KU ARTS SYMPOSIUM
Art Gallery of South Australia Courtyard
Friday 17 October 2025
In 2025, the Ku Arts Symposium returned to Kaurna Yarta (Adelaide), aligning with the Tarnanthi Festival. The symposium brought together First Nations artists, art centres, curators, and cultural leaders from across the state, creating a vital space for storytelling, connection, and professional development.
The day featured three dynamic 45-minute panel discussions that explored the intersections of art, culture, and Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP), celebrating ten years of the Tarnanthi Festival. The panels provided opportunities for participants to reflect on significant works presented over the past decade and look forward to the future. Each session offered a platform for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and strengthening the networks that sustain Aboriginal-led arts practice.
Panel 1: Sharing Stories
Facilitated by Lavene Ngatokoura, this panel highlighted the creative journeys of Marita Baker (Tjungu Palya Art Centre), Anne Thompson (Ernabella Arts), and Imitjala Pantjiti Lewis (Ernabella Arts). The artists reflected on collaborative projects, from Painting on Country to intergenerational installations, discussing the significance of Tjukurpa, the process of working across family and community, and the ongoing impact of these works beyond the gallery walls. The conversation emphasised how First Nations storytelling, cultural practice, and creative innovation continue to evolve while sustaining tradition and empowering future generations.
Panel 2: Regional Pathways
Facilitated by Marika Davies, this session focused on the development of regional Aboriginal artists and the role of Ku Arts in supporting pathways to professional practice. Guest speakers Collette Gray (Arts Ceduna), Kristal Matthews (Independent South Australian Artist), and Marli Macumba (Independent South Australian Artist) shared insights into how Tarnanthi-funded workshops and long-term partnerships have enabled them to develop their practice on Country, navigate barriers, and build sustainable careers. The discussion highlighted the importance of guidance, collaboration, and support networks in helping artists move from isolation to national platforms.
Panel 3: Protecting Culture – ICIP in Arts Practice
Facilitated by Stephanie Parkin, this panel brought together Joanne Driessens from the Indigenous Art Code and Mickey Barlow an Independent South Australian Artist to explore the meaning, significance, and protection of Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property. Through lived experience, the discussion examined respect for ICIP in creative practice, challenges faced by artists and communities, limitations of current legislation, and aspirations for future government action. This session underscored the collective responsibility to safeguard First Nations cultural knowledge and ensure self-determination within the arts sector.
The 2025 symposium reinforced Ku Arts’ commitment to supporting First Nations-led practice, promoting cultural integrity, and ensuring that ICIP remains central to the state’s vibrant arts landscape. It was a day of connection, reflection, and celebration.
Ku Arts acknowledges and thanks our funders, including IVAIS ICIP funding and the Art Gallery of South Australia, Tarnanthi Festival, whose support makes this symposium possible.