Tarnanthi offers a valuable learning opportunity for all ages and provides insight into contemporary Aboriginal and Torres strait Islander culture.

For the inaugural Tarnanthi Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art, Education has developed comprehensive inquiry-based teaching and learning programs for F–12 students and teachers that:

- Align with various Australian Curriculum Learning Areas, with a particular focus on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures cross-curriculum priority
- Support Stage 1 and 2 SACE (and interstate equivalents)
- Support the Teaching for Effective Learning (TEFL) framework
- Provide tertiary English as a Second Language (EDL) and new arrivals program learning opportunities

Learning support includes teacher and tertiary sector briefings, interpretive resources, guided inquiry sessions and facilitated making activities in The Studio that engage students’ to use their imaginations in response to the exhibition.

Browse our education tools and resources for more information on contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and culture.

Byron Brooks, Pitjantjatjara people, Western Australia, born 1951, Great Victoria Desert, Western Australia, Fred Grant, Pitjantjatjara people, Western Australia, born 1943, Ukatjatjara, Western Australia, Simon Hogan, Pitjantjatjara people, Western Australia, born c.1930, Paltju, Western Australia, Lawrence Pennington, Pitjantjatjara people, Western Australia, born c.1934, Urlu, Western Australia, Patju Presley, Pitjantjatjara people, Western Australia, born 1945, Itaratjara, Western Australia, Ian Rictor, Pitjantjatjara people, Western Australia, born c.1955, Artulin/Tuwan, Western Australia, Kunmanara Underwood, Pitjantjatjara people, Western Australia, born 1937, Tjutajara area, Western Australia, died 2018, Tjuntjuntjara, Western Australia, Lennard Walker, Pitjantjatjara people, Western Australia, born c.1946, Tjukaltjara, Western Australia, Ilkurlka, 2015, Ilkurlka, Great Victoria Desert, Western Australia, synthetic polymer paint on linen, 198.0 x 290.0 cm; Gift of Barbara Fargher, Roger J Lang, Lipman Karas, Mark Livesey QC, Joan Lyons, Diana McLaurin, Robert Pontifex and Henry Rischbieth through the Art Gallery of South Australia Foundation Collectors Club 2015, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, © the artists/Copyright Agency.

Spinifex Arts Project

Education Resource

installation view: Tarnanthi 2015 featuring Thunder raining poison by Yhonnie Scarce, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adealide; photo: Saul Steed.

Yhonnie Scarce

Education Resource

Alair Pambegan, Wik-Mungkan people, Aurukun, Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, born 1968, Aurukun, Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Walkaln-aw (Bone Fish Story Place 2), 2014, Sydney, earth pigments on canvas, 150.0 x 120.0; Acquisition through Tarnanthi: Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art supported by BHP 2015, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, Image courtesy the artist, photo: Greg Piper.

Tony Albert and Alair Pambegan

Education Resource

detail: Brian Robinson, born 1973, Waiben (Thursday Island), Wuthathi and Maluyligal people, Torres Strait Islands, Custodian of the Blooms, 2014, Cairns, mixed media, 300.0 x 300.0 cm, Image courtesy the artist and Mossenson Galleries, photo: Saul Steed

Brian Robinson

Education Resource

Installation view: 2018 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Divided Worlds featuring works by Douglas Watkin; Samstag Museum of Art, Adelaide,; photo: Saul Steed.

Douglas Watkin

Education Resource

Installation view: Riverland: Yvonne Koolmatrie, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, 2015-16.

Yvonne Koolmatrie: Riverland

Education Resource

Kumantjai G Pannka, Western Aranda/Loritja people, Northern Territory, born 1949, Ntaria (Hermannsburg), Northern Territory, died 2020, Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Tjuritja (West MacDonnell Ranges), 2014, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, watercolour on paper, 106.0 x 91.0 cm; Private Collection, Image courtesy the artist and Iltja Ntjarra Many Hands Art Centre.

Many Hands Art Centre

Education Resource

Josie Kunoth Petyarre, Anmatyerre people, Northern Territory, born 1959, Utopia Homestead, Northern Territory, Football Alice Springs, 2010, Utopia Northern Territory, synthetic polymer paint on linen, 152.0 x 151.0 cm. Courtesy of the artist and Mossenson Galleries, Perth.

Dinni Kunoth Kemarre and Josie Kunoth Petyarre

Education Resource

Publication for Purchase

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art in the Classroom

The AGSA Learning and Education programs are supported by the government of South Australia through the Department of Education and Child Development.