Koorie Heritage Trust

COMMUNITY ARTS at the Koorie Heritage Trust

In April 2008 the Koorie Heritage Trust welcomed Yorta Yorta/Gunnai-Kurnai woman Andrea James to a new Community Arts Worker position to implement a comprehensive community arts and regional workshops program.

After a series of community consultations seven regional arts workshops were delivered to practising and emerging Koorie artists in their communities in Morwell, Shepparton, Bendigo, Swan Hill, Mildura and Portland. Workshops included photography with Wayne Quilliam, Arts Business, Printmaking and traditional weaving by master weavers, Eileen Alberts and Bronwyn Razem. A Statewide weaving masterclass with expert weavers from across the state was also run at the Trust by Yorta Yorta Artist Lee Darroch which encouraged weavers to expand the traditional form by working with contemporary materials.

The regional arts workshop culminated in the intensive two day statewide Koorie artists gathering ground Wumen balit jindiworaback. Andrea works closely with our Exhibitions Manager Maree Clarke to initiate and encourage creative innovation, artistic quality and community access for our exhibitions program and she is a key point of support and advocacy for Koorie artists Statewide.