Port Augusta Arts Collective Start Up

In 2023, Port Augusta-based artists and community leaders came together and established the Port Augusta Arts Collective (PAAC), an art centre pilot program with the with the long-term goal of establishing a sustainable Aboriginal art centre in Port Augusta.

Port Augusta community have been calling for an art centre in their town for over 10 years and after seeing the recent success of Umoona Arts in Coober Pedy, First Nations leaders approached the APYACC looking for support to grow an art centre of their own. PAAC engages artists from across Aboriginal language groups in artmaking workshops, enabling them to earn an income and celebrate their culture through artmaking. Importantly, the artmaking workshops supported by APYACC and led by artists and leaders at PACC will provide ongoing, meaningful employment opportunities for First Nations people in the town.

The first Port Augusta Arts Collective workshop took place in November 2023 and will continue with monthly workshops throughout 2024, with the aim of securing a permanent art centre building in the coming 12 months.