FIRST NATIONS CURATOR

How did you get started in your career and what formal qualifications or experience do you have?
My career in the arts and role as a curator came about in an unexpected but welcome way. I wanted something different to what I’d been doing and was encouraged by an Aunt to apply for a 12 month art residency with SAM. I think in many ways, so much about my life and work experience lead me here. I’ve worked at different levels across a number of areas including arts, cultural heritage, health, financial literacy, public service and in Aboriginal community lead organisations. I don’t have any formal qualifications but I don’t see that as a hindrance. I find opportunities to learn through conversation at home with family, role models in my community, with my colleagues or peers and through the experience of putting things into practice. I really value those learning moments that come after something has been done and you can gain the gift of hindsight! 

What does your role as Curator - Indigenous encompass?
It’s taken me a while to define this for myself. On a practical level, at times it can feel like you do a bit of everything. From start to finish and depending on the resources and size of your team it can be developing exhibition content and design, the accompanying text for labels or publications, liaising with artists, delivering programs, providing tours, talks or presentations. You can become a bit of a conduit as a point of contact for community, artists, creating space for community to come in but also going out to community and supporting local lead initiatives. Threaded through all this a big part for me is to enable connections to be made. Whether it be between visitors and the art, or artists and visitors it’s about seeing connections made through spirit, story, place and people - this is an Aboriginal way. 

What knowledge and skills do you think are most needed for this role?
I think a core necessity of this role is curiosity, respect and an appreciation for the power of art. Important to my role is my knowledge of my community, our culture and history. I think it’s possible to build your knowledge and skills where you might perceive there to be a gap as long as you are up to working hard for it. Relationship building and the ability to connect is also vital.

What are the challenges and opportunities for a First Nations Curator working in a public gallery?
I think a key challenge can be defining the scope of your role, where your responsibilities start and end, managing expectations and allowing this to be flexible at times but not at expense of your wellbeing. It’s the challenge of where and when you draw from your culture or the pool of knowledge your share with your People and navigating how or when the institution accesses it. Sometimes it means being able to say no to requests. Working at SAM has also enabled me to meet other First Nation curators and arts workers and develop my practice as a curator. These skills and experience have enabled me to contribute to my community in other capacities.