WORKING WITH FIRST NATIONS
ARTISTS + COMMUNITIES

Our Guiding Values

1. Our acknowledgement:

We acknowledge the palawa people who have danced across lutruwita for more than 60,000 years and whose lands were never ceded.

2. Our Commitment:

We commit to Deep Listening, Deep Thinking and Deep Learning.

We will do this through asking questions and being guided through respectful engagement.

3. Our Promise:

We promise to continue to work and learn together to build and celebrate shared creativity.

We do this by:

  • Continuing to work with local and national Aboriginal artists in developing and showcasing First Nations-led work.

  • Embracing opportunities to co-create work that reflects our shared place, space and histories

  • Ongoing cultural guidance from Tasmania’s Aboriginal elders

  • Consulting with the the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre in relation to language, cultural practices, and cultural protocols.

  • Acknowledging and listening to Aboriginal community members.

  • Understanding that when outside of our state we acknowledge and seek the same guidance from those nations of the land we are working upon.

  • Providing space and place for Aboriginal creatives to work, produce, create and collaborate.

  • Recognising and, where and when welcome, attending community and cultural events such as NAIDOC and other reconciliation events.

  • Continuing to acknowledge First Nations lands, seas, and culture in all aspects of our business and at all levels of our programs.

  • Rather than making statements we will continually question how we grow meaningful and reciprocal relationships with our First Nations creatives and communities.

Three guiding principles: Deep Listening, Deep Thinking, and Deep Learning compel us to consider:


Deep Listening

- Who do we listen to?

- How do we provide opportunity for listening?

- What questions do we ask?

- What stories do we share?


Deep Thinking

- What is shared creativity?

- What does shared creativity mean to everyone?

- How can we be fully inclusive of all palawa community?

- How do we make all community welcome?


Deep Learning

- What have we learned?

- What more can we learn?

- What changes do we continue to make in everything we do?

- How can we welcome palawa inclusion in all that we do – our teaching etc?

- How can we share (pass on / celebrate / lead by examples) what we learn?

- Who do we share with – and how?   

PROGRAM EXAMPLES

  • palawa Engagement Program - work with palawa advisors to carefully embed palawa artists and arts workers across all areas our program.

  • Alongside the Muylatina program and Walantanalinany Palingina, we support a palawa Artist Residency at A197 each year.