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A shift in attitude and attendance for First Nations programming

Statistics are just numbers, except when they impact attitudes, trends and curatorial weight, as witnessed in a string of First Nations projects that lead the summer season.

22 Nov 2018

Gina Fairley

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Visual Arts

Installation view Nonggirrnga Marawilli at Art Gallery of NSW; Photo ArtsHub

Statistics are great, but do they really change attitudes? If we are to look at the uprise in First Nations programming, then the answer is a resounding yes.

Back in 2013, the Australia Council’s National Arts Participation Survey found that there was a significant gap between Australians’ interest in, and attendance at, First Nations arts. It shocked the sector.

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Gina Fairley

Gina Fairley is ArtsHub's National Visual Arts Editor. For a decade she worked as a freelance writer and curator across Southeast Asia and was previously the Regional Contributing Editor for Hong Kong based magazines Asian Art News and World Sculpture News. Prior to writing she worked as an arts manager in America and Australia for 14 years, including the regional gallery, biennale and commercial sectors. She is based in Mittagong, regional NSW. Twitter: @ginafairley Instagram: fairleygina