Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute

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Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute

When did you last visit Tandanya? Tandanya hosts a number of events and festivals including Survival Day, The Spirit Festival, NAIDOC week, and an Arts Fair.

Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute is an internationally significant Aboriginal owned and operated multi-purpose venue dedicated to supporting and promoting Aboriginal arts and cultures. There is a range of exciting exhibitions throughout the year, showcasing traditional and contemporary visual art and sculpture, through our four galleries. Visit our website to see what's on now, or follow us here on Facebook.

27/08/2026

The Tandanya team was proud to be in Darwin on Larrakia Country recently as part of our industry collaboration initiative, connecting with artists, creatives and cultural leaders from across the country as part of the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair.

The visit provided an important opportunity for our team to experience the incredible diversity, strength and innovation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and culture, while building relationships with artists, galleries, cultural organisations and industry partners.

Our team also attended the National Indigenous Fashion Awards, celebrating the outstanding talent and achievements of First Nations designers, artists and fashion creatives who continue to shape and influence Australia’s creative industries.

As Tandanya looks toward an exciting new chapter, opportunities to connect, learn and exchange ideas with First Nations creatives and organisations nationally are an important part of strengthening our programming, partnerships and future direction. We have come back to South Australia with many ideas for the future.

We thank the Gordon Darling Foundation for their generous support in enabling our team to attend the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair this year, assisting in strengthening our organisations development.

📸 Indigenous Fashion Projects

24/08/2026

Help shape the future of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music workers in the contemporary music industry!

Our friends at Support Act are undertaking a national review, led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, to better understand the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working across Australia's contemporary music industry.

The review is open to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who currently work, have previously worked, or are seeking to build a career in Australia's contemporary music industry.

Whether you're on stage or behind the scenes in the industry, your story matters.

Find a session happening near you at https://supportact.org.au/first-nations-music-industry.../

Artwork by (2026)

22/07/2026

An all new residency opportunity at Tandanya, offering rehearsal space and creative support to develop work in any genre. This opportunity is open to South Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists at any stage in their career. With the support from both teams at Tandanya and Adelaide Fringe, two successful residencies will be able to explore, develop and create using the rehearsal space at Tandanya with an outcome as part of the Gluttony program at Tandanya in the Adelaide Fringe 2027.

For more information and to apply: https://tandanyaxadelaidefringe.paperform.co/

Timeline: Application window 22 July - 19 August 2026
Applicants notified: 31 August
Residency 1: 5th - 30th October 2026
Residency 2: 11th Jan - 5th Feb 2027
Adelaide Fringe 2027: 19 Feb - 21 March 2027

CreateSA

07/07/2026

Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute proudly congratulates all recipients of the 2026 NAIDOC South Australia Awards.

These remarkable individuals represent the very best of our community. Through their leadership, dedication, cultural strength and commitment to creating positive change, they continue to inspire current and future generations across South Australia.

It has been an honour for Tandanya to partner with Naidoc South Australia in delivering this year's Awards Ceremony, celebrating the achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people whose contributions strengthen our communities, cultures and future.

To every finalist and award recipient, thank you for your outstanding service, your unwavering commitment to community, and for embodying the spirit of this year's NAIDOC celebrations.

2026 award recipients:
🖤 Person of the Year: Glennis Warrior
💛 Lifetime Achievement Award: Polly Sumner-Dodd and Ian Johnson
❤️ Female Elder of the Year: Cheryl Saunders
🖤 Male Elder of the Year: Basil Coleman
💛 Young Person of the Year: Jackson Coaby
❤️ Sports Person of the Year: Koby Collins
🖤 Scholar/Trainee of the Year: Lachlan Jackson
💛 Creative Artist of the Year: Pat Caruso (received by Jenni Caruso)
❤️ LGBTIQ Person of the Year: Zane Weetra

A special thanks to our event sponsors and partners, without your support we would've have delivered an incredible event.

01/07/2026

The countdown is on! Just 4 days to go until National NAIDOC Week 2026 begins this Sunday, 5 July.

This year's theme, "50 Years of Deadly," celebrates five decades of recognising the strength, resilience, achievements and enduring contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia.

Naidoc South Australia will present a week of events that honour our cultures, our communities and our future. Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute is proud to be the presenting partner for the 2026 NAIDOC South Australia Awards Ceremony. The community will come together on Monday to recognise and celebrate outstanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals whose remarkable achievements have made a lasting impact in their professional fields, communities and personal lives.

Both NAIDOC South Australia and Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute extend our sincere thanks to our valued event sponsors and partners. Your generous support makes it possible to celebrate excellence and deliver an Awards Ceremony that honours the extraordinary contributions of our community.

CreateSA | SA Government

29/06/2026

Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute was delighted to recently welcome the Executive Director of First Nations Arts and Culture, Franchesca Cubillo, from Creative Australia for an important discussion about the future of Tandanya and the broader landscape of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and culture.

The visit provided a valuable opportunity to share Tandanya’s renewed vision and strategic priorities, while exploring ways to strengthen collaboration between Tandanya and Creative Australia to create meaningful opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.

Tandanya values the opportunity to work alongside national partners who share our commitment to a thriving, sustainable, and culturally strong arts sector. We look forward to continuing this important relationship with Creative Australia and achieving positive outcomes for arts and creativity that benefit all Australians.

📷L to R: Brenz Saunders (Tandanya CEO) and Franchesca Cubillo (Creative Australia)

SA Government | CreateSA

23/06/2026

We are excited to be the presenting partner of this years Naidoc South Australia's Award Ceremony and the Premier's NAIDOC Awards. This year's theme is 50 Years of Deadly, celebrating five decades of NAIDOC Week and recognising the strength, resilience and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the state.

The theme honours the generations of Elders, leaders, artists, advocates and community members who have driven positive change, championed self-determination and strengthened culture across the state. This year's celebrations is an opportunity to reflect on the journey of the past 50 years, celebrate the achievements of our communities, and look forward with pride and determination as we continue to build a stronger future for generations to come.

Thank you to our event major sponsors Wyatt Trust, SAACCON and Rachis Technology.

12/06/2026

Tandanya's CEO, Brenz Saunders, recently joined 891 ABC Adelaide Radio discussing all things Tandanya, the State Budget and the Tarrkarri project. To hear the full radio interview click on the link > https://h1.nu/1rs4j, the interview starts at 2:33:20

09/06/2026

Please find attached Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute's response to the South Australian State Budget 2026-27.

01/06/2026

Behind every great transformation is a team of passionate people working together with purpose, vision and determination.

At Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute, we are proud to have a small but highly experienced team leading the next chapter of the organisation. Bringing together expertise in cultural programming, business development, philanthropy, investments, governance, project management, creative arts development and strategic partnerships, this talented group is committed to strengthening Tandanya's impact and ensuring it continues to thrive well into the future.

While our current team may be small, our expertise is large and our ambition is calculated. The Tandanya team is focused on ensuring that Tandanya is a place where culture thrives and experiences inspire, building a sustainable and innovative future for Tandanya, a future that learns from the past and moves forward confidently.

Transformation is not just about change, it's about creating a stronger foundation for generations to come. Our team is excited to be reimagining what is possible and working alongside our community, partners and supporters to grow Tandanya into an even more vibrant cultural destination.

Address

253 Grenfell Street
Adelaide, SA
5000

Website

http://www.tandanya.com.au/

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