Encounters Indigenous Cultural Workers Scholarship Programme

The Prince’s School of Traditional Arts is honored to have the opportunity to collaborate with six cultural workers and artists from Australia’s regional and remote indigenous and Torres Strait Islander communities.

As part of the Encounters Indigenous Cultural Workers Scholarship Programme, the Princes’ School will host a day of cultural exchange through presentations and discussions, as well as a dedicated four-day practical workshop. The scholarship programme has been created through a partnership between The Prince’s Charities Australia and the National Museum of Australia (NMA) and offers regional and remote Indigenous, and Torres Strait Islander community cultural workers the opportunity to undertake professional development, in line with His Royal Highness’ commitment to preserving Indigenous culture.

The dialogue between the scholarship awardees, NMA staff, PSTA staff and students are an opportunity for learning and sharing the essential principles fundamental to all traditional arts, including those of regional and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Strait Islander communities. The exchange aims to consider how to transmit these into the contemporary context and make a difference within communities.

The practical workshops on traditional geometry, natural pigments and painting materials, will allow for a deeper and first-hand experience of this knowledge through the process of making. Led by experienced PSTA teachers, the workshops bring together the meanings, ethos and methodologies that could inform future work in regional and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Strait Islander communities. The PSTA will provide support and resources to assist the participants to further develop ideas and methodologies.