First Nations Arts and Culture

STA respectfully acknowledge Aboriginal people as the traditional custodians of the land, sky & waters where we live and their continuing cultural, spiritual customs and practices. We connect to First Nations creatives, colleagues and communities to share, create, live & work. STA pay our respect to the Elders of this County, past, present and emerging.
There are many language groups who live and meet across the region where STA operates. Main groups include; Wiradjuri Country coming in from the west, across the north is Gundungurra and Tharawal Country, the south is Ngunnawal Country, and the east is Yuin Country. You can visit the Map of Indigenous Australia to find where you are.
This page is a place to gather stories and resources from the STA region and the nation. 

KNOW YOUR COUNTRY 
The Southern Tablelands has many Nations intersecting in this diverse and vibrant area.  Do you know which Country you are on?

Also referred to as the Traditional Custodians / Owners of the land you are on. If you are unsure of the name of the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Country you are on, here are some easy research tips. Try to use a few different reference points to find a consensus. Always prioritise information from authentic First Nations-controlled websites/ organisations first. Visit this page, Know Your Country for more information on acknowledging the Traditional Custodians / Owners of the land you are on. 

13YARN – First Nations crisis support line for mob who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping

ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT NETWORKS
Wingecarribee. Links and information for
support organisations, service providers and community
groups for Aboriginal People.

The Aboriginal Regional Arts Alliance Advocacy, support & opportunities for Aboriginal Artists and Communities in Regional NSW.
STA is proud to work with ARAA.

First Nations Exhibition at the STA Gallery online
Includes paintings, drawings, prints and objects. An STA Gallery exhibition.

Woven Together
First Nations weaving workshops with Mob and schools.Find out more. 

Weave with Ronnie anytime at STA kids online

Always Will Be! by Djon Mundine. Statement dressing!

The Uluru Statement from the Heart is an invitation to the Australian people.

Get more information at YES23

Skills Nation Wingecarribee
A FREE 3 week training program to support and engage First Nations participants to secure meaningful employment. APPLY HERE!

NAIDOC WEEK is the first week of July each year. A time to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Young creatives bring First Nations art and culture to Goulburn hospital – STA is proud to be part of the amazing project

BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL ARTS PRACTICE
Saltwater Freshwater Arts Alliance have partnered with Karen Zadra from GALERIE ZADRA to run a series of FREE workshops aimed at emerging artists. Bookings HERE

NADA NATIONAL ABORIGINAL DESIGN AGENCY – creating and managing the partnerships between Aboriginal artists and clients.

Here Now & Always 

Head over for videos and resources from the program of talks, panel discussions and more. An amazing resource.  See full program here. 

Stories from the Studio – First Nations Artists

Warwick Keen

Stories from the Studio: Warick Keen Today STA were lucky to meet Warwick Keen inside his exhibition MINDMAPS and other fragments before it opens to the

Jess Plumb

Stories from the Studio: Jess Plumb  This week at Stories from the Studio we are delighted to catch up with Jess Plumb. Jess is a

Monica Bridge

Stories from the Studio: Monica Bridge A very special Stories from the Studio this week with Monica Bridge! Monica is a contemporary Aboriginal artist, and

Jerikye Williams

Jerikye Williams: Stories from the Studio This week STA had the pleasure of catching up with Jerikye Williams, who is the Highland FM’s 100% Home-grown

Djon Mundine

Djon Mundine OAM: Stories from the Studio STA caught up with Djon Mundine OAM for a trip through The Dingo Project, an exhibition he curated

Jess Plumb ‘Travelling Arts’ 22

PAINT THE CAR Commission
The STA car has had a deadly makeover with a wrap created from an original work title ‘Travelling arts’ by Jess Plumb. 
My digital artwork represents the travelling arts from a First Nations perspective. The Southern Tablelands Arts logo colours have been incorporated alongside others, to reflect the different areas that southern tablelands art covers and to show their support and collaboration with local artists…

Watch the full story and see the fab merch.

Jess Plumb with Cecilia McKenzie in Crookwell
Jodie Munday 'One Nation - Many People' 2021

STA Acknowledgment of Country Commission

STA worked with Jodie Munday to create our First Nations acknowledgment screen when you arrive at our site using Jodie’s work One Nation – Many People. 
This work is a representation of our land and our people. The Magenta background is symbolic of our rich soils and our rich history. The large waterhole in the background connects life and land to water which both need to survive and thrive. The black and white circles in the centre of the image represent our ancestors. Spreading out across the work are many orange circles which represent different people and different mobs. These circles are joined across many paths to each other and our ancestors. 
This work tells the story that no matter how far we travel or what path we take in life we are always connected to our ancestors and we travel our journey with their knowledge, strength and guidance always by our sides and in our hearts. 
Jodie Munday

Funding & Opportunities

The Country Arts Support Program 
The much loved funding program for regional arts programs. 

CASP funding for 2024 projects is OPEN! Opening 1 Nov 2023 and closing 22 Jan 2024, for 2024 projects 

Find out more!

Space to Create III: Music Residency is an intensive residential program open to emerging through to established First Nations musicians, artists, songwriters, audio engineers, producers and those employed in the music industry.
Partnered with ANU School of Music and the Yil Lull recording studio
Applications close:  Tuesday 14 November 2023, 3pm AEDT
Residency dates: 21-27 March 2024

Opportunities for First Nations Artists through The Australia Council

First Nations funding opportunities currently on offer through Grant Connect.

Creative Koori Projects aims to build support for a strong, resilient and exciting Aboriginal arts and cultural sector for NSW.

Indigenous Contemporary Music program Indigenous-led organisations who provide professional industry-based opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians and bands.

Aboriginal Benefits Foundation Grants Assist Aboriginal communities and individuals, with the current focus on supporting art, literacy, education, health and cultural projects.

Grant opportunities under the Indigenous Advancement Strategy  (IAS) is the way the Australian Government funds and delivers a range of programs for Indigenous Australians.

Support Orgs and Ideas

The Aboriginal Art Association of Australia (AAAA) serves and represents artists, individuals and organisations that produce, promote, protect culture

Real Futures
Building community capacity through job readiness, training services and employment for Mob across Austraila.

Supply Nation
Australia’s leading database of verified Indigenous businesses: search by business name, product, service, area, or category.

Indigenous Business Australia
Assist and enhance the economic development opportunities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia

Connect with Indigenous business women, to share knowledge in navigating the path less trodden. Wherever you are in your business journey, you have wisdom to share.

Black Magic Woman is a conversational podcast featuring First Nations guests and highlighting the stories, diversity and resilience of First Nations peoples. Hosted by Mundanara Bayles.

Reconciliation Australia. Lead body for reconciliation in Australia, to promote and facilitate reconciliation.

Creative Directory – First Nations

First Nations artists, designers, creatives and cultural organisations right across the Southern Tablelands and Highlands of NSW.
Search the full Creative Directory here.

First Nations Artists

Dashanti Carr

Dashanti is a 17-year-old 4th generation Aboriginal artist living in Berrima.

Caitlin Sheedy

Cat Sheedy is a young First Nations woman from the Hilltops Shire, currently residing in Young after spending much of her childhood and early teens

Alfie Walker

Alfie is a Wiradjuri Gibir, Yuin man & local Aboriginal story teller. Alfie is sharing his stories through Contemporary Aboriginal rock painting

Djon Mundine

Djon Mundine OAM is a proud Bandjalung man. Mundine is a curator, writer, artist and activist and is celebrated as a foundational figure in the criticism

Jenny Johnson

Jenny is a member of the Wiradjuri Tribe and she has a strong cultural link to the Wiradjuri lands through her mother and has adopted

Culture on the Move

Ronnie Jordan. Cultural knowledge workshops for preschool, Schools, Government, Corporate and Communities.

Jodie Munday – Cr8tive Art

I have been studying art and building my skills for most of my life. My passion for Visual Arts really took hold during my high

Local Organisations

First Nations Resources and Links

STA First Nations Commitment

STA works to promote and support First Nations peoples to achieve creative and cultural outcomes.

We work respectfully and effectively with First Nations peoples, families and communities.

STA is committed to being a culturally safe and competent organisation. Working to establish and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with First Nations stakeholders and organisations, using our sphere of influence to feature First Nations culture, enhance employment and opportunities to creatively express and practice culture.

We promise to learn slowly, listen often and respect the sovereignty of First Nations people.

[email protected]
0405 339 838  
Or by appointment at one of our
Mobile Office locations

PO Box 1323 Goulburn 2580
ABN 67 208 214 681

 

We acknowledge Aboriginal people as the traditional custodians of the lands where we create, live & work. 

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