The July newsletter is early to give notice of all that is coming up in NAIDOC Week. We also want to share with you the opportunity to join the ACT Reconciliation Council.
We will have a stall at the NAIDOC in the North event on Saturday 11 July at Belconnen Arts Centre – please come and say hello!
ANTaR ACT Organising Group
The next meeting of the ANTaR ACT organising group will be at 6pm on Monday 13 July, via Zoom (we’ll be meeting online over winter). If you would like to join us and be involved in our ongoing advocacy and actions, please contact us at antaract99@gmail.com or info@antaract.org.au.
ACT Reconcilation Council
The ACT Reconciliation Council is looking for members – more information in the link below. Expressions of interest close on 29 June.
The ACT Reconciliation Council is an advisory body that supports and advises the ACT Government on advancing reconciliation across the ACT and surrounding regions.
The Council provides leadership on reconciliation through community engagement, advocacy and education, promoting understanding of the histories, cultures and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The Council supports respectful and meaningful conversations and works to strengthen relationships across the ACT community.
Events Coming Up – NAIDOC Week
This year marks the 50th anniversary of NAIDOC Week, and this is recognised in the theme 50 Years of Deadly.
For five decades, NAIDOC Week has celebrated the voices of our communities — steady, unapologetic, and proud. Each year, its themes have called for truth, celebrated culture, honoured resistance, and reminded the nation of who we are.
For more about the NAIDOC Week theme and events, see: https://www.naidoc.org.au/.
To celebrate leaders in the ACT community, check out the ACT NAIDOC Awards recipients, to be announced on Saturday 4 July.
Ngiaga Artist Talk & Co-making
Saturday 4 July, 10-11am artist talk & cuppa, 11am-12pm co-making, Tuggeranong Arts Centre
Join artist Leilani Dewis to hear about her practice and her journey through the arts as a means of exploring her personal spiritual and cultural connections to land and community. Stay for a cuppa and engage in some co-making with the artist.
For more information and bookings (for the co-making session), see: https://tuggeranongarts.com/leilani-dewis-artist-talk-co-making-4-jul/.
Workshop: Weaving with Jessika Spencer
Saturday 4 July, 11am and 1pm, Level 1, Canberra Centre
Join Wiradjuri fibre artist Jessika Spencer for an immersive, hands-on weaving workshop exploring Aboriginal weaving techniques using raffia and natural materials. Participants will be guided through the foundations of weaving while creating their own woven bracelets and necklaces to take home. Suitable for ages 12+.
For more information and bookings: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/canberra-centre-naidoc-week-workshops-tickets-1991436325658.
Workshop: Boomerang Painting with Ross Spencer
Sunday 5 July, 11am and 1pm, Level 1, Canberra Centre
Join Aboriginal artist Ross Spencer for a hands on boomerang painting workshop celebrating creativity, culture and storytelling through Aboriginal art practices. Participants will be guided in painting their own boomerang while learning about symbolism and personal expression. Suitable for ages 6+ with parental or guardian supervision.
For more information and bookings: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/canberra-centre-naidoc-week-workshops-tickets-1991436325658.
NAIDOC Week Community Events for Families
Sunday 5 July to Saturday 11 July, Poppyfield Commons (former Dickson garden centre cite), Poppyfield St, Dickson
Poppyfield Commons and The Tradies, in partnership with the Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (TOAC), invite the community to come together throughout NAIDOC Week for a series of free cultural activities, workshops, performances and community events that encourage learning, connection and celebration.
- Sunday 5 July, 12-3pm, NAIDOC opening ceremony, lunch, talks and more
- Tuesday 7 July, 10am-12noon, Language and Art Day
- Wednesday 8 July, 10am-12noon, Weaving Day
- Thursday 9 July, 11am-1pm, Music Day
- Saturday 11 July, 11am-3pm, NAIDOC Community Day
For more information, including full program and workshop bookings: https://www.thetradies.com.au/special-events/naidoc-week-2026.
NAIDOC Week at the Museum
Monday 6 to Friday 10 July, National Museum of Australia
Celebrate the history, culture and achievements of First Nations peoples this NAIDOC Week at the National Museum of Australia. The Museum’s NAIDOC Week program honours the diverse cultures, knowledges and creative practice of local, national and international First Nations artists.
- Welcome to Country & Smoking Ceremony, Monday 6 July at 10am, Forecourt Garden
- Mural painting: Watch acclaimed Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Wurrung artist Dr Jandamarra Cadd create a mural, daily from Monday 6 to Thursday 9 July in the Gandel Atrium; on display until Monday 20 July.
- School holiday workshops: painting with Jandamarra Cadd, Tuesday 7 to Thursday 9 July, ages 4 to 17 (bookings essential)
- Pop-up exhibition: Explore stories of cultural renewal in From Little Things, Big Things GROW – From Nambour to Canberra curated by Aunty Jude Hammond (Gunngarri/Kamilaroi Elder). Daily from 4 to 19 July in the Gandel Atrium.
- Haida totem pole restoration: See renowned Haida artist Clarence Mills from British Columbia restoring the iconic Haida totem pole; daily from 6 to 31 July in the lower gallery.
For more information and workshop bookings, see: https://www.nma.gov.au/whats-on/naidoc-week-at-the-museum.
Jerikye and The Crawdads
Monday 6 July, 7pm, The Q, 253 Crawford St, Queanbeyan
Jerikye is a proud Wiradjuri man – he was born with a guitar in his hand and has a great love for 1950’s and 60’s Rock’n Roll. At 24 he embodies the spirit of the great artists with effortless musicianship and charisma. The Crawdads have been involved with the Canberra music scene since the 1980’s. They are: Kerry Lloyd – Guitar and vocals; Rob Mac – Bass Guitar; Ralph Knees – Drums; Terry Boyton – Congas & Percussion.
For more information and bookings: https://theq.net.au/whats-on/jerikye-and-the-crawdads/.
First Nations Experiences of Democracy
Monday 6 July to Monday 13 July, 2pm daily, Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House
On this tour you will hear stories of how First Nations Australians have created change in politics. Learn about the Wiradjuri elders who travelled 150km to attend the opening of Old Parliament House. Hear about the activists who campaigned for a voice in Federal Parliament and the accomplishments of Neville Bonner, the first Aboriginal Australian to be elected to parliament. Visit heritage spaces including the Prime Minister’s Office and the Senate Chamber and learn about the contributions of activists like Wenten Rubuntja, Charlie Perkins and Faith Bandler.
For more information and bookings: https://moadoph.ticketing.veevartapp.com/tickets/view/list/first-nations-experience-of-democracy-naidoc-week and https://www.moadoph.gov.au/visit/whats-on/tours/first-nations-experiences-of-democracy.
Canberra Community Services NAIDOC Week event
Tuesday 7 July, 10am-2pm, Tuggeranong Community Centre
Join us for a fun day dedicated to recognising, celebrating, and supporting the achievements and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the Canberra Region. The day is delivered through a joint initiative of Community Service organisations committed to working alongside and uplifting local communities.
For more information: https://canberranaidoc.org/.
Aboriginal Plant Use & Culture Workshop
Tuesday 7 July, 1.30-3pm, Margaret Whitlam Pavilion, National Arboretum
Join Wiradjuri man Adam Shipp for an in-depth discovery of Aboriginal plant use, including foods, medicines, and other uses. In this 1.5 hour workshop, you will have an opportunity to sample 13 different bush foods, bush teas, and bush medicines. This workshop is interactive, and questions and comments are encouraged throughout the session.
For more information and bookings (essential): https://www.nationalarboretum.act.gov.au/visit/whats-on/feature-events/winter-in-the-woods/cultural-connections/in-depth-aboriginal-plant-use,-healing-and-culture-workshop.
Celebrating Indigenous Leadership in Policy Making
Tuesday 7 July, 6-7.45pm, T2 Kambri – Theatre 2, Lowitja O’Donoghue Cultural Centre, ANU
The Centre for Indigenous Policy Research and the Crime and Social Justice programme at the Australian National University are pleased to co-host a NAIDOC Week Lecture celebrating Indigenous leadership in policy making.
The inaugural National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People, Sue-Anne Hunter, will deliver the lecture, reflecting on the national significance of her historic appointment and sharing her priorities for policy reform to better protect Indigenous children and young people.
For more information and registration, see: https://www.anu.edu.au/events/celebrating-indigenous-leadership-in-policy-making-naidoc-week-lecture.
Weaving Workshop with Live Music
Wednesday 8 July, 5.30-7.30pm, Tuggeranong Arts Centre
Tune into your senses and let yourself be carried by live music as your hands begin to move. Yuma Yarn invites you into the gentle, meditative rhythm of slow-stitched coiled weaving in a warm, welcoming space. Guided by Wiradjuri artist Rechelle Turner, you’ll learn to stitch and shape your own coiled piece using raffia. Her approach is hands-on, intuitive, and deeply grounding—making the process both accessible and satisfying, whether you’re new or experienced. As you create, the room fills with the rich, soulful sounds of Wallabindi, whose music weaves seamlessly through the experience. The result is an immersive atmosphere that feels calm, connected, and quietly transformative.
For more information and bookings (required): https://tuggeranongarts.com/yuma-yarn-2026/.
Murrudha: Sovereign walks – tracking cultural actions through art, Country, language, and music – Track #14
Wednesday 8 July, 5.30pm (reception), ANU School of Art & Design Gallery
Murrudha: Sovereign Walks – Track #14 has been led by Professor Brenda L Croft (School of Art and Design, College of Arts and Social Sciences) and Professor Jamie Pittock (Fenner School of Environment and Society, College of Systems and Society) since 2020. This project collaborates the First Nations communities of Dhurga-Yuin, Ngambri, Meneroo-Ngarigo, Ngunnawal, High Country, Walgalu, Wiradyuri from Brungle, Canberra, Cowra, Gundagai, La Perouse, South Coast, Sydney, Tumut, Yass, Young and surrounding regions.
A key element of Murrudha: Sovereign Walks – Track #14 is honouring the sovereign walk by Wiradyuri walamira (clevermen) Nangar (c. 1848–1927) also known as Jimmy Clements, and Ooloogan (c. 1840–1928) also known as George John Noble and Marvellous, who together undertook a three-day, 93-mile (150-kilometre) trek from Brungle Station (also known as Brungle Community) across the Brindabella Range to Canberra in early May 1927.
In addition to the reception on Wednesday 8 July, the exhibition will be open from Tuesday 7 July to Friday 7 August.
For more information, see: https://soad.cass.anu.edu.au/events/murrudha-sovereign-walks-tracking-cultural-actions-through-art-country-language-and-music.
Aboriginal Plant Use & Culture
Friday 10 July, 9.30-10.30am, Margaret Whitlam Pavilion, National Arboretum
Join Wiradjuri man Adam Shipp as he presents an interactive introduction to Aboriginal plant use, including foods, medicines, and other uses. In this 1-hour workshop, you will have an opportunity to sample 10 different bush foods, bush teas, and bush medicines. This workshop is interactive, and questions and comments are encouraged throughout the session. Suitable for all ages, children must be accompanied by a participating adult.
For more information and bookings (required): https://www.nationalarboretum.act.gov.au/visit/whats-on/feature-events/winter-in-the-woods/cultural-connections/aboriginal-plant-use-and-culture-workshop-60-mins.
Bangarra and Project Dust: a youth performance in The Aboriginal Memorial
Friday 10 July, 10.30am, Level 1, Gallery 9, National Gallery of Australia
Join young First Nations dancers from Project Dust in a youth-led performance and collaboration with Bangarra Dance Theatre, responding to The Aboriginal Memorial, a work that is central to the National Gallery collection.
The performance will begin with a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony led by senior Ngambri and Ngunnawal Custodian, Paul Girrawah House in the Australian Garden, followed by the performance in Gallery 9.
Free event, bookings not required, but capacity is limited.
For more information, see: https://nga.gov.au/events/bangarra-and-project-dust/.
NAIDOC Exhibition openings: Belconnen Arts Centre
Friday 10 July, 6pm
Opening of the following exhibitions:
- Ngurambang-dhi (from Country) 2025 Country to Couture Collection (Corella & Crow)
- Ngiaga (I/I am) (Leilani Dewis)
- My Country, My Connection – Full Circle (Alana Harris)
- Yawarj Mara – Strong Pathways – Young Men’s Group
See below for details of exhibitions – open until Saturday 23 August.
For more information, see: https://www.belcoarts.com.au/exhibitions/.
Acknowledge This!
Friday 10 July, 9.30pm, Smiths Alternative, 76 Alinga St, Civic
As part of NAIDOC Week, join Gloveless Goanna for an evening of sharp, honest and hilariously entertaining comedy that brings First Nations and non-Indigenous perspectives together on one stage.
Through storytelling, observations and a healthy dose of laughter, the performers explore culture, community, identity, relationships and the everyday experiences that connect us all. Blending Aboriginal and Australian humour with joyous comedy traditions, Acknowledge This! creates a space where people can laugh together, learn together and celebrate the power of human connection.
For more information and bookings: https://www.smithsalternative.com/events/acknowledge-this!-98699?d=10%2F07%2F2026+9%3A30%3A00+PM.
NAIDOC in the North
Saturday 11 July, 11am – 2pm, Belco Arts, 118 Emu Bank Belconnen.
NAIDOC in the North 2026 at Belco Arts is an annual celebration of Ngunnawal and First Nations culture, creativity, and community. Featuring stalls by local and regional First Nations artists, performances from First Nations groups, and participation from Canberra-based community organisations, including Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), Child, Health and Family Services. The event brings people together in a meaningful and engaging way.
ANTaR ACT will have a stall at this event – please come and say hello. We’ll have information about current issues, as well as books and items from First Nations creators.
For more information, see: https://www.belcoarts.com.au/naidoc-in-the-north-2026/.
Sistahood Artist Talk & Music/Yarning Experience
Saturday 11 July, 10.30-11.30am talk & cuppa, 11.30am-12.15pm co-making, Tuggeranong Arts Centre
Join Wallabindi and Harry’s Clarry for an introduction to works in their exhibition, Sistahood: Circles, Cycles and Spirals. Stay for a cuppa and then participate in a co-making session (yarn sticks) with the artists, while enjoying original live music.
For more information and bookings (required for co-making): https://tuggeranongarts.com/wallabindi-harrys-clarry-meet-the-artists-talk-and-co-making-11-jul/.
Whitefella Yella Tree
Saturday 11 July, 4.30pm, The Q, 253 Crawford St, Queanbeyan
Filmed recording of a 2022 Griffin Theatre production. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with a member of the cast.
Once in a blue moon, in the middle of nowhere, two teenage boys meet under a lemon tree. After a rough start, a fragile friendship fruits into a heady romance. Ty and Neddy fall madly in love, as teenagers are wont to do. If history would just unfurl a little differently, the boys might have a beautiful future ahead of them. But without knowing it, Ty and Neddy are poised on the brink of a world that is about to change forever. It’s the early 19th century. Ty is River Mob. Neddy is Mountain Mob. And the earth they stand together on is about to be declared ‘Australia’.
For more information and bookings, see: https://theq.net.au/whats-on/whitefella-yella-tree/.
Blaque Showgirls
Saturday 11 July, 4.30pm, The Q, 253 Crawford St, Queanbeyan
Filmed recording of a 2023 Griffin Theatre production. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with a member of the cast.
A lonely kid in rural Australia, fair-skinned Sarah Jane Jones is deathly sure of two things: 1. She’s the best dancer in the whole town of Chithole, and 2. She’s a proud Aboriginal woman. There’s very little proof of either of these things. So, when a long-lost photograph offers hope of her Indigenous ancestry, Sarah Jane high-tails it to the glitziest casino in Brisvegas. Her mission? To land a role in the First Nations burlesque spectacular: ‘Blaque Showgirls’… by any means necessary.
For more information and bookings, see: https://theq.net.au/whats-on/blaque-showgirls/.
Wolfram
Saturday 11 July, 7pm, Arc Cinema, National Film and Sound Archive
Set in the Australian outback of the 1930s and based on a true story, Wolfram stars Deborah Mailman as Pansy, a mother longing for the return of her stolen children. A sequel to Thornton’s 2017 film Sweet Country, it follows some of the same characters four years later.
Directed and shot by Warwick Thornton, the film is a haunting meditation on family, resilience and the scars of history. Wolfram blends neo-Western style with spiritual introspection, grounding the story in lived experience and memory.
For more information and bookings: https://www.nfsa.gov.au/whats-on/wolfram-4580.
Indigenous Plants Use and Traditional Tools
Sunday 12 July, 11am-12.30pm, Lanyon Homestead, Tharwa Drive
Join Aaron Chatfield of Dreamtime Connections for an insightful talk on how Aboriginal people have used native plants for thousands of years—for food, medicine, and practical applications. Aaron will also share the fascinating process behind the construction of Aboriginal tools and how they were used. To enrich the experience, enjoy the opportunity to sample bush tucker snacks and sip native bush tea. The session will conclude with a half-hour Q&A session.
For more information and bookings (essential): https://www.historicplaces.com.au/events/naidoc-week-talk-indigenous-plants-use-and-traditional-tools.
Other events coming up
Thelma Plum – I Don’t Play That Song Anymore Tour
Thursday 16 July, 8pm, The Playhouse, Canberra Theatre Centre
Thelma Plum is a Gamilaraay woman, musician and creator. She grew up in Brisbane and spent many of her childhood years on her grandparents’ farm in Delungra, a small country town in rural New South Wales. She has been making music her whole life and has told one chapter with her debut album Better in Blak, a story about culture, heritage, love, and pain.
For this tour, Thelma Plum dusts off the acoustic guitar and songbook. She will be warming the hearts of Australia with her spellbinding storytelling, weaving her musical web around the country in duo format.
For more information and bookings see: https://canberratheatrecentre.com.au/show/thelma-plum-2026/ and https://www.thelmaplum.com/.
Sophia Rose Quartet presents: City Tidda
Friday 17 July, 7pm, Smiths Alternative, 76 Alinga St, Civic
From Sophia Rose: “City Tidda (city sister) is a project that showcases the music that has shaped me. It reflects my experience of living an urban life as a First Nations woman through both original compositions and carefully curated works. The project also explores connections between the musical traditions of Blak Australians and African American musicians. As an Aboriginal (Wiradjuri and Barkindji) trumpet player, I am inspired by the ways Indigenous artists have embraced Western instruments to express culture and identity. Jazz, born from African American resistance and resilience, resonates deeply with me through its spirit of freedom and self-expression. It is my privilege to honour the art of both Blak Australians and Black Americans in this music program.”
For more information and bookings: https://www.smithsalternative.com/events/sophia-rose-quartet-98987?d=17%2F07%2F2026+7%3A00%3A00+PM.
Dyeing Words Artist Talk & Writers Workshop
Saturday 18 July, 1-2pm talk & cuppa, 2-3.30pm writing workshop, Tuggeranong Arts Centre
Join Marisa McDowell, collaborators Ronnie Jordan and Rechelle Turner and Us Mob Writers for an introduction to their works in Dying words in Gallery 2 at Tuggeranong Arts Centre. Stay for a cuppa and then participate in a short writing workshop.
For more information and bookings (required for free writing workshop): https://tuggeranongarts.com/marissa-mcdowell-dyeing-words-writers-workshop-18-jul/.
Ngunawal Language Workshop
Saturday 8 August, 10am-12noon, location to be advised
Through his company Thunderstone, Ngunawal Traditional Custodian Tyronne Bell runs workshops so Canberrans can learn about Ngunawal language and country. The list of upcoming public workshops and tours is available at: www.thunderstone.net.au/book-online.
Learn an Acknowledgement of Country in Ngunawal language – the language of the traditional inhabitants of the ACT and surrounds. At the end of the session we hope you will feel confident to deliver the Acknowledgement of Country in Ngunawal language on Ngunawal Country.
For more information and bookings (essential): https://www.thunderstone.net.au/service-page/language-workshop-8-august-10am-12pm.
Introduction to Ngunnawal Language
Sunday 9 August, 10am-12noon, Margaret Whitlam Pavilion, National Arboretum
Guided by First Nations instructors from Thunderstone, this engaging session will help you build both confidence and a deeper sense of connection as you learn to deliver an Acknowledgement of Country in the words of the Ngunnawal people, the Traditional Custodians of the ACT and surrounding region.
You’ll be introduced to basic words and greetings, while also gaining valuable insight into the cultural protocols that underpin a respectful and authentic Acknowledgement. It’s an inspiring opportunity to connect with Country, culture, and community in a genuine and lasting way.
For more information and bookings (essential): https://www.nationalarboretum.act.gov.au/visit/whats-on/feature-events/winter-in-the-woods/cultural-connections/ngunnawal-language.
Imperialism and Resistance: Australia’s First Wars
Thursday 17 and Friday 18 September, Australian War Memorial Theatre
Imperialism and Resistance: Australia’s First Wars is a two-day conference that brings together authors, historians, and curators to reflect on the Australian Frontier Wars and Australia’s earliest overseas military commitments to the British Empire.
For more information and registration: https://www.awm.gov.au/imperialism-and-resistance.
Exhibitions
Exhibition: Reclamation
To Saturday 18 July, Craft + Design Canberra, North Building, 180 London Cct
A multidisciplinary exhibition exploring reconnection through eco dyed garments, woven adornments and fibre installation. Ngarrangarra brings together traditional materials and contemporary craft through a cultural body of work.
Jessika Spencer is a Wiradjuri woman from the Sandhills of Narrungdera (Narrandera), New South Wales. For over the past decade she has resided on beautiful Ngunnawal/ Ngambri country, where she currently creates her art. Her work consists of natural resources and materials carefully collected from country, keeping land management and cultural heritage at the forefront. Through her varied art forms, Jessika explores her cultural identity. She does this via photography, writing, activism and both contemporary and traditional weaving.
For more information: https://craftanddesigncanberra.org/blogs/future-exhibitions/reclamation.
Exhibitions: Tuggeranong Arts Centre
All to Saturday 15 August
Marissa McDowell & Us Mob | Dyeing Words, From Soil to Silk
Dyeing Words – from Soil to Silk is a play on words from colonisation to re-birth and continuation of story, language and connection to country. This is a cross-pollination of multi-disciplinary art and cultural practices that combine First Nation poetry from Us Mob Writers, the longest running published First Nations Australian writers’ group, transferred onto large scale hand dyed silk.
For more information: https://tuggeranongarts.com/marissa-mcdowell-us-mob-dyeing-words-from-soil-to-silk-19-jun-15-aug/.
Wallabindi & Harry’s Clary | Sistahood: Circles, Cycles and Spirals
A powerful collaboration between Harry’s Clarry and Wallabindi with sisterhood at its core, this interactive collection of works is an exploration of culture, sistahood, motherhood, memories, trauma, resilience, creativity, love and history, through the symbolism of Circles and Spirals.
Wallabindi is a contemporary Aboriginal (Wardandi Bibbulmun Noongar, Yamatji) and Burmese artist who has been creating on Ngunnawal Country for over 20 years. She is descended from the Wardandi Noongars of South Western Australia, with strong family connections up and down the WA coast.
Harrys Clarry is a proud Gamilaraay woman born to a mother from the stolen generation, raised on Darug Country, and living on Ngunnawal Country since 2009. Healing connection to culture and breaking cycles through art.
For more information: https://tuggeranongarts.com/wallabindi-harrys-clary-sistahood-circles-cycles-and-spirals-19-jun-15-aug/.
Leilani Dewis | Ngiaga (I/I am)
Ngiaga (I/I am) draws on Leilani’s personal, cultural, spiritual and social connections, shaping an exhibition that traces the arc of life—from birth and living, to death and what lies beyond. Through this journey, the work explores the ways in which all aspects of existence—physical, emotional and spiritual—are interconnected.
For more information: https://tuggeranongarts.com/leilani-dewis-ngiaga-i-i-am-19-jun-15-aug/.
Country Knows My Name (Gail Neuss)
From Wednesday 1 July to Sunday 26 July, Visitors Centre Gallery, Australian National Botanic Gardens
Country Knows My Name is an exhibition that explores the strong connection between identity, memory, and place. Each work reflects a deep relationship with Ngarigo Country, expressed through colour, line, and movement.
The artworks honour culture, ancestors, and the knowledge held in the land. Blending contemporary practice with tradition, they speak of belonging, strength, and continuity.
For more information: https://visit.anbg.gov.au/things-do/whats-on/exhibitions/country-knows-my-name/.
Thread: Connecting Stories and Community
From Saturday 4 July to Sunday 13 September, National Portrait Gallery
For millennia, clothing and body adornment have shaped, and made visible, connections to land, community and culture. Developed through ongoing conversations between artists and community members from the South-East Queensland city of Logan and the National Portrait Gallery, Thread: Connecting stories and community traces the relationships between garments and the histories, labour and knowledge systems of First Peoples, and offers pathways for deeper intercultural understanding.
For more information: https://portrait.gov.au/exhibitions/thread-2026.
Exhibitions: Belconnen Arts Centre
All from Friday 10 July to Saturday 23 August
Corella & Crow | Ngurambang-dhi (from Country) 2025 Country to Couture Collection
Ngurambang-dhi is a collection by First Nations fashion label Corella & Crow, founded by designers Rechelle Turner and Megan Daley. The works presented in this exhibition were originally created for the 2025 runway of Country to Couture and are shared here at Belco Arts as part of an ongoing conversation between fashion, Country and community.
For more information: https://www.belcoarts.com.au/ngurambang-dhi/.
Leilani Dewis | Ngiaga (I/I am)
Ngiaga (I/I am) is a collaborative series of mixed media works created with other First Nations artists, with whom the artist shares a close relationship. Together, we explore interconnected stages of life through 10 themes: Birth, Connection, Heritage, Culture, Community, Society, Lived Experience, Mother Earth, Spirituality, and Purpose (Life Path). These works reflect the stages we move through, not only as individuals, but as part of a collective experience shaped by culture, connection, and community.
For more information: https://www.belcoarts.com.au/ngiaga-ii-am/.
Alana Harris | My Country, My Connection – Full Circle
From the artist: “As a First Nations woman, I have been fortunate enough to live on both my Grandmother and Grandfather’s countries for most of my life. I am a very proud Ngunnawal and Wiradjuri woman who is now fortunate enough to live on beautiful Yuin Nation country, a place my mother lived for the last 20 years of her life while maintaining her traditional connection to our homelands. These three connections are full circle for me.”
For more information: https://www.belcoarts.com.au/my-country-my-connection-full-circle/.
Yawarj Mara – Strong Pathways – Young Men’s Group
Yerrabi Yurwang Child and Family Aboriginal Corporation presents the Yawarj Mara – Strong Pathways – Young Men’s Group Art Exhibition. The Yawarj Mara program, led by proud Ngunnawal and Wiradjuri man Mitchell Daley, commenced in February 2024 and brings together Aboriginal young people aged 10 to 18 from Greater Belconnen, Gungahlin, and North Canberra. Over 40 Aboriginal young people are regularly engaged in the program.
For more information: https://www.belcoarts.com.au/yawarj-mara-strong-pathways-young-mens-group/.
Ngura Puḻka – Epic Country
To Sunday 23 August, Level 1, Galleries 2-7, National Gallery of Australia
Ngura Puḻka – Epic Country is an artist-led project, showcasing major works by senior First Nations artists and collectives from the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, Coober Pedy and Tarntanya/Adelaide, in South Australia. These ambitious works depict Country while celebrating the powerful Tjukurpa (Aṉangu law/cultural stories) that lies within.
An epic project both in scale and scope, the creation of large-scale paintings reinforces artists’ connection to Country. Through stories and distinctive designs, they continue to strengthen their cultural knowledge, and knowledge of their homelands. Individual artists and women’s and men’s collectives bring their Tjukurpa to life on canvas – sometimes through explosions of colour, sometimes in a muted palette.
For more information, see: https://nga.gov.au/exhibitions/ngura-pulka-epic-country/.
Hermannsburg
To Sunday 23 August, Level 1, Gallery 2B, National Gallery of Australia
The Hermannsburg School is an art movement pioneered by Western Arrarnta artist Albert Namatjira (1902–1959). This exhibition displays works by Namatjira, including painted spearthrowers, alongside watercolours by family members including sons Enos and Ewald Namatjira, son-in-law Benjamin Landara, and brother-in-law and ‘breakaway’ painter Otto Pareroultja. Ceramics by Judith Pungarta Inkamala, who grew up watching Namatjira paint, are displayed alongside pots by Carol Panangka Rontji, demonstrating the stylistic evolutions of the Hermannsburg School.
For more information, see: https://nga.gov.au/exhibitions/hermannsburg/.
Wangka Wakaṉutja: The Story of the Papunya Literature Production Centre
To Sunday 11 October, Level 1, Exhibition Gallery, National Library of Australia
Papunya is a remote Aboriginal community in the Western Desert region of the Northern Territory, and the birthplace of the internationally known Western Desert art movement. Between 1979 and 1990, the Papunya Literature Production Centre (PLPC) produced hundreds of Pintupi-Luritja bilingual books guided by the community’s Elders, among them pioneers of the Western Desert Art movement. The illustrated books were produced as literacy tools for local schoolchildren and tell stories of first contact, Dreamings, community life, plants, animals and more. Some are funny and wildly creative. Others are moving, dramatic and extraordinary.
‘Wangka Wakaṉutja’ is Pintupi-Luritja for ‘the story has been told’.
For more information, see: https://www.library.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/wangka-wakanutja.
ANTaR ACT acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which Canberra is situated, the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region. We also acknowledge other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who may visit this area.