This article examines the role that the arts sector plays in supporting and sustaining communities in one of Australia’s remotest regions, the Barkly (Northern Territory). Drawing on findings from a three-year Australian Research Council Linkage project, ‘Creative Barkly’, the article outlines how artistic and creative activities in very remote regions, such as the Barkly, constitute significant cultural, social, and economic value. To illustrate this, the article explores one such example, the annual Desert Harmony Festival, run by Barkly Regional Arts. This example demonstrates how an event such as this can provide a site of diverse intercultural expression that promotes both social and economic linkages and networks and generates cultural vitality in the region.

本文探讨了艺术部门在支持和维持澳大利亚最偏远地区之一巴克利（北领地）社区方面所起的作用。借鉴澳大利亚研究委员会为期三年的链接项目“Creative Barkly”的研究结果，该文章概述了在非常偏远地区（如 Barkly）的艺术和创意活动如何构成重要的文化、社会和经济价值。为了说明这一点，本文探讨了一个这样的例子，即由 Barkly Regional Arts 举办的年度沙漠和谐节。这个例子展示了这样的活动如何提供一个多元文化表达的场所，促进社会和经济联系和网络，并在该地区产生文化活力。