The SAM Platform 

SAM is an online artwork management system built specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) art centres. The platform allows for the cataloguing of artwork, artists and products and is a Point-of-Sale system that links to artist payments.

Currently 107 organisations use the platform with over 350 staff using SAM for their everyday work in their ATSI art centre.

Desart owns and manages the platform on behalf of art centres nationally. This is a project that extends beyond Desart’s membership into Torres Strait Islands, Arnhem Land, the Kimberley and even Victoria!

Why we need to rebuild the platform

The platform was developed in 2011 and is now considered old technology. We need to future proof the system by meeting modern interface design standards and backend technology.

We have developed a list of requirements that are drawn from art centre feedback and technical / design reviews of SAM.

The Rebuild

In 2021 Desart engaged a design company to review SAM. Based on feedback from the SAM Community along with co-design workshops facilitated by the design company, a set of recommendations were developed for a future SAM Rebuild.

Based on these recommendations the Federal Government has funded a rebuild of SAM.

Design company

We have partnered with Symplicit to co-design and develop the new version of SAM. They are experts in design and have worked on many successful projects over the past 20 years.

Throughout the rebuild art centres will have the opportunity to engage in co-design and testing of the new system. We will be contacting art centres via email throughout the build process to ensure they are updated and engaged!

We look forward to bringing you the new SAM in mid-late 2024!

For any further information please contact rebuild@sam.org.au

Update: January 2025

Hermannsburg Potters have led the way as the first art centre to pilot the new SAM. The pilot found the new SAM interface easy and intuitive.

Following the pilot, the SAM project team from Desart and Symplicit have decided to extend the development phase of the rebuild. This extension allows us to refine the system further based on valuable feedback.

The SAM API v3 was released in late 2024 and we had fantastic feedback from web designers. This has allowed us to update the APIv3 which will be released again in early Feb 2025.

A second pilot is planned for the coming months, with art centres set to begin onboarding to the new SAM soon after. This phased approach ensures we deliver a robust and user-friendly system to support strong business in art centres.

We appreciate your patience and support during this process. More details about the rollout and onboarding will be shared soon.