Indigenous communities and programs

Warmun Art Centre

The Grimwade Centre’s two-way learning agreement with the Warmun Arts Centre is a deep and engaged relationship. In 2016, the Grimwade Centre’s Masters students joined Ngarrangarni: Gija art and country, an on-country learning exchange at the Warmun Art Centre and on surrounding Gija land in the East Kimberley, Western Australia.

In 2011 The Grimwade Centre was involved in the materials conservation of the Warmun Community Collections in the aftermath of the flash flood and the return of the collection in May 2013. The two way learning agreement now sees Gija elders, senior knowledge holders, and artists contribute to our teaching and research programs, and Grimwade staff and students work with Gija elders to build knowledge of art practice, museum management and conservation skills.

For more information please see the Warmun Art Centre Project web page.

ANKAAA Arts Workers at the Centre for Cultural Material Conservation

Indigenous Art Workers from across Northern Australia annually visit the Grimwade Centre for a week as part of the ANKAAA (Association of Northern, Kimberley and Arnhem Aboriginal Artists) Art Workers Extension Program. Now in its fifth year, the annual program includes participants mentoring each group. The Art Workers are introduced to collection management and conservation problems and treatments they are likely to encounter by Grimwade Centre staff. The visit culminates in public presentations by the Art Workers in the Grimwade Centre.

For more information please see the ANKAAA Arts Workers at the Grimwade Centre web page.

Buku-Larrnggay Mulka

Yolngu Artists and the Yirrkala Art Centre host Melbourne students in a field-based conservation subject. The program continues the history of Yolngu knowledge transmission through Academic partnerships, and builds upon Melbourne Universities commitment to the community of Yirrkala. Our aim is to connect Australia's leading Aboriginal Art centre, and future leaders from Melbourne’s graduate program. The program is focused on the people, practices, and materials of Arnhem Land, and framed by working on the Yirrkala museum collection. The curriculum is informed by both the needs of the Yirrkala art workers and the Melbourne students.