Abstract: Opportunities for the desert Aboriginal art centres have fallen like dominos in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The experiences are far from uniform, as each art centre is on its own life cycle. Some have been hit at a fragile moment, while others, in a more robust phase, have nonetheless had to swallow big disappointments. They are all adapting as best they can-as one manager said to me, "Aboriginal people have a history of adapting to change, they'll get through this." But, as for so many others around the world, the longer the restrictions and uncertainty last, the harder it will become.