Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute on Grenfell Street closed during NAIDOC Week earlier this month, with a sign on the front door saying the site is “temporarily closed” with no explanation or reopening date.

Photo: David Simmons/InDaily.

Established in 1989, Tandanya is an Aboriginal-owned and run centre that promotes and exhibits art and culture, and recently hosted the launch for the ‘Yes’ campaign of the referendum on an Indigenous voice to parliament.

During NAIDOC Week, Tandanya interim CEO Phillip Saunders told InDaily there were “a number of things we needed to attend to”, and that it would be two or three weeks until it reopened.

Saunders told InDaily on Wednesday that staff were still “working through issues”.

When asked about a possible reopening date, Saunders said to ask again next Friday.

He previously said the closure was due to staff “getting [the] collection in order” and “making sure we’re functioning”.

“Things that are easier to do when the building was shut rather than being open,” he said.

“It’s been here for 30 years and the organisation has a rich history. We’re just making sure we get our ducks lined up.

“We’ll be fine: we’re just getting things lined up internally and then we’ll open.”

Arts Minister Andrea Michaels referred questions to Tandanya as “it’s not a government-owned site”.