Bundjalung artist Dr. Bronwyn Bancroft has been announced as the inaugural recipient of the NSW Aboriginal Creative Fellowship.
A new opportunity for Aboriginal artists to undertake a research project delving into the subjects and materials of the State Library of NSW’s collection. The Fellowship will support Dr. Bancroft with $30,000 to create a new cultural work for both researchers and the general public.
“Congratulations to Dr. Bronwyn Bancroft who will bring to light a complex Australian story. Telling these stories guarantees that an important part of NSW’s Aboriginal history is recorded, and brought into the future for generations to come,” said Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and the Arts Don Harwin.
State Library of NSW’s Manager of Indigenous Engagement Damien Webb said Dr. Bancroft will work with staff at the Library to access and transform collection material into a new body of work, which highlights Bundjalung stories, histories and culture.
“The State Library of NSW welcomes this exciting opportunity to have our collections re-examined and framed by renowned First Nations artist Dr. Bronwyn Bancroft, whose work brings complex and contested histories to light and, and through this Fellowship will continue to challenge, delight and inform people throughout NSW, Australia and the world,” said Mr Webb.
“The Country Cries for Truth – My love of family and Country drives my passion to record and to document the takeover of our Country viewed through my lens as a Mother, Bundjalung Artist and Writer. The awarding of this fellowship is an absolute honour and I am humbled to be the recipient,” said Dr Bancroft.
Dr. Bronwyn Bancroft is a proud Bundjalung woman and artist. She has been exhibiting nationally and internationally for over three decades. She has also illustrated and/or written 41 children’s books and has been a Director of her own company, Designer Aboriginals Pty Ltd since 1985.
Dr. Bancroft holds positions with Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (Director) and Commonwealth Bank Indigenous Advisory Council. She was the founder and has been a volunteer senior strategist at Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative since 2009.
Dr. Bancroft has a Diploma of Visual Arts from Canberra School of Art, two master’s degrees, one in Studio Practice and the other in Visual Art, University of Sydney. Bronwyn was awarded her Doctor of Philosophy in 2018.
Dr. Bancroft will be supported through $30,000 in funding to conduct research and engage with the State Library collections, delving into subjects and materials from the Library’s Indigenous Collections. For more information, visit: www.sl.nsw.gov.au or www.create.nsw.gov.au for details.
Image: Dr. Bronwyn Bancroft – photo by Sharon Hickey