Artists encouraged to enter Australia’s longest-running Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art award.
The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) and principal partner Telstra are encouraging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from across Australia to enter the 2027 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (Telstra NATSIAA).
Entries for the 2027 Awards opened in August, with artists invited to submit their work for the opportunity to be part of one of Australia’s most significant celebrations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art.
Presented on Larrakia Country in Darwin, Telstra NATSIAA will mark its 44th year in 2027, continuing a long-standing celebration of artistic excellence, cultural strength and innovation. The 2027 Awards will also mark 36 years of partnership between MAGNT and Telstra.
Each year, Telstra NATSIAA provides a nationally significant platform for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to share powerful stories, cultural knowledge and unique artistic practices with audiences across Australia and beyond in a showcase of the very best of contemporary art.
The annual exhibition brings together hundreds of entries from artists working across the country, showcasing established and acclaimed artists and Elders alongside emerging artists and those making their debut.
All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists are encouraged to enter the Awards for the chance to share their stories through this annual exhibition.
Awards and prizes
Telstra NATSIAA awards a total of $190,000 across seven categories, with the Telstra Art Award of $100,000 awarded to the work considered by the judges to be the most outstanding work across all categories.
Prizes of $15,000 each are on offer in each of the following six categories:
- Telstra Bark Painting Award
- Telstra General Painting Award
- Telstra Work on Paper Award
- Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award (sponsored by Telstra)
- Telstra Multimedia Award
- Telstra Emerging Artist Award
A final non-monetary Award is the Telstra People’s Choice, which is given to the most popular work as selected by visitors throughout the run of the exhibition.
Entries close .
Find out more at NATSIAA.com.au.
“Telstra NATSIAA provides an important opportunity for artists at every stage of their careers to share their work and stories.
“Every year, we see artists from across the country bring new perspectives, stories and ways of working to the Awards. We encourage artists from across Australia to take this opportunity to enter and share their work with audiences through the 2027 exhibition.”
Quotes to be attributed to Telstra NATSIAA Curator Dr Shannon Brett
“The Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards are the most prestigious awards in the country honouring the first cultures of Australia.
“This award – including a world class exhibition and awards ceremony – celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, our exceptional informative art and our revered and ancient cultures. The time to enter is now.”