Desert Mob Festival back for 2024 and promises to be bigger than ever

Now entering it’s 33rd iteration, a prominent Red Centre festival is back for 2024 – and this year it’s promising to be bigger than ever. Find out more.

Desert Mob exhibition artwork.

One of the country’s “longest running” art festivals is back in the Red Centre for 2024 – with this year’s schedule promising to be bigger than ever.

Desert Mob festival is back on for 2024, with 35 Aboriginal Art Centre’s showcasing their works at Araluen Art Centre, Alice Springs.

Starting on September 5 and running until Sunday, October 20, the festival will feature markets, symposiums, and events for the public.

A key component of the festival, the Desert Mob exhibition, will see work from hundreds of artists displayed in Alice Springs.

The festival kicked off with 40th anniversary of Maruku Arts, which was opened by Rene Kulitja at Araluen Arts Centre.

The festival’s first symposium will be held by Maruku Arts on Friday, September 6.

Other festival events include artist tours in Hermannsburg and Santa Teresa, as well as book launches and painting workshops.

Desart chief executive Philip Watkins, Desert Mob curators Hetti Perkins and Aspen Beattie, and former Casuarina MLA Lauren Moss

The festival is run by NT Major Events, in conjunction with Desart.

Desart chief executive Philip Watkins said the festival has a simple meaning: “Desert Mob is, as the name suggests, is about desert Mob – about us.”

“In this way, Desart continues the legacy of self-determination that led to the establishment of these movements and the art centres they founded and those they inspired,” he said.

Northern Territory Major Events Company chief executive Suzana Bishop said the festival showcases the “diverse art and culture of Central Australia.”

“As one of the country’s longest-running Aboriginal art festivals, it is important to continue the support for events like these as the social and economic impact is significant to the artists, towns and wider community,” she said.