Woodworking artists from the Punu Tjanpi Palyani project. (Credit: Punu Tjanpi Palyani)
As part of its extensive line-up of performances, exhibitions, panels and workshops the Summit is going to host some of the biggest and brightest names in First Nations arts and culture. The organisers hope that this is a platform from where everyone takes back a little learning for their own arts practice.
Artistic Director Ben Fox says, ‘A lot of these First Nations arts and cultural practitioners and artists show exhibitions internationally. They go from Broome to Paris, or they go from Kununurra to Tokyo.
‘They are not going through places like Kalgoorlie-Boulder, and this Summit is a very exciting time for us, because it brings these international names here to our region, and gives everyone an opportunity to view their art works and engage with the artists as well.’
For example the Punu Tjanpi Palyani project from Tjuntjuntjara, a community in the Spinifex Country of Eastern Western Australia. Artists from the project, which is about woodwork (punu) and basket weaving (tjanpi) practice, will hold a workshop in how to make them and along with an exhibition of their works.
First Nations Creative Producer Gary Cooper says, ‘First Nations artists take pride in being part of such a summit; pride that their work is being acknowledged and that people are actually interested in First Nations culture.
‘They also feel that this is an opportunity to pass on the knowledge to younger First Nations people that these practices are with us for a long time and that they are still being used.’
The Summit has a range of panel discussions some of which would discuss First Nations Art Centres and arts marketing for remote and regional arts, including First Nations artists. There will be dance and movement pieces like Gudirr Gudirr from Broome, performed by First Nations performer Dalisa Pigrim which tells her own story through contemporary dance, among many others.
Visitors can also look forward to performances by Nabarlek, renowned band from Arnhem Land and by artists from Wilurarra Creative from Warburton who showcase Ngaanyatjarra music, culture and creativity. Apart from this, nearly 30 to 40 arts communities, including First Nations art communities will have their art and craft ready for sale at the Art2Go Twilight Street Markets.
‘This is Regional Arts Australia’s investment in the creative sector not only in the Goldfields region but is also a national investment. So if we can see advances, improvement, excellence, cross-linking in all of those regional and remote art sectors that will be 100% success as far as this Summit’s concerned,’ said Fox.
Garry Cooper feels that the Summit would be a place for people to come and learn a lot about each other’s cultures, as well as their artistic practices.
‘If we are able to educate people in terms of First Nations cultural ways, we’d like to be able to do that. We are hoping that they would learn some of our languages, perhaps, even if it’s just a few words.
‘We’d be learning from each other, and it would be like going back in time like sharing knowledge, and we were passing on knowledge to other tribes, before pre-colonisation, when there was the barter system and you shared goods and knowledge in exchange for things you wanted.’
‘We hope that the Summit is a place where artists and art practitioners can get the information they want, and then go back to their communities and do the things they want to. And hopefully, in the years that come more and more works of excellence can come from that received knowledge,’ added Fox.
To know more about the program schedule of the Summit and grab an early bird registration before 18 August, click here.
