Join special guest speaker, Aunty Frances Peters-Little for our NSW First Nations Regional Writers Network session.

ARAA (NSW) are committed to developing networking sessions delivered via Zoom for current and aspiring First Nations Writers from Regional NSW to meet and share experiences, learn about and obtain support and resources to take their writing to the next level.

During this networking session Aunty Frances will share her experience writing and publishing “Jimmy Little: A Yorta Yorta Man”.

Frances Peters-Little is a Yuwaalaraay/Gamilaraay woman and the daughter of Jimmy Little. She has a BA in Communications and is a filmmaker, historian, author and musician. She worked at the ABC as a producer/director for seven years. During the last years of Jimmy Little's life, Frances Peters-Little spent many hours recording her father's reflections and recollections, and after also speaking to many of the musicians who performed with Jimmy Little.

In this first biography of the man and his music, Jimmy Little: A Yorta Yorta Man tells the incredible story of one of Australia’s most acclaimed Aboriginal pop and country music legends and icons, Jimmy Little. At just 16 years of age, Jimmy Little travelled to Sydney to make his radio debut on Australia’s Amateur Hour. The eldest of seven children and born on the Cummeragunja Reserve on the Murray River, Jimmy’s entry into the entertainment industry came at a time when First Nations people were not counted in the census. In the face of indescribable barriers and discrimination, Jimmy would go on to woo the nation. His immense talent, charm and heart saw him become a household name and national treasure. Jimmy’s songs consistently topped the music charts of the 1960s, and he won several of Australia’s most prestigious lifetime achievement awards, including the ARIA Hall of Fame, NAIDOC Person of the Year, and Officer of the Order of Australia. And now his daughter, Frances Peters-Little, tells the full story behind her father’s inspiring ascent to stardom. For though this is a story about a pop star and national celebrity, it is also the story of a gentle man who always stayed true to himself and his cultural identity – a man who believed in the power of living your dreams. Weaving together stories both known and unknown to the public, Jimmy Little: A Yorta Yorta Man will take you on a remarkable journey through a life of music, love and advocacy. An insight into the life of Australian singer-songwriter Jimmy Little.

Aboriginal Arts Officers are the lifeblood of support for First Nations Artists from Regional NSW, they are a vital part of the art eco-system and have been the often unrecognised driver behind the success and growth of individual artists and collaborations that have allowed artists to showcase and sell their works while building their professional development.

Join Wiradjuri women and Regional Arts Stalwart Jamie-Lea Trindall as she speaks with 3 Aboriginal Arts Officers from the network about their experiences, drivers and the amazing outcomes they have achieved while also finding out about how you can be supported by these skilled workers.

Jamie-Lea is a Wiradjuri woman and artist who lives and works on Wailwan country, Coonamble NSW. With over a decade of experience as our Executive Director here at Outback Arts, her time is split between curating exhibitions, delivering community projects, raising two little girls and spending time in the Coonamble Ceramics Studio. Career highlights include; 2020 Linea Nation, exhibition Koskela Rosebery, 2015 collateral Exhibition Venice Biennale ‘Country’, 2013 ‘String Theory’ MCA Sydney. Recurring themes across Jamie-Lea’s artwork and designs are of connection to the land, reflecting soft and tactile natural elements through the earthy texture of clay using native grasses and designs inspired by native birdlife.

Established to provide a network for Weavers to Connect during Covid-19 “We Weave Together’ is an online network for regional and remote Aboriginal weavers to come together to weave, share stories and different weaving skills from regional and remote NSW. We invite Aboriginal Yinaar from Regional NSW to register to attend the Zoom sessions. This network continues to grow from strength to strength.

During this session our Special Guest Sonia Undy will share with the network her artistic practice, her journey, and what she is seeking to achieve.

The Aboriginal Culture, Heritage & Arts Association Inc (ACHAA) has been established with facilitation by M&G NSW to support Aboriginal owned cultural venues in NSW. It is a key recommendation from the 2011 summit Keeping places & beyond: building cultural futures in NSW organised by M&G NSW and was unanimously further endorsed by community consultations.

Join Wiradjuri Man and key driver behind ACHAA Steve Miller while he delivers a panel discussion with Culture Centre and Keeping Place operators.

Panel Chair Steve Miller is a Wiradjuri man with almost 30 years’ experience in Aboriginal arts, culture and heritage. In his nominal role as Aboriginal Programs Manager for Museums & galleries of NSW he is also the General Manager for the NSW Aboriginal Culture, Heritage & Arts Association Inc.

Proud Gumbaynggirr woman Alison Williams is Director of Wadjar Gallery at the Yarrawarra Aboriginal Cultural Centre at Corindi Beach, north of Coffs Harbour. Born in Sydney and growing up around Wollongong, Alison always harboured a feeling of belonging to her mother’s family and country, the northern lowlands of Gumbaynggirr Nation. It was this sense of belonging that brought her to the North Coast of NSW to settle, establish a studio and continue her artistic and professional development, strengthening roots within the community to teach, advocate, support family and artistic practice in regional NSW.

Anaiwan woman Rose Lovelock is the Director of the Armidale Aboriginal Cultural Centre with a background in academic research and higher education (UNE). Rose experienced first-hand the effects of intergenerational impacts of the stolen generation practices. These early childhood experiences led to Rose’s desire to use her higher education and research experience to develop teaching skills and practices that drive self-determination and self-management in Aboriginal communities. In her current role, Rose is passionate about building relationships between communities by improving access for the wider community to the Aboriginal arts and ceremonies presented at the Centre.

Biripi woman Nicole Chaffey comes from a background in Fine Arts and is a Newcastle local. Alongside an established studio practice her postgraduate studies into contemporary Aboriginal experience, furthered by University of Newcastle Industry Scholars and MGNSW/Arts NSW Aboriginal Emerging Leaders mentorships, led her career towards curation and creative programming at the University of Newcastle and MAC (Museum of Art and Culture) yapang, Lake Macquarie. In 2018 she was appointed Director of Baluk Arts, a not-for-profit Aboriginal Art Centre on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. She returned to Newcastle in 2021 to become Murrook Culture Centre Director to establish an industry-leading museum and visitor experience space.

First Nations Fashions is in boom stage and celebrated Bundjalung woman and renowned multi-disciplinary artist Kylie Caldwell has leveraged this growing industry to release a fashion line in collaboration with a focus on culture, sustainability and quality. Join Kylie as she speaks with 3 other Regional Aboriginal First Nations artists who are taking the fashion the fashion world by storm.

Bundjalung artist Kylie Caldwell is an ardent weaver and fibre artist, interested in reviving and pursuing traditional cultural practices that her ancestors have used over thousands of years, rediscovering these ancient Bundjalung crafts and threading them into the modern world. Caldwell seeks to soak up the knowledge and wisdom from Bundjalung Jargoon (country), utilising varies modes to deepen and expand her own cultural creative expression and knowledge.

Caldwell is committed to growing traditional weaving through both the ancient form and contemporary artistry to represent an enduring Bundjalung identity.

Established in 2021, the ARAA Cultural Tourism network is for current or aspiring Cultural Tourism Operators to meet and share their experiences from across the state. During our Cultural Tourism network session Special Guest Speaker Craig Layer from The NSW Aboriginal Tourism Operators Council (NATOC) will share his knowledge and experience of Aboriginal Cultural Tourism and provide insight into leveraging your Cultural Tourism business to take it to the next level.

“Aboriginal Cultural Tourism is a sharing by Aboriginal people of their Cultural Heritage and connection to Country, it’s an experience that incorporates the value and traditions of Aboriginal people shared in a personal way.”

NSW has the largest visitor economy in Australia and is the most popular destination for both domestic and international visitors. Worldwide, it is a very competitive market that is extremely progressive.

Tourism businesses that directly serve visitors such as hotels, attractions, airlines and tour operators represent only a small proportion of the people that benefit from the industry. As the tourist dollars are spent, they spread throughout the economy and can benefit the community in substantial ways. Total tourism consumption was worth $135.5 billion and directly contributed $55.3 billion to Australia’s GDP in 2016-2017.

Source: Tourism Research Australia, State Tourism Satellite Accounts 2016-17, released April 2018.

The NSW Aboriginal Tourism Operators Council  was formed in 2014 and officially an incorporated association in 2017. The main vision of NATOC is to give voice to Aboriginal owned tourism expertise to better inform industry and provide mentoring to Aboriginal tourism entrepreneurs to fulfil their business journeys.

The NATOC Board consists of six Aboriginal governing directors representing a diverse mix of organisations including Local Aboriginal Land Council, Social Enterprises and small privately-owned businesses. With over 100 years combined experience in business and export tourism, the NATOC directors cover all manner of tourism operations including tour product, accommodation, events, catering and performance.    

Regional and Remote NSW should be recognised for the AMAZING First Nations Musicians that call this home, during this panel Aunty Glennys Briggs will talk with 3 very different but very well known and inspiring Aboriginal Singers, Song Writers and Musicians who have spent their life dedicated to music that inspires, provokes thought and changes the lives of our people.

Glennys Briggs is a First Nations artist. She is a Taungwurrung – Yorta Yorta and Wiradjuri woman. She grew up on a First Nations reserve called Cummeragunja on the banks of the Murray River. Practicing Printmaking, painting and sculptural pieces and possum skin cloak making. The cultural influences in her work reflect the strong connection to her people and country. Like a time-lapse photograph, her work is ever changing to reveal a long history. Glennys holds a BA in Indigenous Contemporary Art and History.

Glennys has been a feature of exhibitions in Australia, China, France and Hawaii. Her artworks are in the collections of University of Central Queensland, Redlands Art Gallery, Gold Coast Art Gallery and the Shandong University. Also in private collections across Australia and Overseas. She is currently the curator of Burraja Gallery, Albury. This is a gallery for local Indigenous Artists. She has also been accepted as a Fellow with the State Library of Victoria.

This award winning artists hop is that the work she is presenting goes some way towards achieving a understanding and awareness of the shared history of this country. Thus giving voice to our Ancestors. Her family and extended family is very important to her. She is a mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She has worked in Indigenous organisations for about 30 years and knows the issues her people face each day.

She has lectured and tutor at the Griffith University, Gold Coast campus, taught printmaking for secondary students, runs workshops for children and also fellow artists and for the public. Glennys and he partner are also professional singers, travelling across mainland Australia, Tasmania, across to USA and to Iran with their music. 

Djon Mundine is a charismatic art curator, writer, speaker, and activist from the Bandjalung nation of the Australian east coast. He is of Aboriginal (Bandjalung) and Irish (County Cork) descent. He is also connected with the Yolngu (Aboriginal) communities of Milingimbi, Maningrida, and Ramingining of central Arnhem Land through working there for 16 (sixteen) years through the 1980s, 1990s, and into the 21stcentury. He was a key founding member of ANKAA.

He has held senior curatorial positions at state and national institutions (AGNSW, MCA, QAG, MAGNT, NAM) and collaborated with the NGA on major international exhibitions such as Tyerabarbowaryaou-I Shall Never Become a Whiteman, for the 1994 Havana Biennale, Cuba; and The World of Dreaming, at the prestigious Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia (2000). 

He is a seminal figure in the critical writing on Australia’s First Peoples cultural expression, including Ngadhu-Ngulili-Ngeaninyagu: I-We–Us. A Personal History of Aboriginal Art in the Premier State, Campbelltown Arts Centre.