Torres Strait culture and art was on show at the 2019 Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF) as the Gab Titui Cultural Centre joined 70 Indigenous Art Centres from across Australia.

Also representing the Torres Strait region at this year’s event were Badu Arts Centre and Moa Arts.

Held from the 9^th– 11^thAugust to coincide with the Darwin Festival, the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair is one of the most anticipated events in the Australian Indigenous art calendar and attracts tourists and international art collectors alike.

The Gab Titui Cultural Centre team were accompanied by first-time DAAF attendees and talented Torres Strait artists, Taicee Pearson, Rodney Mabo and George Pedro, who hosted a wood carving workshop on Saturday 10^thAugust.

The Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) Chairperson, Mr Napau Pedro Stephen AM, said the opportunity for local Indigenous artists to attend Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair is one that the TSRA is proud to support.

“Every year, the TSRA provides support for artists to attend both the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair and the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, so they are able to experience such events, to network and promote their work,” Mr Stephen said.

“It’s important that we assist our artists to participate in events like this where they can teach our art and share our culture.

“It was very exciting to hear our artists were facilitating an event at the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair and that the workshop had sold out.

“We hope that Torres Strait families in Darwin took advantage of the opportunity to visit and support the Gab Titui Cultural Centre and the Torres Strait and Aboriginal performances and workshops during the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair.”

The TSRA also provided funding support through its Dance Strategy for Moa Island dance team Arpaka Dance Company, to attend and perform at both the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair and the Darwin Festival.