[ISEA2011] Paper: Ben Fox – Wilurarra Creative, Art and Technology

Abstract

Ben Fox (trained engineer and artist) and Kate Fielding (Writer and designer) present on how art and technology are working in one of Australia’s most remote desert communities to enable Indigenous cultural maintenance and diverse literacies.

Wilurarra Creative is a one-of-a-kind program. It facilitates a diverse range of creative programs and provides space for self directed learning for Ngaanyatjarra people 17-30.

Part arts space, part library, part internet café, part hair salon, part music studio: part workshop; all creativity, all community. Wilurarra Creative is bursting at the seams; full of people, ideas and action.

Wilurarra Creative is a community hub and incubator. It provides activities for the large demand from post school age adults in remote communities. Wilurarra Creative is excelling where many projects struggle; consistently engaging people in meaningful projects and providing real pathways to new opportunities through community building, learning, mentoring and employment.

Wilurarra Creative:
Works with adults
Achieves a high level of engagement from this demographic who are notoriously hard to engage
Involves supervision of self directed training
Trains participants to run the equipment (reducing bottlenecking and reliance on particular staffers)
Shares models with other Ng communities, providing employment to young people trained through the program to train others
Fosters intergenerational support
Models best practice community development

Wilurarra Creative’s home is Warburton Community, W.A, on the Ngaanyatjarra Lands.   wilurarra.com.au