About Us
We work with WA Aboriginal Art Centres to celebrate the strength of our art and culture by Promoting, Empowering and Connecting.
Our History
AACHWA was originally established as a project department within Country Arts WA (now Regional Arts WA) in 2009. Six years later (in 2015) AACHWA became a stand-alone not-for-profit Aboriginal Corporation (registered under the CATSI Act 2006).
Since 2009 AACHWA has:
- delivered a variety of skills and professional development programs for its member art centre staff, boards and artists
- provided links to legal assistance, human resource advice and services for its art centre members in times of peak HR demand
- acted as a representative voice for art centres to the wider arts sector and to funding bodies at all levels of government
- acted as an effective conduit between art centres and funding bodies, the corporate sector, and government stakeholders.
AACHWA programs and services are currently helping WA art centres to:
- stabilise their operations and remain steady in volatile conditions
- improve certain skills of their core staff and/ or their artists
- reach wider markets for their work
- communicate with each other more effectively to encourage collaboration and cross-fertilisation of skills and knowledge.
Mission and Values
Our Mission
We work with WA Aboriginal Art Centres to celebrate the strength of our art and culture by:
Promoting: we are a strong voice for art centres
Empowering: we encourage best practice, facilitate targeted training opportunities and encourage leadership within younger generations
Connecting: we build strong networks with members and partners
Our Values
In this work we are guided by our priority values of Cultural maintenance;
Respect; Trust; Independence; Fairness and Equity and Collaboration.
Our Team
Chad Creighton
Chief Executive Officer
Dr Rachael Vincent
Manager
Sophie Davidson
Administrative Coordinator
Janet Vost
Art Centre Support Program Coordinator
Sue Buck
Projects Coordinator
Emilia Galatis
Services Coordinator
Narelle Doran
Finance Officer
Jo Pickup
Grants and Development Officer
Ella Winterbottom
Design and Marketing Officer
Our Board
Lynette Yu-Mackay
Chairperson
Nagula Jarndu Designs, Broome
Kuberan Muir
Deputy Chairperson
Walkatjurra Art and Culture Centre, Leonora
John McLean
Treasurer
Non-member Specialist Director
Christina Araujo
Non-member Specialist Director
Non-member Specialist Director
Maureen Baker
Member Director
Warakurna Art Centre, Warakurna Community
Mark Smith
Member Director
Yamaji Arts, Geraldton
Gloria Mengil
Member Director
Waringarri Aboriginal Arts, Kununurra
Corban Williams
Member Director
Martumili Art Centre, Newman
