In July, First Nations arts leaders from around the world came together at a cultural leadership forum produced and presented by alumni of the ACCELERATE leadership and development programme.
Yirama Yangga-na (a local Dharawal phrase meaning “spirit singing”) was a three-day creative laboratory and cultural event held at the University of Wollongong, connecting Australian Indigenous creatives with First Nations delegates from Taiwan, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Canada and New Zealand.
The forum provided a platform for leaders to share, interrogate and develop their knowledge about Indigenous creative leadership and cultural practices. Issues discussed included the de-colonisation First Nations art; artistic freedom versus cultural taboos; and participation, understanding and acceptance of First Nations arts practicies in the international arena.
ACCELERATE alumni and Creative Producers Marilyn Miller and Kyle Morrison said:
"Yirrama Yaanga-na is the continuation of a conversation thousands of years old. We are the next generation of cultural warriors and this timely event has reinvigorated this ancient conversation to take our cultural and spiritual strength to share with the rest of humanity. As ACCELERATE alumni, we can see that we are in the perfect place to continue the development of cultural leaders form First Nation cultures from all around the world."
Yirama Yangga-na also included creative laboratory sessions involving leaders from different art forms and countries, which saw cultural and creative leadership issues actively demonstrated through creativity and collaboration.
“I feel positive about the parallels I’ve found with others here," said one international delegate. "I feel hope that so many of us are trying to connect and there’s a desire to stand together.”
The event aims to instigate new creative work and create an international cohort who will work together to further the body of knowledge around cultural leadership.
Yirama Yangga-na was presented by the British Council in conjunction with the Australia Council for the Arts, with additional support from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the University of Wollongong.
A second forum is planned for 2017 to deepen the artistic outcomes and relationships forged between the ACCELERATE alumni and International First Nations leaders.
Find out more at britishcouncil.org.au
