This year marks the 40th anniversary of the First Aboriginal Women’s Arts Festival, a key moment in Australia’s contemporary cultural history.
Opening this Friday, a retrospective exhibition at Adelaide Festival Centre’s Artspace will celebrate its legacy and the women behind it.
The exhibition brings together rare photographs, archival materials, and firsthand stories from the Aboriginal women who were at the forefront of the festival in 1985.
Curated festival memorabilia, historical photographs, and personal accounts allow visitors to experience the groundbreaking event that united Aboriginal women nationwide to celebrate their culture and songlines through visual arts, dance, music, theatre, and ceremony.
The First Aboriginal Women's Arts Festival was a transformative event that highlighted the resilience, talent, and spirit of Aboriginal women, many of whom are now regarded as leaders in their respective fields.
This exhibition honours and celebrates the continuing artistic legacy, showcasing how the festival paved the way for future generations of Aboriginal artists and performers.
Aboriginal Elder and proud Wakka Wakka women and the Cultural Consultant on Black Women Back in Focus Jo Willmot: “Black Women Back in Focus and Adelaide Festival Centre will be honouring and celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the very First Contemporary National Aboriginal Women’s Arts Festival. We encourage you to join us for this event. We will be sharing an exhibition of many of the highlights for this event of reconnecting the Songlines and invite your participation and support.”
Minister for Arts, The Hon. Andrea Michaels MP: “This exhibition is a powerful celebration of the incredible cultural activities of Aboriginal women over the past 40 years. The First Aboriginal Women’s Arts Festival was and continues to be a milestone in our shared histories.”
This one-of-a-kind retrospective exhibition, brings art, history and, culture together to honour the powerful legacy of the First Aboriginal Women’s Arts Festival and its ongoing influence on Australia’s artistic landscape.
Black Women BACK in Focus is open from Friday 7 February at Adelaide Festival Centre’s Artspace. Gallery opening hours are Friday and Saturdays from 10am – 3pm.
Imagery available here.