Young Indigenous creatives learn skills behind digital art and storytelling at innovative workshop

Callan Morse Published November 8, 2023 at 3.45pm (AWST)

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The Pamela Lofts Bequest Workshop was attended by young Indigenous creatives in Sydney last week. (Image: supplied)

Young Indigenous creatives have taken part in an innovative five-day workshop to explore their interest in digital technology, digital art and storytelling.

Facilitated by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF), the Pamela Lofts Bequest Workshop saw young Indigenous participants travel to Sydney from remote areas of the Northern Territory and Western Australia to learn how to create digital pieces of art.

ILF Programs Manager, Tictac Moore, said the workshop is an important opportunity that the Pamela Lofts program provides.

"This collaboration has provided the group with an opportunity to explore digital ways of storytelling. This is important because it can lead to career pathways to help not only these First Nations youth but also their Communities," Ms Moore said.

"It's been amazing to see them work so passionately towards a project that they presented at the end of the week, using skills that they've been taught over the five days."

*Indigenous creatives from the Northern Territory and Western Australia travelled to Sydney to participate in last week's workshop. (Image: supplied)*

The workshop was made possible through a collaboration between ILF, DXC Technology and Adobe ANZ.

"DXC Technology is delighted to support the Indigenous Literacy Foundation with this event as part of our commitment to reconciliation, and increasing access to technology and digital literacy for communities," said DXC Digital Futures and First Nations Program Lead, DXC Technology Asia Pacific, Stuart Meadley.

The partner organisations contributed time, resources, laptops and Adobe Creative Cloud Licenses to ensure the workshop's success.

Adobe's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Program Lead, APAC & Japan, Florisa Anolin, said the project aligns strongly to the organisation's values and vision.

"The potential to support the ILF in its vision to support digital literacy has been an exciting and rewarding opportunity for Adobe," Ms Anolin.

*The workshop was made possible through a partnership between the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, DXC Technology and Adobe ANZ. (Image: supplied)*

"Our mission to achieve creativity for all underscores the belief that everyone is creative and has the right to tell their story.

"We believe that through our technology, people and purpose, we can join organisations like the ILF in driving meaningful change across many Communities throughout Australia."

The workshop is named after nationally renowned artist and a much-loved children's book illustrator Pamela Lofts (1949-2012).

Ms Lofts left behind an enormous legacy and a substantial bequest to the ILF, which allowed the launch of The Pamela Lofts Bequest for Literacy and Learning Project in 2014.

This project provides a mentorship program for Indigenous people in remote communities in the Northern Territory and Western Australia.