Regional Arts Victoria has partnered with Victoria’s First Nations peak creative organisations to establish a First Nations Reference Group (working title) to ensure First Nations creatives in regional Victoria are visible and heard.
Guided by Richard J Frankland, a respected First Nations creative and working with Songlines Aboriginal Music and Ilbijerri Theatre Company, RAV has funded the exploration of the establishment the group.
RAV wants to walk purposely alongside First Nations peoples, respecting self-determination and diverse First Nations cultures.
“When you have art you have voice, with voice comes freedom, with freedom comes responsibility.”
—Richard J Frankland
Supported by representatives of each organisation, we hosted in person community conversations in Bendigo, Shepparton, Swan Hill, Portland and Bairnsdale in July and August 2025, followed by two online sessions.
Local creatives who attended agreed that the First Nations Reference Group is an opportunity to facilitate regional voices and provide important advocacy for funding and support.
Attendees also spoke about the barriers to participation and development in the creative sector with the distance from metro opportunities and the cost of travel being the biggest barriers to professional development.
A total of 20 First Nations creative leaders attended the sessions.
We look forward to reporting back on the impact of this important initiative once the First Nations reference group have been appointed.
Team members from RAV and Ilbijerri Theatre Company at the Portland session
The First Nations Reference Group is an initiative of Regional Arts Victoria with Songlines Aboriginal Music and Ilbijerri Theatre Company.
