ART ON THE MOVE’s Acting Executive Director Julianne Mackay reflects on her time at the Aboriginal Art Centre Hub of WA’s Our Business Forum.
Attending the AACHWA Our Business conference in beautiful Rubibi (Broome) this October was an enriching, rewarding, joyful and enlightening experience that celebrated the rich cultural heritage of Aboriginal peoples. It provided a platform for artists, arts workers, educators, and enthusiasts to come together to exchange ideas, and learn from one another.
The opportunity to immerse myself in the diverse and vibrant cultures of Aboriginal communities was the perfect way to celebrate and experience a deeper understanding of Aboriginal traditions and practices.
The conference brought together a diverse group of attendees which provided an excellent platform for networking and forming connections which I know will lead to further collaborations, friendships, and opportunities.
AACHWA’s Our Business Forum provided the perfect blend and balance of building knowledge via presentations, informative panel discussions, performance including dance and beautiful presentations from many art centres who had the opportunity to showcase their works. A highlight was attending the creative print making workshop with the sensational ladies from Nagula Jarndu. This hands-on experience allowed us time to slow down, make art and learn all about this amazing social enterprise.
The conference featured knowledgeable speakers, experts in the field, which provided diverse perspectives on contemporary Aboriginal issues and art. This exposure provided a broader understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by Aboriginal communities today. I particularly resonated with the Map and Gap process which is working to identify gaps for the arts centres so targeted support can be provided. The Our Country Moves initiative is supporting skills development and utilises local artists in the regions to deliver meaningful training in the sector to young people. A review of the WA Art Centre Infrastructure is also due in early 2024 and will provide clarity and recommendations for requirements to resource these centres.
Gaps in education and training remain a constant, and ways to address this sparked discussion. AACHWA is working on a Training Framework Project which provides educational and training pathways for Aboriginal people in regional and remote WA. The importance of this training was also discussed in the context of how it can align and complement more formal paths of educations including incorporating into more accessible university and TAFE courses.
An opportunity for further cultural exchange came by way of a guided tour of Yawuru Country conducted by Bart Pigram which helped me gain a more profound appreciation for the shared values, stories, and histories of Broome.
Other topics including copyright law, the introduction and management of AI and how it will affect the sector, and the development of a Collaboration Toolkit which will contain templates, agreement and contract examples and ways to conduct different projects and programs including appropriate storytelling were also discussed in depth.
The forum’s aims included addressing the professional development needs of WA Aboriginal Art Centres, governance training for effective business management, the opportunity to strengthen regional partnerships and provide networking opportunities. These aims were achieved via a carefully curated series of activities, presentations, workshops, and guest speakers, and allowed for complete immersion into a beautiful week of professional development.
ART ON THE MOVE looks forward to continuing their conversations with AACHWA and developing ongoing relationships within the regional arts sector.