Indigenous Culture & Arts
The Territory boasts a rich Indigenous culture, with close to a third of its residents of Indigenous descent.
The culture of the traditional owners of Darwin, the Larrakia people, is celebrated to some extent at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.
An increased focus on Indigenous culture and arts in the city – including the establishment of a dedicated Indigenous Cultural and Art Centre – would become a major drawcard for tourists from across the world.
What we would like to achieve
- A new Indigenous Cultural Centre that shares the story of the Territory’s ancient Indigenous heritage.
- A focus on the original inhabitants and traditional owners of the city, the Larrakia people.
- Increased use of Indigenous artworks in public places.
New Indigenous Cultural Centre
The Larrakia people, Darwin’s traditional owners, have had a long association with the city and its development.
While some aspects of Larrakia culture, along with other Indigenous groups, are displayed in the Museums and Art Gallery of the NT, no single facility at present allows the Larrakia to showcase their rich and ancient culture.
The first step towards building an Indigenous Cultural Centre is to choose a site that maximizes its tourism potential and commercial viability. The centre should be built on a site that is acceptable to Larrakia people and close to concentrations of tourists to maximise its exposure. A potential site has been identified adjacent to the Museum and Art Gallery at Bullocky Point.
Through their associations, such as the Larrakia Development Corporation and Larrakia, the traditional owners of Darwin will have a crucial part in the planning, design and management of the Indigenous Cultural Centre.
Proposals include
- A new dedicated Indigenous Cultural Centre.
- Focus on the culture of the Larrakia people, the traditional owners of Darwin.
- An introduction to other Indigenous cultures of the Territory
Indigenous artworks in public places
Arts and culture are a big part of the Territory economy, directly through employment, marketing and sales and indirectly in terms of visitor experience and support for the tourism industry.
The Territory Government’s Indigenous Arts Strategy, Building Strong Arts Business, has been implemented over the past three years and continues to focus Government’s attention on actions to support the development of Indigenous culture and art.
While a dedicated cultural centre will fill a significant gap in the tourist experience in Darwin, there is an opportunity for greater integration of our rich Indigenous culture in public buildings and spaces. Such moves would greatly enhance the understanding and appreciation of our Indigenous heritage for both locals and visitors.
The new Darwin Waterfront development will be the first project of its kind to include a comprehensive public art strategy. Extensive consultation early in the project’s formation showed this was a high expectation of the community. Larrakia people have been involved in the development of the public art strategy.
The Waterfront will serve as a shining example for future developments.
Proposals include
- Indigenous art showcased at Darwin Waterfront.
- Encourage increased use of Indigenous artworks in public places.
