Weenthayoothan: towards a relational and ethical cultural framework for making public art on Country

Research leads: Dr Vicki Couzens and Dr Marnie Badham

Background

The Weenthayoothan Thought Leadership project aims to generate discussion and produce critical frameworks addressing ethical practices for commissioning and creating public art with First Peoples on Traditional Custodian Country.

Solution

Weenthayoothan intends to delve deep into complex and very context-specific examples of public art commissioning to uncover best practice principles. The aim is to consider Weenthayoothan or “which way” the commissioning process is driven and led, for and by First Peoples or settlers. 

Impact

The key outputs of this Thought Leadership will include a public conversation with high level cultural and industry leadership, video documentation and circulation of this event, an internal research roundtable, and a new Public Policy Briefing paper. The paper may also include a Best Practice Guide developed from learnings an example contract. Beyond the growth of new and sustained interdisciplinary relationships amongst RMIT researchers with industry experts working in aligned fields, outcomes of the project include:

  • Increased capability for RMIT researchers to understand approaches to engagement with Elders, cultural leaders, and professional and legal experts on Intellectual Cultural Property.
  • Recognition of core team as expert leaders in the field of public art commissioning and decolonising methodologies, to become 'go to' experts for advice on these topics potentially leading to new research partnerships between RMIT researchers and industry.
  • Network building for LGAs and commissioners with shared interest in ethical and culturally safe frameworks for engaging Traditional Custodians and Indigenous artists.

Support

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.