We often get asked “how did Artitja come about and how did we get involved in the Aboriginal art world?”

Well, It all began in 1998 when a friend who had worked in the Alice (Alice Springs in the Northern Territory) was nostalgic for both her friends and the beautiful country. She was thinking of a visit back and I immediately said “I’ve never been to Alice Springs – I’ll come!” I hadn’t been invited, but hey – now it was a plan.

Since that time, I have stopped counting at over fifty visits to the centre, either directly to The Alice or on the way to visit a remote community art centre and make valuable and onngoing connections with such.

I loved it. I loved the country, I loved the people and as my friend went back to visit her friends involved in the Aboriginal art world – I was on cloud nine – beautiful country, beautiful art – a whole new world.

It was the beginning of a great love for Aboriginal/First Nations art and the artists, and a huge respect for First People’s connection to land and culture that I was being introduced, and welcomed into.  (Anna Kanaris)