NAIDOC Week 2012

Spirit of the Tent Embassy: 40 years on

1–8 July 2012

Download the brochure [PDF]

The Reserve Bank of Australia recognises NAIDOC week, in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture is celebrated. The Bank has chosen to acknowledge the significant contribution of Indigenous Australian artists to the nation's cultural identity by displaying a selection of Aboriginal artwork from our archives.

Dr HC Coombs, the first governor of the Reserve Bank, Sir John Phillips and their successors sourced and collected over 40 indigenous artworks by artists including Yirawala, David Daymirringu, Nym Bunduk, Ali, Manggudja, Jack Laranggai and Coppa Manbutji. These artists have now become prominent and an inspiration to the current generation of Aboriginal artists. The display can be seen in the Bank's Museum of Currency Notes for the duration of NAIDOC week. In the Museum, visitors can also see Aboriginal contributions to Australian life represented on our banknotes.