In August 2023, Roper Gulf Regional Council partnered with Ellie Hannon and Numburindi Arts to create a NAIDOC Week inspired art mural under the theme of 'For Our Elders' as part of the Youth Reconnect program.
The project hoped to connect disengaged youth with community elders and culture and Council has been blown away by the response from the community, both young and old.
The art mural was painted inside the Numbulwar Youth Sport and Rec Centre with local elders mentoring the young people to design and paint a mural that represented the community and culture. Newcastle artist Ellie Hannon facilitated the project with great support from Numburindi Arts, Roper Gulf Regional Council staff and other local stakeholders.
The mural includes references to Numbulwar and the Roper Gulf region focusing on the theme 'For Our Elders'. There are paintings of red flag dancers, crocodiles and other wildlife, native flowers and trees, school buses, sports activities and the friendly faces of the community.
The project started as a blank canvas rolled out on the floor in the middle of the centre and over two weeks rapidly morphed into a magical space for all ages to express their ideas and creativity.
The Numbulwar School students visited the centre over the two weeks and worked with the Numburindi artists, local elders and Ellie. Together they told stories and weaved their story telling magic into paintings that would later be transferred onto the wall.
There were also dedicated 'free range' art circles around the centre for the children, teenagers and some inspired adults to paint freely on the wall.
The senior students from Numbulwar School and many of the stakeholders were so engaged with the project that they did not want to leave at the end of the workshop and many returned during the evening sessions, on the weekend and even on the Picnic Day public holiday.
A number of incredible young artists were discovered over the two weeks. One young man in particular confidently designed and painted free hand many of the pieces that contribute to the mural.
Thank you to the stakeholders who supported the project including the Numburindi Art Centre, Numbulwar Police, Health Centre, Numbulwar School, Charles Darwin University staff members, Yugul Mangi housing contractors, the Church Pastor and the Aged Care clients who attended two days in a row to help create the mural.
Each of the stakeholders made appearances during the two week project and all attended the final day, that saw upwards of 60 people in attendance.
Congratulations to Ellie, Numburindi Arts and all Council staff and stakeholders that worked tirelessly to make this project happen. The Youth Sport and Rec Centre is forever a changed space with hopes to be a community hub and a safe space for many years to come.
The engagement from the community and Council staff has inspired future creative projects for Numbulwar.
Images by Ellie Hannon and Aimee Riley.
To see more of the amazing work by Ellie Hannon, click here.
To learn more about the Numburindi Art Centre, click here.
This community project was made possible through funding from the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA).
Media Contact:
Bethany O'SULLIVAN | Communications Coordinator | (08) 8972 9024