Talks | Curated by Matt Poll
Matt Poll works as the Manager of Indigenous Programs at the Australian National Maritime Museum. Matts curatorial and publications work is centred on prioritising contemporary First Nations voice across collections and exhibitions development. Matt is also currently a member of the Reimagining the British Museum working group representing Oceania, the Sydney Opera House conservation council and for many years worked as the University of Sydney Repatriation project officer assisting in the return to country of ancestors
10:30AM
Djon Mundine: Champion of the Art Centre Movement
Djon Mundine OAM (born 1951) is a proud Bandjalung man whose work as a curator, writer, and conceptual artist fundamentally changed how contemporary art spaces view First Nations culture. Long before Indigenous art gained mainstream commercial traction, Mundine recognized that community-run, remote art centres were the structural backbones of cultural autonomy, sovereignty, and economic independence.
Saturday 4th July
12:30PM
Vault In Conversation
Art as Fashion - VAULT Editor in Chief Alison Kubler sits down with Walmatjarri/Yamatjarri model and curator of NIAF's Fashion Parade, Billie-Jean Hamlet, to unpack where contemporary art and First Nations fashion collide. From the runway to the gallery wall, these two leaders will discuss cultural storytelling, representation and what "Art as Fashion" really means on Country.
2:00PM
Sebastian Goldspink:Collecting Contemporary Indigenous Art Today
Join us for an exclusive, wide-ranging conversation with powerhouse curator and newly appointed Art Collector Editor-at-Large, Sebastian Goldspink. A proud Burramattagal man, Goldspink has spent over fifteen years redefining how contemporary art is seen, funded, and celebrated in Australia. In this session, Goldspink will unpack his visionary approach to First Nations art advocacy, the vital importance of grassroots space-making, and how his new editorial role at Art Collector will amplify Indigenous creative authority on both a national and global stage.
10:30AM
Kristy Dickinson: Haus of Dizzy in the house
Step into the vibrant, glittering world of Kristy Dickinson, the proud Wiradjuri woman, creative force, and self-taught visionary behind the powerhouse fashion accessory label Haus of Dizzy. Dakota Dixon and Kristy Dickenson from Haus of Dizzy explore the rise of contemporary jewellery and adornment from shell work of la Perouse to the fashion run ways of Paris and New York.
Sunday 5th July
12:30PM
Alison Page: Art and Design - its all about story
In the Aboriginal world-view, separating cultural practices into different disciplines and expecting people to 'stay in their lanes' is not a thing. For First Nations people, all the things we make and build are an extension of Country and give voice to story and traditional knowledges. Alison Page, Dharawal artist and designer breaks down the barriers between art and design and explains how this convergence is a response to global trends in creativity.
2:00PM
Matt Poll: The Reciprocal Museum
Art centres act as the sovereign gateways or cultural embassies for remote communities. They are the social spaces where local custodians retain absolute control over how, when, and to whom their stories, history, and sacred lore are shared. Matt poll explores 50 years of art centres as being the backbone of the largest community led art movement in Australian history. Matts curatorial work involves exhibitions developed under the ethos that historical materials are co-designed directly with elders and representatives from multiple distinct language groups, ensuring that national institutional spaces respect and mirror regional autonomies.
