The National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE) is organising a special art auction in Redfern to raise funds for its youth programs to support children in the community.
Redfern, an inner suburb of Sydney, has historically been marked by inequality and disadvantage for its Indigenous residents. However, it has recently taken on a new role as a host for a high-end art auction, which is a first for the area.
In preparation for the upcoming event on June 30, a collection of artworks, including contributions from renowned Indigenous artists, has been exhibited in an Aboriginal-controlled space at the NCIE, for the community to view.
Artists featured in the exhibition include Richard Bell, Tracey Moffatt, Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Angelina Pwerle, Bill Whiskey Tjapaltjarri, and Shaun Daniel Allen (Shal).
NCIE chief executive and Kamilaroi man, Grant Cameron said he has been blown away by the generosity and kindness of those who have helped raise funds to keep their programs going.
"We have had a lot of generous artist, galleries and collectors in time to give NCIE art to auction off to raise money, all the proceeds will go straight into our children services and youth services program," Mr Cameron said.
"This is the first time Redfern as a community has had this calibre of artwork or first nation art from across the country on display, which is pretty cool."
NCIE is a non-profit social enterprise, dedicated to creating strong foundations and bright futures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The funds collected will contribute to the essential programs for youth at NCIE, including their flagship after-school program, Young Fit & Deadly, which delivers transformative assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Redfern and Waterloo through fitness classes.
"NCIE's main purpose is to serve our community and we have a strong focus on our kids and our youth," said Mr Cameron.
"Generally speaking we get probably about 100 kids…some are redferns toughest kids, and to have them on sight for a few hours and have really good role models and mentors around them…is so important.
"Unfortunately for some of the kids in our cohort those three hours are probably the safest times that they will have in the day. So we know we really have to nurture them and make sure they are taken care of.
"...Giving them a culturally safe space where they can come and just hang out, have fun and act like kids."
"That's why it's super crucial to keep the programs running."
The diverse range of pieces on offer through the auction are estimated to be valued between $2,000 and $450,000.
NCIE is anticipating to raise $200,000 from the auction alone, which will have a significant impact on the youth involved at the centre.
One piece which as already garnered attention is Kamilaroi artist and activist, Richard Bell's 2002, You don't own me', which features the printed words "Leave us kids alone".
Mr Cameron said Mr Bell's work is a private piece which sat in his living room for 22 years and one the artist never intended to sell.
However upon hearing about the auction and its cause, Mr Bell donated it to NCIE.
NCIE collaborated with Deutscher & Hackett for the auction, where an additional feature was included.
Deutscher & Hackett has decided to waive its Buyers Premium - a 25 per cent administrative surcharge typically paid by winning bidders at auctions - in order to encourage generous bidding during the auction.
Consequently, winning bidders will not have to pay any additional fees on top of the auction's final hammer price.
The National Centre of Indigenous Excellence Auction ends on Sunday 30 June at 3pm, with the auction catalogue able to be viewed online here.
