2026 sees the second iteration of Critical Conversations after a very successful 2025 series. At a time when the world seems to be all about creating division, some of Darwin’s leading arts organisations have come together to create CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS. This series of forums will run throughout the year, allowing for important conversations about arts activism, ethical arts practice and our social responsibility as creatives. Each organisation will host their forum, focusing on issues that affect them. There will also be time for audience questions.

How can the art community effectively promote critical dialogue while navigating the pressures of funding and commercialisation? What strategies can be implemented better to support underrepresented artists in a rapidly changing environment? In what ways can artists maintain their creative integrity amidst the increasing demands for speed and profitability in the art world?

In 2025, we successfully discussed: the importance of building long-term relationships and legacy, Ethical Storytelling, Arts Censorship, and working in arts institutions when they are developed without you in mind.

Conversation Series 2, Episode1 - Tracks Dance Company

Ticket Sales HERE

Tracks kicks off the first conversation for the year, asking "Should arts organisations last forever?"

In times of limited and decreasing funding, and ongoing rises in costs, should we financially support ongoing organisations, and if so, is there a time limit? How do new players enter an already saturated sector? And what happens to the legacy and skills developed by mature arts organisations?

Panel Members

Tahlia Biggs, currently an Emerging Producer at Brown's Mart (an organisation whose roots go back to 1969), and is running the First Nations Engagement Program.
Ange O'Donnell, currently Executive Manager Community and Cultural Services at the City of Darwin, based in Darwin, Northern Territory, has a long history of working in and with the arts sector
David McMmicken, Tracks Artistic Director - Founding Member of Tracks (A company whose roots go back to 1988).
James Mangohig, is a music producer, has worked for most major organisations in Darwin.

When: April 2nd, 2026
Where: Dance Studio, Harbourview Plaza, 8 McMinn Street, Darwin
Time: 5:30-6:30 pm
Cost: $10 Concession, $15 Full, $20 Arts Lover
Ticket Sales HERE

Other Conversations To be Confirmed

May 21 - Darwin Community Arts (DCA) - Art in the Dark Times. Increasing climate change, increasing poverty, increasing hate - how is the poly-crisis affecting our work?

July 24 - Darwin Fringe Festival - Arts as a Public Service. Everyone expects it to happen, but no one wants to pay for it. There's an extreme divide in the way arts are valued with 1% of creatives making huge amounts of money and then everyone else is struggling to be paid accordingly. Then there's the discussion around industrialisation of creativity in addition to the important part that arts play in democracy. We can't live without it but at this rate we can't live on it.

October 7 - Corrugated Iron Youth Arts - Topic TBC

Nov 5 - Artback - Topic TBC

Northern Centre for Contemporary Art (NCCA) - date and topic TBC

Tracks 2026

Staff: Artistic Director: David McMicken. Artistic Leadership Team: Rachael Wallis, James Mangohig, Jenelle Saunders, Kelly Beneforti, and Alyson Evans. Company Director: Sean Pardy. Production Manager: Duane Preston. Administrator: Ciella Williams. Bookkeeper: It Figures. Auditors: AMW Audit

Committee Members: Chairperson: David Taylor. Treasurer: Glenn Bernardin. Ordinary Members: Andrea Wicking, Claudia Lee, Lachlan Peattie, Max Stretton, Rachael Wallis, Sarah Rennie, Venaska Cheliah. Ex-Officio: David McMicken, Sean Pardy

Warlpiri Advisor: Wanta Jampijinpa Patrick