Acknowledge the past, recognise the present, support aspirations for the future.
The City of Melbourne’s Indigenous Arts Program supports Indigenous artists, arts workers and community members to devise, produce and directly manage arts and cultural projects.
In doing so we acknowledge, respect and support the rights of Indigenous artists and communities to determine their own artistic practice and cultural priorities and we support increased opportunities for employment, and professional and economic development.
Indigenous arts projects 2012
Melbourne Indigenous Arts Festival
The City of Melbourne presented the inaugural Melbourne Indigenous Arts Festival in February. Celebrating Melbourne’s rich culture from an exclusively Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective. Federation Square and ACMI became an Indigenous cultural hub, with live music, film screenings, art talks, theatre, dance, cabaret and exhibitions.
See the YouTube video
Indigenous Art Banners
The City of Melbourne commissioned six Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to design street banners to coincide with the launch of the inaugural Melbourne Indigenous Arts Festival.
The six participating artists are Trevor Turbo Brown, Bindi Cole, Kelly Koumalatsos, Gayle Maddigan, Clinton Nain and Mandy Thomas.
The Indigenous Art Super Banners will be placed around Melbourne centre during Reconciliation Week 27 May to 3 June and NAIDOC Week 1 July to 8 July.
Blak Nite Cinema
Council is committed to raising awareness of Melbourne’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and culture. Blak Nite Cinema is a unique film event celebrating acclaimed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers, directors and actors, combined with live music and live interviews.
Central Business Dreaming
October 2008. Central Business Dreaming is a book documenting over 60 projects and events funded by the City of Melbourne’s Indigenous Arts Grants and projects produced by the Indigenous Arts Program since 2003. Each project reflects an incredible range of artforms and art practices that are intrinsic to Indigenous identity and culture.
Pastor Sir Doug and Lady Gladys Nicholls Memorial
December 2007. Pastor Sir Doug and Lady Gladys Nicholls were prominent members of Melbourne’s Indigenous community and were active campaigners for Indigenous rights and justice.
The City of Melbourne in partnership with the Victorian Department of Justice and Department for Victorian Communities funded the commission of a major sculptural memorial to Pastor Sir Doug and Lady Gladys Nicholls. This is the first Indigenous memorial in Melbourne is located in Parliament Gardens Reserve in East Melbourne.
Where: Parliament Gardens (Melway reference: 2F K1)
Sir Douglas and Lady Gladys Nicholls' biography (PDF, 23kb)
Sir Douglas and Lady Gladys Nicholls' biography (Text only, 38kb)