Industry experts to provide mentorship to emerging First Nations artists and designers

Rhiannon Clarke Published July 15, 2023 at 3.00pm (AWST)

arts

Alec Baker and Eric Barney are two of the nine artists participating in the project. (Image: supplied, NGV)

Described as the first initiative of its kind in Australia, Country Road and the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) have collaborated to deliver a biennial mentorship and exhibition program, supporting First Nations artists and designers with mentorship from industry experts.

The Country Road + NGV First Nations Commission series builds upon existing programs that meaningfully support First Nations communities, including Country Road's existing partnerships with the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation and the NGV's Indigenous Fashion Commission.

Through the commission series, mentors will work collaboratively with artists, with each of the eight artists paired with a mentor to guide and support them in creating their most ambitious projects to date.

Eight mentors were invited by the NGV to participate to work with nominated an emerging artists through the collaborative project, which includes guidance through the conception, development and creation of a major work.

The nominated artists represent a diverse range of artistic and creative disciplines, ranging from weaving and textiles, to installation, painting and more.

The inaugural recipients of the Country Road and NGV First Nations Commissions are Tony Albert (Mentor) and Warraba Weatherall (QLD), Maree Clarke (Mentor) and Mitch Mahoney (VIC), Peggy Griffiths (Mentor) and Jan Griffiths (WA), Jonathan Jones (Mentor) and Sophie Honess (NSW), Vincent Namatjira OAM (Mentor) and Alec Baker and Eric Barney (SA), Denise Robinson (Mentor) and Cheryl Rose (TAS) , James Tylor (Mentor) and Aidan Hartshorn (ACT), Pedro Wonaeamirri (Mentor) and Johnathon World Peace Bush (NT).

Responding to the theme of 'My Country', the new works will be unveiled in March 2024 in a major exhibition at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, coinciding with Country Road's milestone 50th anniversary.

Recipients of the Country Road and NGV First Nations Commissions (Image: supplied, NGV)

The mentorship is structured to reflect and champion the nuanced storytelling and knowledge sharing systems that exist within First Nations communities.

With commissioned works entering the NGV Collection, the Country Road + NGV First Nations Commissions, the project further strengthens the NGV's globally significant holdings of Australian First Nations art and design and establishes an important legacy for future generations.

"The Country Road and NGV First Nations Commissions creates a major new platform for First Nations art and design in Australia," NGV director Tony Ellwood AM said.

"The unique mentorship format – the only one of its kind in Australia – offers career-defining opportunities to emerging practitioners to create a new work under the guidance of a mentor.

"This mentorship program has enabled NGV to cultivate important new relationships with First Nations practitioners across the country.

"With the eight works entering the NGV Collection, this commission will enhance our ability to represent and profile our rich and diverse Indigenous communities."

Senior Curator and Australian and First Nations Art, NGV, Myles Russell-Cook said the Commissions encourage knowledge transfer between mentors and mentees.

Mentors of the Country Road and NGV First Nations Commissions (Image: supplied, NGV)

"Initiatives like this are vitally important. For many First Nations people, the concept of intergenerational knowledge transfer is at the heart of how we live our lives," Mr Cook said.

"For artists, mentoring is a way of giving back. Mentorship is something that motivates us; it is about respecting the knowledge of those who have come before us, and making space for those who will come afterwards."

Country Road managing director Elle Roseby said the label was excited by the opportunity to showcase First Nations culture through the Commissions.

"This program presents an incredible opportunity to further our work in supporting First Nations communities, in a first-of-its-kind partnership that is led by First Nations artists," Ms Roseby said.

"We're thrilled to be working together with the NGV to platform inspiring creatives across the country, while celebrating their stories and increasing the recognition of First Nations cultures, histories and knowledge.

The exhibition for the Country Road and NGV First Nations Commissions will be on display March 2024 at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Fed Square, Melbourne.