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Koorie Heritage Trust announces opening of expressions of interest for Blak Design, Fashion and Textiles program

Phoebe Blogg Published October 18, 2024 at 3.00pm (AWST)

Blak Design Program, RMIT, School of Fashion and Textiles studio. (Image: Christian Capurro)

The Koorie Heritage Trust is calling for First Peoples artists, designers and craftspeople and creatives from across Victoria to be part of the next program. Kicking off in 2025, the program will focus on fashion and textiles in partnership with RMIT's renowned School of Fashion and Textiles.

Koorie Heritage Trust chief executive Tom Mosby said he is eager to support Victoria's Fist Nations creatives.

''We want to work with all of our First People creatives living in Victoria to support their long-term sustainable design practice. This is a free program for all participants and we particularly encourage First Peoples from regional Victoria to apply. The Blak Design program is an important step in this process by bringing together mentors and industry leaders to work with and nurture talented First Peoples makers", he said.

Participants will be immersed in a supportive environment with other First Nation Peoples. Winner of the 2024 Best in Class in Fashion Impact and Gold Winners in Fashion and Social Impact in the Australian Good Design Awards in 2023, the Blak Design program strives to provide a safe space for participants to share in new skills and to freely design and create.

*Blak Jewellery, Finding Past · Linking Present KHT 2021/22. (Image: Christian Capurro)*

To date, 39 metro and regional artists have been involved in the program, with the first two-years of the program focusing on contemporary jewellery, the third year's program on ceramics and the fourth year's program on Fashion and Textiles.

Over the year, participants take part in a series of hands-on intensive design and making workshops, as well as small business skills workshops, along with access to industry and cultural mentors, design professionals, and industry practitioners.

An Australian first, the Blak Design program is a four-year initiative that fosters First Peoples cultural innovation within the Victorian design sector and provide a platform for nurturing sustainable, First Peoples design practices and creative vision.

Blak Design is an initiative of the Koorie Heritage Trust and is presented in partnership with The Ian Potter Foundation, RMIT University and precinct partner Fed Square.

Applications are now open and close Sunday 10 November, 5pm 2024.

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