About Blak Markets
The Blak Markets are organised and run by First Hand Solutions Aboriginal Corporation, with a mission to close the gap for Aboriginal people. The Blak Markets is a social enterprise of First Hand Solutions that provides Indigenous artists, designers and small business owners a live marketplace to showcase their wares. This unique event allows locals and visitors to the area to connect directly with artists and make ethical purchases of authentic Aboriginal products.
“The Blak Markets allow Sydneysiders to shop locally and support a good cause, with 100 per cent of the proceeds going back to Indigenous stallholders.”
— Peter Cooley, CEO of First Hand Solutions.
“There is nothing quite like shopping at the Blak Markets. Not only do you get to see the art and craft close up, but you get to hear the story behind it from the artist who created it. There is also a whole festival program that runs alongside the marketplace, including a Welcome to Country, smoking ceremony, song, dance and weaving workshops, just to name a few,” Peter added.
This Blak Markets features stallholders selling a variety of art, homewares, jewellery, fashion, children’s clothing, textiles, woodwork, woven goods, plants and bushfoods. You can expect to see and taste homemade baked goods created with Indigenous bush tucker and spices, source quality Indigenous skincare products and buy native plants for the garden from IndigiGrow.
The Blak Markets are held quarterly at Bare Island, La Perouse, in Sydney’s southeast and four times a year at Tallawoladah Lawn in the Rocks overlooking Sydney Harbour.
Blak Markets history
Up to the 1960s, there was a lively Indigenous art scene at La Perouse where artists carved boomerangs and women made shell art to sell to visitors who came to the suburb to watch the artists at work. That scene gradually faded as the older generation of artists passed away. The Blak Markets, established 10 years ago by First Hand Solutions, to bring back that artistic heritage with a vibrant and colourful marketplace celebrating Indigenous culture and performance.