Despite consistent opposition from traditional custodians over many years, the recently elected Northern Territory Government has committed to proceed with a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery (ATSIAGA) at the culturally significant site, Untyeye-artwilye (The Anzac Hill/Oval Precinct).

Custodians of Mparntwe (Alice Springs) and a coalition of supporters are calling for nation-wide support to halt the construction of the Art Gallery project and relocate it to a culturally appropriate site, in accordance with custodian leadership.

“There exists a once-in-a-lifetime potential for this project to be about co-creating something of international renown. This project was conceived in the community, for the community, but was coopted by the Northern Territory Government - and that has resulted in cultural division and limited its great potential.”

“It's time to bring the community back to the table and re-imagine a way for this project to be the great nation-building project that it was always envisioned to be.”

“We call for support from across Australia to support our efforts to get this project right.” 

Faron Peckham (Central Arrernte, Traditional Custodian)

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We, the undersigned, call on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (Prime Minister of Australia), Minister Tony Burke (Minister for the Arts), Minister Malarndirri McCarthy (Minister for Indigenous Australians), Minister Tanya Plibersek (Minister for the Environment), Marion Scrymgour (Member for Lingiari) to halt their support for the National Aboriginal Art Gallery project – until the project has been reviewed with Central Arrernte leadership groups – and the concerns about the chosen location are resolved in accordance with shared intercultural heritage principles.

Why This Matters at a federal level:

The Australian Federal Government has a central role to play in this project, due to the major portion of funding provided ($80 million) – and the fact that the project is Australia-wide and internationally significant in its scope.

Proceeding with the project in its current form and location disregards traditional custodian's opposition - and the principles of  Australia's National Cultural Policy: Revive, as outlined in the sections: First Nations Leadership and Cultural Preservation.

Opposition from Traditional Custodians:

Traditional custodians of Untyeye-artwilye (Anzac Hill Precinct) have consistently opposed this project since 2017, calling for the gallery's construction on a culturally appropriate site to avoid expressions of storylines from other Indigenous groups, overlaying existing storylines that have been in place for over 65,000 years. The NT government has not heard these calls, echoing mistakes such as the destruction of Juukan Gorge, where sacred heritage was lost to development.

Untyeye-artwilye (Anzac Oval/Hill Precinct) has also been central to the broader Alice Springs community since the 1930s, serving as a multi-cultural and intercultural space for community reflection and connection to ancestral land.

What We Are Asking Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Minister Burke, Senator McCarthy, Minister Plibersek and Member for Lingiari, Marion Scrymgour to do:

• Suspend all federal funding for the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery until a culturally appropriate site is selected, in consultation with the traditional custodians.
• Ensure meaningful consultation with the Arrernte custodians and the broader Indigenous community to align the project with the principles of cultural preservation.

A Call to Protect Indigenous Heritage:

As Prime Minister, responsible for intergovernmental and whole of government policy coordination - and as respective ministers/members, responsible for the Arts, Indigenous affairs, Environment and the electorate of Lingiari (NT), you have the power to ensure this project aligns with relevant national policies and respects the concerns of the Central Arrernte. 

We respectfully urge you to take immediate action to halt federal funding for the gallery until the location has undertaken a review in conjunction with Central Arrernte leadership groups, and in accordance with shared intercultural heritage considerations. 

By doing so, you will respect the wishes of the Traditional Custodians, uphold the values of self-determination, and preserve intercultural sacred sites for future generations.