Lockhart River Arts Indigenous Corporation

The artists of Lockhart River Art Centre have been recognised for many years, both nationally and internationally, as “The Art Gang”. The Art Gang formed in 1995 with a group of young artists just out of school. In the same sense that those who worked on the roads were called the “The Road Gang”, this young group of teenagers worked on art.

Today, 16 artists spanning different generations visit the art centre to work in the mediums of acrylic painting, ceramic, weaving and carving. In addition, many others come in on an ad-hoc basis to paint when they feel like it.

Painters and craftspeople at the centre include “The Old Girls”, a respected group of elders who have taken the art world by storm with their vibrant art works. Their work is amongst the country’s most collectable.

Also included are younger contemporary artists who have been the recipients of prizes and awards, and whose work is included in major public and private collections.

The centre has an increasing focus on cultural retention and community arts development through the promotion of traditional and contemporary dance, public art and a community festival.

The objectives of the Centre are to:
- run and operate an Indigenous Art Centre
- support, promote and encourage artistic merit and innovation
- provide economic development opportunities
- promote the art work of members through exhibitions, and
- provide mentorship and skills development opportunities
- support cultural retention with in the community
- support community capacity building through arts based community projects

The art centre member’s also identified the following as priorities:
- to provide opportunity for the reinterpretation of traditional stories and skills through contemporary mediums
- to document stories, history and skills for cultural retention through film
- to support marginalised members of the community and to offer them opportunity for belonging and self-value through participation in arts based capacity building projects
- support community engagement in cultural activities through capacity building arts based projects
- promote wellbeing by strengthening pride in identity and culture through community arts based projects.