OUR FUTURE

ABORIGINAL ARTS WORKER TRAINING PROGRAM

The Our Future Aboriginal Arts Worker Training Program supports Aboriginal arts workers from regional and remote WA to build new skills and grow their knowledge of the arts sector.

November 2024 marked an exciting milestone for the program with the commencement of a new cohort of Aboriginal arts workers. Taking place on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar in Boorloo (Perth), the two-week intensive program was hosted at North Metro TAFE and featured immersive experiences at leading arts and cultural institutions across the city.

Participants in this new cohort included Deanha Robinson from Juluwarlu Art Group, Jessie Ward from Waringarri Aboriginal Arts, Nathan Stretch from Yarliyil Art Centre, and Rebekah Taylor from Bidyadanga Artists. Their two-week schedule began with a Welcome to Country and cultural tour at Kaarta Koomba (King’s Park), led by Steven Jacobs of In Culture Tours.

The following days were packed with tours and hands-on workshops, offering insights into key aspects of the arts industry. Highlights included:

• WA Museum: A guided tour of the ‘Spinifex People: Art and Stories from Pilar Nguru’ exhibition, exploring the development of the Spinifex Arts Project.

• Berndt Museum: A practical session on condition reporting, collection management, and preservation practices.

• Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA): Behind-the-scenes access to the curatorial process of the ‘Balancing Act’ exhibition, hands-on experience with AGWA Design Store’s retail strategies, and exploration of Gallery 9’s interactive, artist-led projects.

• Creative Workshops: The cohort engaged in a glass coolamon-making workshop at Dandjoo Darbalung, St Catherine’s College UWA, and attended a studio-making forum at John Curtin Gallery. Additionally, they experienced Murdoch University’s ‘Speaking Truth to Power’ exhibition.

• At North Metro TAFE, participants further expanded their skills through a blend of theoretical and practical learning. They explored arts administration, developed skills in exhibition installation, and had the opportunity to engage in printmaking workshops.

The cohort’s experience at WA Museum, Berndt Museum, and Art Gallery of Western Australia provided essential training in curatorial strategies, collection management, and installation practices. The creative potential of participants was nurtured through a printmaking workshop facilitated by industry specialist Zali Morgan at North Metro TAFE. As a testament to the program’s impact, Deanha Robinson received a special mentorship opportunity to further develop her printmaking skills.

Participants also honed their ability to curate exhibitions and work collaboratively as a curatorium, learning to take on key roles in the creation, display, and management of art exhibitions. Their practical work in exhibition installation and curation positions them as future leaders in the Aboriginal arts sector.

We thank our valued partners WA Museum and Art Gallery of WA for their continued support of the program.

The Our Future program is proudly supported by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSCI) through the Regional Arts and Cultural Investment Program (RACIP) and is delivered in partnership with North Metropolitan TAFE.

We also thank the following organisations and arts professionals for being part of our November 2024 program: Steven Jacobs In Culture Tours, Dandjoo Darbalung at St Catherine’s College UWA, Berndt Museum, John Curtin Gallery, Murdoch University Art Collection, Jacky Cheng, Soula Vouyoucalos-Veyradier, Predrag Delibasich, Koorlak Centre, Keira Gentle, Zali Morgan, and Ron Bradfield.