In 2021 I received a Byera Hadley Travelling Scholarship, that enabled me to visit a selection of Aboriginal art centres across the Northern Territory.

It was an extraordinary experience, that has changed my view of the continent of my birth. I met incredible people who shared experiences and cultures, and I felt the country anew. I have become fascinated with the unique hybrid entities of Aboriginal art centres. I experienced a range of buildings that housed the art centres that ultimately provoke questions about how architecture supports, or hinders, connection to Country and Culture, sovereignty, and cross-cultural exchange.

Art centres emerged in the 1970s with Aboriginal self-determination and the rise of the Indigenous art market. Primarily located in remote communities and towns, their economic and social value has been widely acknowledged. Alongside supporting artists and facilitating the production and sale of art works, they provide an invaluable space for community to come together and practice Culture.

Art centres occupy one, or a series of existing, adapted or purpose-designed buildings, often developed over time, with varying degrees of involvement from architects. They reflect the diversity of peoples and languages across Australia. While each art centre is particular to Country and community, there are commonalities in their activities, facilities, and architectural strategies.