currently use Anzac Oval on the transition to the new Kilgariff space.

“Minister Worden has been working quite closely with those groups and will be able to step that timeline out quite shortly as well,” he said.

Originally published as National Aboriginal Art Gallery concept images revealed