Arts & Cultural Exchange has announced Wiradjuri and Dunghutti visual artist Natalie Snedden and Gamilaroi singer-songwriter Elina Roberts-Turner as the latest First Nations creatives to join ACE's Artist in Residence program.
Under the residency program, which nurtures emerging Western Sydney-based First Nations talent, the two artists will receive resources, mentorship, and a platform to develop their craft and share their stories with the wider community, all under the guidance of experts from the arts and cultural industry.
"The artist in residency program that ACE run is inspirational and it feels very natural being in such a good environment with everyone around," Snedden said.
It's a very creative space and the people that work at ACE are all so welcoming and so supportive of art.
ACE executive director, Anne Loxley said that the program is a key initiative providing a space to nurture and highlight creativity and celebrate cultural heritage.
"ACE is dedicated to amplifying the voices of Western Sydney's young Indigenous artists," Ms Loxley said.
"Our Artist in Residence program is a key initiative that allows us to support their unique gifts, providing a space to nurture and highlight creativity and celebrate cultural heritage.
"Nat and Elina, like our 2023 resident artists, Wiradjuri dancer/choreographer/composer Amy Flannery and Wiradjuri puppeteer Brianna McCarthy, are emblematic of the rich talent to be found in Western Sydney's First Nations youth."
Through the residency, artists will gain valuable opportunities to showcase their work on ACE's platforms, expanding their artistic practice and sharing their cultural stories with the wider community.
Snedden is a Wiradjuri and Dunghutti visual artist and the creator of BALANDA, a celebratory collection of paintings reflecting her deep connection to family and Country created during her residency at ACE.
She was mentored under Dharug artist, curator and educator Jessica Tobin; Torres Strait Islander and Museum of Contemporary Arts curator Meriam Mer; and Quandamookda intellectual property lawyer Stephanie Parkins.
Balanda, which means beginning in the Wiradjuri language, captures this pivotal start in Snedden's journey as a professional artist.
Roberts-Turner is a talented Gamilaroi singer-songwriter who is currently recording her debut EP, a heartfelt project that showcases her honest and deeply personal songwriting.
Supported under the mentorship of designer Matthew Stegh and renowned songwoman Dyagula, Turner is weaving together her heritage and lived experiences into a unique musical narrative.
Roberts-Turner's residency will conclude with an exclusive industry event preview in western Sydney, highlighting her rich storytelling and the emotional depth of her artistry developed through the Artist in Residence program.
The collaboration promises to capture the essence of Roberts-Turner's identity while celebrating her creative growth.
With both women succeeding in their respective domain, the two creatives highlight the passion coming from today's Indigenous youth who are eager to succeed and showcase their culture and craft.
For more fashion, beauty and lifestyle news subscribe for free to the Style Up newsletter.
