Artistic director, curator and teacher Jacob Boehme has been appointed as the First Nations Lecturer in NIDA’s Master of Fine Arts (Cultural Leadership).
An artist of the Narangga and Kaurna Nations South Australia, Jacob will teach First Nations knowledge and practice, engage in subject design, develop course materials, and collaborate with students and team members to ensure that the course is premised on culturally aware and culturally competent approaches and behaviours.
Jacob has worked across community and cultural development, youth and intergenerational projects, screen, theatre and festivals as a creative practitioner, artistic director and curator.
“I am thrilled to be joining the MFA (Cultural Leadership) at NIDA as the inaugural First Nations Lecturer, to work with current and future students driven by a passion and need to be the change we want to see.” said Boehme.
“I am particularly excited by the opportunity to be introducing Indigenous knowledge systems to the course through the wisdom and teachings of our Elders, cultural leaders, community members and academics across industries and sectors. The potential to reshape the arts and cultural sector founded in 80,000 plus years of cultural practice is beyond exciting.”
Established in 2016, NIDA’s MFA in Cultural Leadership is designed specifically for those who are actively involved as early and mid-career professionals in the arts and cultural sector and who aspire to facilitate resilient, new leadership models through collaborative and inclusive practices. The course attracts students from all over Australia and awards the annual Luminis Foundation Indigenous Fellowship for Cultural Leadership.
As a facilitator of Indigenous cultural maintenance programs, Jacob has led the instruction and/or delivery of language, song and dance revival with regional, urban and remote First Nations communities across Australia in on-country community contexts.
He delivered outstanding cultural programming in his capacity as founding Creative Director of Yirramboi Festival, Curator of The Original People’s Party for the Australian Performing Arts Market, Yirramboi in Taiwan – Pulima Festival, Artistic Director of Tanderrum and Dance Program Manager of Yalukit Wilam Ngargee/St Kilda Festival.
As a guest lecturer on community practice, Indigenous self-determined arts practice, dramaturgy, dance and theatre, Jacob has taught for a number of academic and arts institutions in Australia, Tamil Nadu in India, New York, Vancouver, Toronto and Helsinki.
He has developed significant international networks as an alumni of the British and Australia Council’s ACCELERATE Indigenous Leaders Program, a member of the International Advisory Panel for the Calouste Gulbenkian (UK Branch) Foundation’s Inquiry into the Civic Role of Arts Organisations, and an original member of the inaugural ASSITEJ Next Generation of Youth Theatre Leaders.
As an independent arts practitioner, presenter and member of the Tri-Nations collective (AUS/CAN/NZ) Jacob has developed significant relationships with international First Nations communities across Asia, Turtle Island, Pacific Islands, Africa and Scandinavia. He currently sits on the Republic of China Ministry of Culture (Taiwan) South East Asia International Advisory Committee.
“NIDA is incredibly honoured to have an artist and teacher of the calibre of Jacob Boehme joining our team,” said Course Leader Karilyn Brown. “His depth of knowledge, experience and expertise will certainly make an impact on the ongoing evolution of this dynamic future-focused course.”
Applications to study Cultural Leadership at NIDA in 2021 will close on 30 October 2020. The Luminis Foundation Indigenous Fellowship will support a First Nations applicant by funding 50% of the Master of Fine Arts (Cultural Leadership) course fee. For more information about NIDA, visit: www.nida.edu.au for details.
Image: Jacob Boehme – photo by Dorine Blaise