Representatives from the Victorian Government’s Creative Victoria visited Lakes Entrance on August 27 to seek local views on the future work in championing and growing First Peoples in the arts, culture, screen and design.
The visit, attended by the executive director of Aboriginal Economic Development, Andrew Jackomos, senior manager of First Peoples Arts Investment, Kylie Belling, and senior arts officers, Victoria Jones and Gillian Jones, was held at Wurinbeena Studio Gallery in Myer Street.
A presentation and discussion lead by Kylie Belling and Andrew Jackomos explored strategies for creative stage two supporting regional Aboriginal artists in the recognition, making and development of creative works.
Discussions included challenges faced by emerging and established Aboriginal artists in furthering their skills, providing culturally appropriate mentoring and meeting their needs in the making and marketing of their work.
Consultation meetings were held in five regional centres Mildura, Portland, Shepparton, Mornington and Lakes Entrance where Creative Victoria supports local First Peoples initiatives.
The First Peoples consultations will inform Creative Victoria’s approach to developing Victoria’s next creative industries strategy which is underpinned by four guiding principles: First Peoples first, Whole of State, Whole of ecosystem and All voices welcome.
Wurinbeena Studio Gallery opened in December 2018 to provide a space for emerging and established Aboriginal artists to make and sell their work. Wurinbeena, a not-for-profit company, celebrates and shares South Eastern Australian Aboriginal arts and culture through the gallery and cultural projects and events.
The studio gallery functions as a studio providing a collaborative and supportive space for emerging and established artists to make their art and opens as a gallery during peak tourist seasons to display and sell their work.
Local Aboriginal artists are encouraged to enquire about working in the studio to create new works for exhibition.
Wurinbeena is also working on projects that recognise, promote and celebrate local Aboriginal culture such as its current oral history project featuring local Aboriginal elders. This project is jointly funded by the Public Records Office and the Regional Arts Fund. It will be released as an online film series later in the year.
Details of Wurinbeena’s past and current work can be found on its website.
PICTIRED: Victoria Jones (Creative Victoria senior arts officer), Kim Gordon (Wurinbeena Gallery staff member), Kylie Belling (Creative Victoria senior manager), Frances Harrison (Wurinbeena Gallery coordinator), Andrew Jackomos (Aboriginal Economic Development executive director), Alan Coe (Wurinbeena Gallery board member) and Aunty Lana Gordon (Wurinbeena Gallery board member). (PS)
