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The Australian Government acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the Elders past and present.

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Australia Council for the Arts Roundtable

Culture and Capability
On an orange background, there are white circles and the words First Nations Roundtable for arts and creative independents and organisations.

The Australia Council for the Arts is hosting a series of First Nations' Roundtables for arts and creative independents, and organisations, to discuss the current situation and impact of COVID-19.

The Australia Council for the Arts is hosting a series of First Nations' Roundtables for arts and creative independents, and organisations, to discuss the current situation and impact of COVID-19.

Registrations for future sessions and video recordings of previous sessions are available from the Australia Council for the Arts.

Roundtable 1: Current Situation

Date: 20 March 2020

Speakers:

  • Wesley Enoch AM: Chair of the First Nations Arts Strategy Panel
  • Lydia Miller: Executive Director, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts

Roundtable 2: Digital Space

Date: 27 March 2020

Guest speakers:

  • Ali Murphy-Oates: Managing Director, Moogahlin Performing Arts.
  • Travis de Vries: Artist, Writer, Producer and Podcaster, Awesome Black.
  • Philip Watkins: Chief Executive Officer, Desart.
  • Ben Graetz: Independent Creative Director, Co-Director Party Passport, CEO, BRG Productions.

Roundtable 3: Mental and Spiritual Health

Date: 3 April 2020

Guest speakers:

  • Joshua Pether: Performance artist and Pharmacist
  • Wayne Barker: Coordinator Festival and Events, KALACC
  • Professor Kerry Arabena: Managing Director, Karabena Consulting
  • Andrew Donovan: Director Business Systems Transformation, Australia Council for the Arts

Roundtable 4: Industry Panel

Date: 9 April 2020

Guest speakers:

  • Elaine Crombie: MEAA - First Nations, First Peoples Organiser
  • Stephanie Parkin: Indigenous Engagement Manager, Copyright Agency
  • Penny Smallacombe: Head of Indigenous, Screen Australia

Roundtable 5: Advocating the Arts

Date: 17 April 2020

Guest speakers:

  • Diat Alferink: TSI arts worker and radio station manager
  • Jared Thomas: SA writer, arts worker and FN strategy panel member

Roundtable 6: Advocating Arts

Date: 24 April 2020

Guest speakers:

  • Jimblah: Hip Hop artist, Industry development, First Nations Music Carclew
  • Janina Harding: Artistic Director Cairns Indigenous Art Fair
  • Nardi Simpson: Musician, Multidisciplinary artist

Roundtable 7: Advocating Arts 2

Date: 1 May 2020

Guest Speakers:

  • Wukun Wanambi: Mulka Project Cultural Director
  • Sinsa Mansell: Dancer and Cultural Practitioner
  • John Harvey: Creative Director, Brown Cabs (Producer Director & Writer)

Roundtable 8: Industry on Stage

Date: 8 May 2020

Guest Speakers:

  • Rachael Maza AM, Artistic Director, ILBIJERRI Theatre Company
  • Eva Grace Mullaley, Artistic Director, Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company
  • Merindah Donnelly, Executive Producer, BlakDance

Roundtable 9: Now and the Future

Date: 15 May 2020

Guest Speakers:

  • Kylie Belling: Senior Manager, First Peoples, Creative Victoria
  • Nancy Bamaga: Bamaga Productions

Roundtable 10: Protecting our Cultural Knowledge and Heritage

Date: 22 May 2020

Guest Speakers:

  • Dr Terri Janke, Solicitor Director, Terri Janke and Company
  • Dr Lyndon Ormond-Parker, Senior Research Fellow, University of Melbourne

Roundtable 11: Red Carpet Roundtable

Date: 29 May 2020

Guest speakers:

  • Red Ochre Award recipient – Djon Mundine OAM
  • Red Ochre Award recipient – Alison Milyika Carroll
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Fellowship- Maree Clarke
  • Dreaming Award – Thea Anamara Perkins

Roundtable 12: Youth and Culture

Date: 5 June 2020

Guest speakers:

  • Rhyan Clapham (Dobby) - Rapper, drummer, speaker and workshop facilitator  
  • Siena Ganambarr-Stubbs - Media Worker, The Mulka Project  
  • Emily Johnson - Visual artist and arts worker 

Roundtable 13: Impacts to festivals

Date: 12 June 2020

  • Nici Cumpston: Curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art, Art Gallery of South Australia & Artistic Director, Tarnanthi Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art 
  • Franchesca Cubillo: Senior Curator, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art, National Gallery of Australia & Chair, Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation (DAAFF) 
  • Sarah Bell: First Nations Lead Associate Producer, Ilbijerri/APAM 

Roundtable 14: Chosen/Signature Works

Date: 19 June 2020

  • Andrea James, Yorta Yorta/Gunaikurnai: Theatre Maker
  • Gina Williams: Musician
  • Zane Saunders: Artist

Roundtable 15: Chosen - passing on knowledge between generations

Date: 26 June 2020

  • Vicki Couzens
  • Ruth Langford

Roundtable 16: Health

Date: 3 July 2020

Guest speakers include previous audience participants:

  • Shareena Clanton 
  • Daniel Riley 
  • Jason Passfield
  • Aleshia Lonsdale
  • Jo-Anne Driessens
  • Gabrielle Quakawoot
  • Birrunga Wiradyuri

Find out more

For more information, contact Michael Hutchings, Project Manager First Nations at FirstNationsArts@australiacouncil.gov.au.