National Exhibitions Touring Support - NETS Victoria

Today is National Sorry Day, which was first held in Sydney in 1998 and is now commemorated nationally to remember and honour the Stolen Generations.

Tomorrow is the beginning of National Reconciliation Week, marking a time for reflection, and an acknowledgement that reconciliation is an ongoing journey.

The dates of NRW, 27 May to 3 June, commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey – the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively.

We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation, and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures.

At NETS Victoria we see great strength in working together to advance understanding and drive collective action toward a future of respect, kindness, appreciation and love for all. When we all care for the success and comfort of our communities, we thrive as a society. In the arts we have a special privilege in working with ideas, materials and processes that afford us insight and inspiration. It is a powerful gift to have access to art and culture, and an important responsibility to deal with all people who make and engage in it with reverence and respect.

While National Reconciliation Week is an excellent time to think about these issues, you can still take action throughout the year to work towards reconciliation.

The artwork is called Gaagal, by Gumbaynggirr Bundjalung artist Otis Hope Carey.

Image Description:
An aqua block of colour is covered in text that says ALL IN FOR RECONCILIATION and the dates of National Reconciliation Week, 27 MAY – 3 JUNE

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We are thrilled that two wonderful projects we were able to support have received High Commendation at the 2026 Victorian Museums & Galleries Awards - presented by and

We congratulate all who were involved with ‘EXCHANGE’, produced by Blak Dot Gallery.

HIGHLY COMMENDED:
Blak Dot Gallery for EXCHANGE

Judges’ comments:
A beautiful and important exhibition that challenges systems through creative expression, truth telling, and cultural authority. Each artist addresses very different but equally important issues and experiences of First Nations persons and communities. The innovative approach to exhibition development analyses western systems, reframing the conceptual underpinning of ‘exchange’ to the Indigenous methodology of relationality—working to reframe curatorial practice itself. There is a strong demonstrated impact for emerging writers and artists, with impressive reach for local communities through an independent gallery.

Now celebrating their 32nd year, the Awards acknowledge and highlight outstanding achievements across the museum, gallery and community collecting sector.

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Image credit:
Janty Blair with Kimba Thompson and Maree Clarke from Blak Dot Gallery, highly commended First Nations Project of the Year, 2026 Victorian Museums and Galleries Awards. Photo: Peter Casamento.



Image Description:
1. Three people stand holding an award certificate on stage, smiling.
2. In a darkened gallery space of black walls, three glass cubes containing woven photographic images sit on three plinths, while two more glass cubes are attached to a wall on which there is a large photographic image of ocean and sky.