Artback NT will lead a First Nations International Partnerships Bi-lateral Delegation to Taiwan this June, bringing together arts and cultural leaders from the Northern Territory and Taiwan to strengthen relationships, share knowledge, and support future creative exchange.
The delegation forms part of a two-way exchange, with an Australian delegation travelling to Taiwan from June 17-24, followed by a reciprocal Taiwanese delegation visit to Darwin in August.
Led by Artback NT, the Australian delegation includes representatives from key Northern Territory and First Nations arts organisations, including Desart, ANKA, Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation, Iltja Ntjarra Many Hands Art Centre, Birrimi Creations and Artback NT.
Delegates include Michelle Bell, chief executive of Artback NT; Tahlia Biggs, tour producer - Performing Arts at Artback NT; Marisa Maher, Artback NT board member and Manager of Iltja Ntjarra Many Hands Art Centre; Philip Watkins, chief executive officer of Desart; Colin Puruntatameri, Treasurer of ANKA; and Nadine Lee, founder of Birrimi Creations and Chairperson of Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation.
The visit will include artist studio visits, meetings with key cultural organisations, attending concerts and performances, and opportunities for peer-to-peer exchange with Taiwanese Indigenous artists and arts leaders.
The delegation is expected to visit the Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Cultural Park, meet with artists and cultural organisations across Pingtung, Taitung and Hualien, and attend the Moonlight Sea Concerts, a major outdoor cultural event on Taiwan's east coast.
Artback NT chief executive Michelle Bell said the delegation was an important step in building long- term, reciprocal relationships between First Nations artists and cultural leaders across the region.
"This delegation is about more than a single visit. It is about building trust, deepening relationships and creating pathways for future collaboration between First Nations artists, arts workers and cultural organisations in the Northern Territory and Taiwan," she said.
"Artback NT has been building relationships with the Taiwanese arts sector since 2016, and this delegation gives us the opportunity to bring more First Nations leaders into that conversation at a strategic level."
The delegation will support future opportunities including artist residencies, cultural exchange, touring and collaborative projects between the Northern Territory and Taiwan.
The reciprocal Darwin visit in August will coincide with a significant period for First Nations arts in the Top End, including Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair and Darwin Festival.
Visiting delegates will also attend Gapu Ŋupan (Chasing the Rainbow), a major cross-cultural performance created through collaboration between Yolŋu artists from North East Arnhem Land and Paiwan and Amis artists from Taiwan.
The First Nations International Partnerships Bi-lateral Delegation is supported by the Australian Government through the DFAT First Nations International Fellowships and Partnerships Grant Program.
Project funding is also made possible through the Indigenous Peoples Cultural Development Center, Council of Indigenous Peoples.
Gates to the Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Culture Park, Pintung County, Taiwan. (Image: Artback NT)
Artback NT is proudly sponsored by the Northern Territory Government and is assisted by the Australian Government through its arts funding and advisory body.
Through its Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships Arts Grants program, the Northern Territory Government has also committed to support the Taiwan Artists Exchange program from 2026-2028, which will begin later this year.
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