Northern Territory’s Ikuntji Artists wins top spot at Telstra Business Awards

A Red Centre Aboriginal art gallery has won one of the nation’s top business awards, edging 22,000 other businesses which were nominated.

Ikuntji Artists Art Centre director Walter Jugadai and manager Chrishona Schmidt. Picture: Supplied.

A Red Centre Aboriginal art gallery has won one of the nation’s top business awards, with the judging panel hailing the Territorian gallery’s unique Indigenous artwork and storytelling ability.

On Thursday night, NT business Ikuntji Artists was named the national winner of the Telstra Business Awards at an event in Melbourne, edging out the 22,000 other business models nominated for the award.

Art centre director Walter Jugadai and manager Chrishona Schmidt attended the 2000-person event on behalf of the gallery and revealed they were unaware they would receive the top award.

When the pair was called up to receive the award, Ms Schmidt said “you could hear a pin drop”.

“It was such a beautiful moment,” she said.

“I just looked at Walter, I wanted to see how it affected him and what it means to him whose grandmothers and aunties set up the art centre.”

Ikuntji Artists is the first remote Aboriginal arts centre to win the award.. Picture: Supplied

Of note, Ikuntji Artists’ victory represents the first time a remote Aboriginal arts centre has won the award.

“As Walter said on stage, it’s not just a win for us but it’s a win for all Aboriginal art centres and all bush people and the Territory.”

With a turnover of more than $1 million per year, Ms Schmidt said she hoped the Ikuntji Artists’ success would shed light on the business potential which existed in remote communities.

“It’s culturally meaningful work, that’s the other thing,” she said.

“This is culturally meaningful work directed by Aboriginal people on how they want to work and engage.”

Ms Schmidt confirmed she and Mr Jugadai had touched back down in the Territory and would soon rejoin their colleagues to celebrate.

“We actually filmed (the event) and we sent it back to the other directors right after it happened and they’re all incredibly proud.”

Originally published as Northern Territory’s Ikuntji Artists wins top spot at Telstra Business Awards