Art force NATSIAAS, ANKAAA and CIAF

This year's 29th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAAs) marked a few new developments and some more commemorative. This year is the 25th anniversary of ANKAAA, the Association of Northern Kimberley and Arnhem Aboriginal Artists, the Darwin-based peak body for Top End Art Centres which began life in 1987 as ANCAAA - the 'C' taking in Central Desert artists until the formation of Desart (representing Central/Western Desert Aboriginal artists/art centres) in 1992-3. ANKAAA's milestone was commemorated at the 29th NATSIAAs opening with ceremonial dance, led by longstanding ANKAAA Chairman, Yirrkala-based artist/ambassador Djambawa Marawili. Former ANKAAA Chairman Tommy May (from Fitzroy Crossing) was also brought to Darwin for the commemorations, remembered in the '25th Anniversary Edition' of ANKAAA's Arts Backbone journal for his 'positive determination about Aboriginal people having control of their own Art Centre management and sharing culture through art'.