First Nations Artists from across our region will have the opportunity to showcase, sell and celebrate their work this October as the Blak Arts Collective Pop-Up Gallery comes to Muswellbrook Marketplace. And we are looking for artists who would like to exhibit and sell work.
Set to launch on Thursday 15th October, running 15-18 and 22-24 October 2026, the First-Nations led gallery will transform an empty shopfront into a vibrant space celebrating local art, culture and storytelling.
The project is delivered by Blak Arts Collective, in partnership with Arts Upper Hunter and Wanaruah Local Aboriginal Land Council, with funding support from the Australian Government’s Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support (IVAIS) program.
Aboriginal artists from across the region will have the opportunity to exhibit and sell their work, share their stories of culture behind their art, participate in workshops and live demonstrations, and connect with the local community.
“The Pop-Up will be a great centre of fun and activity,” says Bindi Baker, one of the gallery organisers. “We’ve already lined up some demonstrations and workshops, and there’ll even be a boomerang-throwing lesson you can book into.”
Organiser Kemer Edwards is hoping to fill the gallery with a representative line-up of creative work. “There’ll be big and small paintings, weavings, jewellery, woodwork, sculpture, but who knows what else? We really want artists to contact us and tell us about their work.”
Expressions of interest are now open to First Nations artists from Wanaruah/Wonnarua and Gringai./Worimi mob, as well as any First Nations creatives living within the Dungog, Singleton, Muswellbrook and Upper Hunter Shires. “We are super grateful for Muswellbrook Shire Council who manage the shopping mall in supporting this Pop-Up to happen,” says Bindi. “Our goal is to sell work – something for your wall, for your table, something to wear, or a great Christmas present.”
If you’re interested in exhibiting, running a workshop, volunteering or supporting the gallery you can register interest by contacting info@blakartscollective.com.au.
Images: basketwork by Rosslyn Thomson from the 2023 Here Now Always festival, courtesy the artist. Uncle Richie Lawton, who will be teaching boomerang throwing, courtesy Sue Lawton.