The School of Traditional Arts hosts The National Museum of Australia for the Museum’s Encounters fellowship programme

The Museum selects participants from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to take part in an intensive programme that encourages the development of skills necessary to promote, preserve and protect the heritage, art and culture of remote Aboriginal communities. Participants included men and women from Broome, Cooktown, the Torres Strait Islands and other remote locations.

The programme’s five participants presented to staff and MA students of the School on their backgrounds, the work they are doing in their communities and what they hope to take back from their trip to the UK. They participated in workshops with tutors Daniel Docherty and Dr David Cranswick, exploring principles of geometry underlying the order of nature and traditional methods and materials. One student returned to the School for a three-day placement and had the opportunity to develop craft skills in basket weaving and an understanding of painting and colour theory principles.

We look forward to continuing the partnership with the National Museum of Australia on future programmes.