New International Fellowship Connects First Nations Arts Workers with European Collections

The National Gallery of Australia, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Australia), and the Wereldmuseum in Leiden have joined forces to create the Nguluway Dhuluyarra Fellowship. This innovative program offers First Nations arts workers a unique opportunity to engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander collections abroad, fostering cross-cultural learning and new connections.

The Wereldmuseum houses Europe’s largest and most comprehensive public collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, comprising over 2,900 works. Each year, the fellowship will support a First Nations arts worker in contributing their knowledge, skills, and curatorial experience to enhance cultural understanding and engagement with this significant collection.

Tina Baum, from the Gulumirrgin (Larrakia)/Wardaman/Karajarri peoples and Senior Curator of First Nations Art at the National Gallery, has been named the inaugural recipient of the fellowship. In October 2024, Baum will embark on a four-week journey to the Netherlands, where she will collaborate with colleagues at the Wereldmuseum Leiden, sharing her cultural knowledge and curatorial expertise.

“I am honored to be the first curator to travel to the Wereldmuseum under the Nguluway Dhuluyarra Fellowship,” Baum said. “This exciting new program offers an opportunity for First Nations arts workers to share their cultural knowledge abroad while gaining access to the second largest collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art outside of Australia.”

The fellowship represents a shared commitment among the partnering institutions to amplify First Nations voices and deepen the understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures internationally.

Dr. Xenia Hanusiak, Senior Policy Officer at the Netherlands Embassy, emphasized the fellowship’s significance in cultural cooperation between the Netherlands and Australia. “By incorporating the deep historical perspectives of Indigenous peoples, the fellowship recognizes our shared values of cooperation and knowledge exchange,” she stated.

Prof. dr. Wonu Veys, Curator of Oceania at the Wereldmuseum, expressed enthusiasm for the program, noting, “We are excited to broaden our mutual networks and hope to develop longstanding relationships and connections with our first fellow, future fellows, and their respective communities.”

The Nguluway Dhuluyarra Fellowship stands as a testament to the growing recognition of the importance of First Nations perspectives in the global arts community, paving the way for enhanced cultural dialogue and understanding.