First Nations Art and Djaa Djuwima

First Nations Art

The City of Greater Bendigo is located on the traditional lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung and the Taungurung Peoples of the Kulin Nation. They are the traditional custodians of this land.

In 2020, the City of Greater Bendigo appointed Janet Bromley, Arts Officer First Nations to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists living and working in Greater Bendigo, to connect artists to opportunities and to facilitate the representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and culture in the region. 

New opportunities

The Creative Communities team compile a fortnightly arts e-bulletin with events and opportunities for our creative community. To subscribe, email [email protected].

You may also contact the Arts Officer First Nations directly for updates. 
Email Janet at [email protected] or call 0400 746 379.

Djaa Djuwima

Djaa Djuwima (‘Show, Share Country’) is a dedicated and permanent First Nations Gallery at the Bendigo Visitor Centre on Pall Mall in the former Post Office Gallery space.

The next exhibition begins on 29 September, 2023 and will feature the art of First Nations men.

The inaugural exhibition, Gurangarr Dja Dja Wurrung Djayi (‘you are on/in Dja Dja Wurrung Country’) opened on Thursday November 24, 2022 and ran until May 2023. The second exhibition, Listening to Our Elders, opened in May 2023 and continues until Sept 2023.

Wartaka

Wartaka is a Dja Dja Wurrung word for meeting with purpose. The Wartaka group meets three times per year to:

• Come together as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and yarn about art and the types of activities they would like to develop and showcase in the future
• Ensure that art programs meet community expectations
• Increase community participation and ensure community is represented in arts initiatives and to develop a designated art space
• Support the development of a culturally safe place for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.