First Peoples art on the move for Rising Festival

Melbourne’s iconic trams will be transformed into moving works of First Peoples art with the next round of Art Trams to hit the tracks.

Minister for Treaty and First Peoples Natalie Hutchins joined RISING Senior Curator Kimberley Moulton in unveiling the first of six Art Trams, celebrating First Peoples artists past and present and honouring the enduring strength of First Nations women.

The first Art Tram showcases Wurundjeri Elder William Barak’s Corroborree, a 1897 painting of women in possum skin cloaks that was acquired and returned to Victoria in 2022 by the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation with support from the Allan Labor Government.

This year’s Art Trams also feature works from:

• Kelly Koumalatsos (Wergaia, Wemba Wemba)
• Maree Clarke (Yorta Yorta, Wamba Wamba, Mutti Mutti, Boonwurrung)
• Jennifer Mullett (Gunaikurnai, Bidawal, Ngarigo), and
• Patsy Smith (Taungurung).
• This also includes a collaborative work with Elders Laurel Robinson (Yorta Yorta, Wurundjeri), Amy Briggs (Yorta Yorta), Cynthia Hardie (Yorta Yorta), and Rochelle Patten (Yorta Yorta, Wamba Wamba, Baraparapa).

Each artist brings a unique perspective on their culture and connection to Country and the works reflect Indigenous and non-Indigenous shared histories, unity and coming together.

The art trams will ride Melbourne’s network for 12 months and passengers can learn more about the works and artists via QR codes on the trams.

The RISING First Peoples Art Trams are proudly supported by the Labor Government through Creative Victoria and the Department of Transport and Planning, and Yarra Trams.

“Featuring First Nations artwork and artists on the world-famous Melbourne trams is a powerful way to celebrate the history, culture and contributions of Aboriginal Victorians here in Melbourne,” Minister for Treaty and First Peoples Natalie Hutchins said.

RISING Senior Curator Kimberley Moulton said it had been a privilege to bring together the First Peoples curatorial group.

“We are honoured to be working with them and to celebrate the living, strong and proud First Peoples Culture of Victoria,” she said.