Artsource has been running a program dedicated to working with Indigenous artists specifically about professional development since 2003. In WA there is no organisation that specifically represents the interests of Indigenous visual artists. We were conscious that particularly in regional Western Australia, there was no broad mechanism for supporting individuals to gain exposure to the networks that support artists, or guidance about how to present and develop an art practice.

Originally working in three enormous regions - the Goldfields, Mid West and Great Southern, we developed networks and material that could be delivered either as stand alone or in conjunction with skills development workshops. View images

Our medium term goal was to link Indigenous artists with our Employment Agency so that more people could take advantage of the wide range of opportunities that exist for public art commissions, office fit outs, residencies and workshop delivery. In the short term, we wanted to ensure that more Indigenous artists understood issues relating to documentation of artwork, preparing a CV, understanding copyright and moral rights and most particularly, how to develop a relationship with a gallery and deal with contracts.

What have we learned? That there are some extraordinary artists working in the bush - that there are huge gaps in knowledge and networks - that we're a tiny organisation trying to do a very big thing.

In 2007, we've been working with five groups of artists in the West Pilbara, two groups in the Gascoyne (Carnarvon), and individual artists in Kalgoorlie and Geraldton. We've facilitated specific workshops for artists in Laverton and Carnarvon for two groups: one a group of weavers, and another a community based group of emerging artists in Laverton who have been learning natural dyeing techniques as part of a bigger native plant regeneration project run by Curtin University.

It seems that wherever you go in regional Australia, there are pockets of extraordinary creativity. And none of us should be surprised by that; but like the extraordinary vision of artists such as the late Paddy Bedford and Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri, it is always a joy and astonishment.

Jude van der Merwe
Executive Director, Artsource

Artsource is the peak representative body for visual artists in Western Australia. The following article highlights recent Indigenous arts programs and activites in Western Australia.

Jilinbirri Weavers, Carnarvon

Carnarvon is 900 kms north of Perth on the coast.

This group of Indigenous women have been working together for 2 years, from a small centre in Carnarvon. The ladies come together two days a week and weave a variety of different shapes, forms and baskets using local materials.

Initially the weavers were mentored by Karen Collins, one of the community centre coordinators, who has considerable knowledge of textiles and weaving. The weavers have attuned their skills and developed individual processes, bringing sensibility and expression into each and every object. In 2005 the weavers were involved in the SOUTH project, supported by Craft Victoria and the Department of Culture and the Arts, Western Australia; a 6 week artist in residency project that saw Auckland artist Mata Smith travel far from home to the Gascoyne in WA to work with artists and groups.

In the last 18 months artsource have had the privilege to work with the ladies. Most recently we organised a workshop which saw Indigenous artist Julie Clampett travel to the region to work for a week with the group. The women walked through scrub collecting plant material to be used in natural dyes for working with textiles. The weavers, as excitable as ever, made the most of the workshops, with dye pots on the boil all day every day. By the end of the week the group were producing textiles of subtle shades of beige, red, green, yellow and gold reminiscent of the landscape in which they live.

This year the Jilinbirri Weavers have traveled to other parts of their region to share their skills with other eager communities and will soon take part in the second Artopia Festival of Western Australian Living Artists - a month long celebration of WA art. With support from the Department of Culture and the Arts and artsource, the group will travel to Perth to work with Noongar Weaver Janine McAullay Bott in artsource's residential studio and continue to develop their networks on both a state and national level. Their studio will be open to the public on Saturday October 13 at 8 Phillimore St, Fremantle.

After that the group will go to the Telstra Awards in Dawin and then work with weaving groups from both the Oen Pelli and Daly River communites.

The relaxed and jovial nature of every weaver within the group makes for amazing and valuable experiences for anyone who has the pleasure of working with them in the future.

The Jilinbirri Weavers will be exhibiting their colourful baskets and forms with Artija Fine Art at The Royal George Gallery in East Fremantle from October 13th - October 21st.

Glenn Pilkington
Manager Regional + Indigenous Program