A YARNING CIRCLE MODEL CREATED BY PARTICIPANTS OF THE EMBEDDING CULTURE WORKSHOP 2019 LEAD BY NICOLE MONKS, CAMPBELLTOWN ARTS CENTRE. PHOTO BY NANCY TRIEU

Saturday 21 September  | 9.00am – 10.30am, 11.00am – 12.30pm, 1.30pm – 3.00pm

 Community workshops with artists Nicole Monks, Danielle Mate-Sullivan and Aboriginal elder, Aunty Jenny Shillingsworth. 

Campbelltown is home to one of the largest Aboriginal populations across Australia. Located on Dharawal Land, Campbelltown Hospital provides a variety of health services for Aboriginal people based in South West Sydney and the Macarthur Region. Embedding Dharawal culture within the fabric of the new hospital building and environment is an important way of respecting, acknowledging and centering the vitality of the continuing Aboriginal culture in the region today. 

Having the local community’s involvement is integral to the work that will be produced in collaboration with Nicole Monks, an artist of Yamatji Wajarri, Dutch and English heritage, who has been commissioned by Campbelltown Arts Centre to work closely with local Aboriginal elders, artists and community groups, including respected Aboriginal elder Aunty Jenny Shillingsworth, Danielle Mate-Sullivan and the Dharawal Men’s Aboriginal Corporation, to articulate ways to embed Dharawal culture and stories into the new hospital. Through her early meetings with community, three strong themes emerged to explore further in these workshops: the importance of a prominent acknowledgement of Dharawal country; the yarning circle as a meeting place and a place for ceremony; and the Lyrebird as a symbol of culture. 

The ideas and outcomes captured in these workshops will directly contribute to the outcome within the hospital and the unique collaboration between Campbelltown Arts Centre and Campbelltown Hospital, which is informing the design of the new hospital building interiors and exteriors. 

These workshops are open only to Aboriginal community. Morning tea and lunch will be provided in between workshops. 

RSVP To RSVP or for more information contact Brenden Broadbent | Arts and Cultural Liaison Officer 0437 828 445 | [email protected]
Location: Campbelltown Arts Centre