Our Future August 2025
Our key training offering, Our Future: Aboriginal Arts Worker Training Program, returned this year with our highest applications ever for the TAFE-accredited program.
Designed for Aboriginal arts workers based in WA, we welcomed a brand-new cohort of four arts workers in 2025: Paula Lyons (Papulankutja Artists), Misha Mclean (Papulankutja x Mantamaru Artists), Alysha Taylor (Martumili Artists) and Sarafina Dickie (Martumili Artists).
We’re also proud to congratulate two returning arts workers – Rebekah Taylor (Broome Circle & Bidyadanga Artists) and Nathan Stretch (Yarliyil Arts) – who joined the 2025 cohort, finishing their Our Future journey with the regional leg of the program.
Meet the Arts Workers
This year, the group travelled from the Desert, Pilbara and Kimberly regions to visit AACHWA member Martumili Artists on Nyiyaparli Country (Newman) for the regional leg of the program in late August.
Led by North Regional TAFE lecturer Jacky Cheng, they took part in a series of practical workshops on artwork conversation, archiving, foundational studio skills and art centre management.
The group exchanged skills and cultural knowledge, explored new creative processes in silk painting, and heard from Martumili artists and arts workers Nuriah Jadai and Frances Castles, who generously shared their journeys, knowledge and stories.
The record number of applications received in 2025 highlights the importance of programs like this in providing pathways for training, knowledge sharing and career development.
A big thank you to Martumili Artists and their team for their support throughout the week.
We now look ahead the metropolitan component of Our Future, taking place in Boorloo (Perth) later this year. Participants are set to visit key cultural institutions, take part in industry-based learning, and continue building strong sector networks.
We thank our valued partner Martumili Artists 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 Regional TAFE.
