Aboriginal Art Prize 2023
The North East Water Aboriginal Art Prize has returned for 2023, with this year’s artworks now on display at Burraja Culture Centre in Wodonga.
The biennial exhibition showcases work from a dozen local artists with a theme of ‘Water’ and highlights the cultural importance of water in our lives.
This is our fifth art prize since 2017 and the event is an amazing opportunity to partner with our local Aboriginal communities to create a deeper connection with Traditional Owners, to increase our knowledge and understanding of their culture, traditions and life experiences.
Three prizes have been awarded this year:
- Where the River Flows by Kelly Lock (Boandik Nation) – purchased by North East Water
- Kinship Spirit Flowers by Dr Treahna Hamm (Yorta Yorta) – purchased by NECMA
- Murra Way by Darren Wighton (Wiradjuri) purchased by AGIG Australian Gas Infrastructure Group
The exhibition is open weekdays between 10am and 4pm at the Burraja Cultural Centre on Gateway Island from Tuesday 5 December to Friday 15 December 2023.
Artist Kelly Lock (Boandik Nation) with North East Water Chair Stephen Brown and Managing Director Jo Murdoch. Art: Where the River Flows (North East Water Art Prize winner 2023)
About the partnership
The North East Water Aboriginal Art Prize is a local partnership between Murray Arts, Burrja Gallery, Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service, North East Water, North East CMA and the Australian Gas Infrastructure Group.
These organisations recognise the strong cultural connection that First Nations people have to the land and water within the region and acknowledge the traditional history, culture, stories and songlines connected to place. The Art Prize is an opportunity to engage with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and to showcase the strong creative community existing in our region.