NORTH Home Textiles (NORTH) is a not-for-profit Aboriginal organisation that facilitates the economic agency of remote Aboriginal artists and art centres by collaborating to develop textile designs that showcase Indigenous art.
NORTH was imagined in 2015 by Northern Territory resident and interior architect Crystal Thomas in collaboration with three remote Aboriginal Art Centres. A company limited by guarantee was created, overseen by a board of Aboriginal committee members.
When the company started to explore alternate structures to formally legalise the organisation’s social values and decided to become a not-for-profit organisation, Arnold Bloch Leibler public interest partner Peter Seidel was approached, and agreed to assist with the transition including:
- Establishing and structuring the organisation
- Drafting the organisation's constitution, and
- Addressing a range of legal issues, including dispute resolution.
“We recognise the benefit that has flowed already from the synergy between NORTH’s ethos, vision and approach to working with Aboriginal artists, and ABL’s commitment to working with, and alongside Indigenous people, communities and causes.”
Arnold Bloch Leibler continues to advise NORTH on governance issues and was successful in obtaining the organisation’s registration on the Register of Cultural Organisations.
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“High level and professional support on a structural level has been integral to creating a solid backbone for NORTH as an organisation. Supports such as those provided by ABL are vital for our future as a thriving not-for-profit.
“We recognise the benefit that has flowed already from the synergy between NORTH’s ethos, vision and approach to working with Aboriginal artists, and ABL’s commitment to working with, and alongside Indigenous people, communities and causes.”
Crystal Thomas
Founder and Director, NORTH Home Textiles