Fourth Vincent Lingiari Art Award to celebrate 50 years of land rights
Desart and the Central Land Council are proud to present the prestigious Vincent Lingiari Art Award for the fourth time.
The nationally renowned award honours the legacy of Vincent Lingiari, the Wave Hill Walk-Off and the struggle for land rights.
This year’s award will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the passing of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act (NT) 1976 with an exhibition themed Our Country, Our Culture: 50 Years of Land Rights. The landmark law saw the establishment of the Northern Territory’s two largest land councils and allowed them to claim more than half of the NT back for the traditional landowners.
Since the inaugural Vincent Lingiari Art Award in 2016, Aboriginal artists whose country is in the CLC region have submitted works in a wide range of media. In 2026, the award will offer a $10,000 major prize to the most outstanding artwork in the exhibition, the CLC Delegates’ Choice Award of $2,000 and the Desart People’s Choice Award of $2,000.
The award exhibition will open 17 August 2026 at the Araluen Arts Centre in Mparntwe (Alice Springs). The winners will be announced on 10 September, during the official opening celebration of the Vincent Lingiari Art Award which will coincide with the official opening of Desert Mob 2026.
Desart and the CLC are thrilled to announce Kelli Cole, a Warumungu and Luritja woman from Central Australia, as the curator of the award. Ms Cole has helped shape the presentation of Indigenous art on a national stage, contributing to National Indigenous Art Triennials at the National Gallery of Australia and recently leading the curation of Emily Kam Kngwarray at the Tate Modern. Ms Cole has been engaging with Aboriginal art centres across the CLC region and Desart membership about the award since late last year.
Entries for the award close Friday 17 April 2026.
For information about how to enter, artists are encouraged to contact vlaa@desart.com.au.