Honouring Country

Honouring Country brings together First Nations artists from traditional countries all around Australia who now live and create on unceded Ngunnawal/Ngambri lands.  

In February 2025 the artists attended 2 workshops with renowned Biripi jeweller Wayne Simon to develop silversmithing and metalsmithing skills to  create wearable artworks inspired by Country. These workshops were designed to help participants explore their cultural heritages using metals and non-metal materials to express their cultural concepts visually in the form of jewellery items and small-scale objects. 

Participants drew on their individual First Nations identity, heritage, community and personal life experiences, re-interpreting motifs and concepts from their existing arts practices in new mediums with a focus on innovation and product diversification.  

The Honouring Cultures Collective gratefully acknowledges the sponsorship of ANU School of Art and Design for giving access to workshop space, equipment, technical assistance, and accommodation for Mr Wayne Simon. The Collective also acknowledges artsACT through its Cultural Arts Funding Program, Craft+Design Canberra, Mitchell Whitelaw, Wayne Simon and Sean Booth.