Meet Meissa: Artback NT Welcomes Aurora Intern Thomeissa Mason

Artback NT is proud to welcome Thomeissa Mason—who goes by Meissa—to the team as our latest Aurora Education Intern. A talented emerging artist and dedicated student, Meissa joins us for a four-week full-time placement through the Aurora Internship Program, which supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in building meaningful careers and professional experience.

A proud Wiradjuri, Gomeroi, and Awabakal woman, Meissa grew up on Dharawal Country and is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Wollongong. Her studies include majors in Indigenous Studies and Sociology, alongside minors in Visual Arts and Modern History. A passionate visual artist herself, Meissa paints and draws and has a deep love for storytelling through all forms of art—music, film, and beyond.

In her first week at Artback NT, Meissa has jumped into both archival and practical work, contributing to the documentation of annual reports and supporting the unpacking and condition reporting of artworks from the Some Like It Hot exhibition. “It’s been beautiful to see the artworks up close,” Meissa says. “The slow and intricate process of condition reporting has definitely been my favourite part so far.”

After previous internships in government and legal sectors, Meissa was drawn to Artback NT for the opportunity to gain firsthand experience in the arts and community space. “This internship has opened up a whole new world for me,” she shares. “Artback NT has given me my first real look at what a career in the arts might look like.”

One highlight for Meissa has been diving into the organisation’s 30-year archive. “Artback NT has been a monumental trailblazer in the Northern Territory’s arts scene,” she says. “It’s not just about fostering the arts—it’s about fostering culture. I’m honoured to be a part of that legacy, even for a short time.”

We’re thrilled to have Meissa with us and can’t wait to see where her passion and talent take her next.