Reflecting on a milestone year of touring, storytelling and Territory creativity
In 2025, Artback NT marked 30 years of taking Northern Territory artists, stories and culture across Australia and beyond.
It was a year of significant activity, new beginnings and national reach, with Territory voices continuing to resonate across remote communities, regional centres, interstate cities and international partnerships.
As CEO Michelle Bell writes in the 2025 Annual Report, which has just been released, Artback NT recorded “a very strong year of delivery”, with a 10% increase in revenue and a 29% increase in activity. This resulted in $1.7m flowing directly to artists and creative sector workers, supporting the continued presence of Northern Territory voices within the national cultural landscape.
Celebrating 30 years of Artback NT
Founded in 1995, Artback NT celebrated three decades of supporting Territory artists, touring bold creative work and sharing Northern Territory stories with audiences near and far.
The anniversary year included the digital campaign 30 Days, 30 Years, which shared a touring poster from each year of Artback NT’s history. The campaign offered a visual reflection on the organisation’s evolution and impact, celebrating the many artists, communities, staff, partners and supporters who have shaped Artback NT over the past three decades.
Although a planned public celebration at Brown’s Mart Theatre was unable to proceed due to Cyclone Fina, the milestone provided an important opportunity to reflect on Artback NT’s legacy and its ongoing commitment to amplifying First Nations and Territory artists locally, nationally and internationally.
As Michelle reflects in the report, reviewing the organisation’s archives “underscored the depth and breadth of the impact that has been achieved.”
Territory work on national and international stages
Artback NT’s Performing Arts Program had a powerful year, supporting the development and touring of work that reflects the strength, diversity and creative ambition of the Territory.
Gapu Ŋupan (Chasing the Rainbow) had its world premiere at Asia TOPA in Melbourne, following five years of cross-cultural development between First Nations artists from Arnhem Land and Taiwan. The large-scale performance work brought together music, song, dance, immersive visuals and sound, receiving four standing ovations and strong critical acclaim.
The Jingili Song Project toured nationally, sharing music performed in English and the endangered Jingulu language. Led by Stuart Joel Nuggett with David Garnham & the Reasons to Live, the project placed language, culture and First Nations storytelling at the centre of national conversations.
GUTS Dance x Ash Musk’s SUB toured to Mparntwe / Alice Springs, Cairns, Coffs Harbour and Darwin, bringing bold Territory-made contemporary dance to regional audiences and creating opportunities for school workshops, Q&A sessions and sector engagement.
We also launched Roadshow NT, a new touring program showcasing independent Territory performers across comedy, music, theatre, cabaret and dance. In its first year, Roadshow NT travelled to Mparntwe / Alice Springs, Katherine and Tennant Creek, with a further performance taking place in Nhulunbuy in 2026.
Emerging Central Australian band Mulga Bore Hard Rock also toured across the Territory, performing at Jump Inn Jams, Garma Festival, Katherine Beat Festival and Darwin Festival, while building professional skills and industry connections.
Remote events led by community
In September, Artback NT supported the inaugural Milikapiti Festival on Melville Island. Developed in collaboration with Tiwi community leaders and cultural advisors, the festival was guided by the principle “For Tiwi, by Tiwi.”
The event brought together around 400 attendees and employed more than 76 Tiwi people as performers, crew, MCs, stallholders and support staff. Featuring workshops, activities, music, fashion, sport and live radio broadcast, the festival celebrated Tiwi creativity, leadership and cultural pride.
Helen Daiyi, Manager of Tiwi Culture and Engagement at the Tiwi Land Council, described the festival’s message as powerful, saying it reinforced that:
“Tiwi people can innovate and create these things for our communities, and showcase not only our rich culture, but the hidden talents of our people.”
Visual arts across the country
Artback NT’s Visual Arts Program continued to work with artists, curators, art centres and communities to develop and tour exhibitions that share the perspectives of the Northern Territory.
Clay on Country: Ceramics from the Central Desert continued its national tour, reaching audiences across regional Australia and sharing contemporary ceramic practice from more than thirty artists and collectives.
Some Like It Hot concluded its tour with a final presentation in Kalgoorlie, bringing together the work of Franck Gohier and Therese Ritchie in an exploration of gender, heat and the tropics.
True Story – of life with love from Central Australia opened at Tangentyere Artists and received the 2025 Accessible Arts Projects Award, recognising its commitment to inclusive and community-led storytelling.
Wangka Walytja – the Life and Times of the Papunya Literature Production Centre introduced audiences to the legacy of the Papunya Literature Production Centre, celebrating Pintupi-Luritja language, stories and illustration.
Building future pathways
Alongside touring and program delivery, Artback NT continued investing in the future of the Territory’s creative sector.
The Emerging Producers Program supported six participants through a hybrid model of mentoring, workshops and professional development, helping build a confident cohort of creative producers with skills in community and cultural development, production, financial management and self-care.
Artback NT also began a major archival project to safeguard 30 years of multi-artform touring history. The project has continued into 2026, with the long-term aim of making this significant collection accessible online.
National and international relationships were also strengthened through APAX, the NETS Australia Annual Gathering in Darwin, and ongoing cultural exchange with Taiwan, including staff visits that deepened partnerships and opened future pathways for collaboration, residency exchange and touring.
Looking ahead
Despite challenges including rising touring costs and the impact of Cyclone Fina, 2025 was a year of strong delivery, reflection and momentum.
As Michelle writes, Artback NT entered 2026 with “a strong program of work ahead and a continued commitment to delivering meaningful creative outcomes for Territorians.”
After 30 years of touring, sharing and championing Territory stories, Artback NT continues to support artists, communities and audiences across the Northern Territory, Australia and beyond.