Tjanpi Desert Weavers runners up in Ethical Enterprise Award

Tjanpi Desert Weavers have won second prize in the Moral Fairground Ethical Enterprise Award 2016, announced in Melbourne at the end of last week. The Ethical Enterprise Award 2016 recognises the most inspirational ethical enterprise in Australia – a business or organisation that has achieved the most positive social and economic impact in a local or overseas community through their innovative and ethical trade practices.

Tjanpi Desert Weavers were one of 9 finalists in the national award, with the winners being Pollinate Energy, an Australian Enterprise founded in 2012 with a mission to being solar light to people living in Indian slums.

Tjanpi Desert Weavers is an Indigenous social enterprise of the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women’s Council. In 1995 NPYWC members created Tjanpi (meaning, ‘locally harvested grasses’) to enable women on the lands to earn a regular income from selling their fibre art. The enterprise provides a broad range of services including trips to remote Country for artists to collect grass and support cultural maintenance activities, skills develop workshops, selling artwork to retail outlets nationally, selling work locally through a gallery in Alice Springs and online in addition to exhibitions of artwork in national galleries and facilitating commissions for public institutions and collectors.

Tjanpi Desert Weavers have also just been shortlisted as a finalist in the Women’s Impact Award category for the Social Enterprise Awards 2016.

“I am honoured to receive the award on behalf of Tjanpi Desert Weavers,” said Michelle Young, manager of Tjanpi Desert Weavers. “Tjanpi has become firmly embedded in central and western desert culture. The social enterprise supports economic, artistic, cultural, social and wellbeing outcomes for desert women and demonstrates impact consistently and deeply.”

Individuals and organisations can support Tjanpi by purchasing artwork at the online gallery or by making a direct donation www.tjanpi.com.au

Media Comment: Michelle Young, Manager Tjanpi Desert Weavers 08 8958 2337