Indigenous student art gallery and competition
At Deakin, we are proud of our history of Indigenous education and consider First Nations students to be an integral part of our university community. Upon graduation, you will join over 1000 other First Nations students who have completed their studies at our institution over the last three decades.
We believe that education offers endless possibilities and that it is equally important to recognize and learn from the world's oldest continuous living culture.
Art is one of the most powerful expressions of Indigenous culture. For over 40,000 years, Aboriginal rock paintings have told unique and interconnected stories about identity, spirituality, kinship, and the land.
Today, First Nations artists continue to create incredible works of art in a range of styles and mediums, from traditional to modern. This vibrant and ever-evolving space is where cultural stories, current issues, and personal expression come together.
Share your art
As part of the recently launched Deakin Indigenous Strategy 2023–28, we pledge to move Indigenous Knowledges into the fabric of Australian life.
An initiative of this commitment, is the introduction of an inaugural First Nations Art Competition. We invite Indigenous students to contribute a piece of their own original visual artwork that represents their learning journey, connection to Country, and demonstrates Deakin's values of inclusivity and sustainability.
The artwork will be showcased in an online gallery as well as a physical exhibition across our campuses to represent the importance of connection and belonging.
We encourage all styles of art and look forward to sharing received submissions with our Deakin community to bring us together to learn and grow.
The competition
During the week of Monday 24 to Friday 28 July, a judging panel comprising members of our Office of Indigenous Strategy and Innovation, NIKERI Institute, an Indigenous alumnus and a representative from Deakin Art Gallery will select five highly commended pieces.
We will announce the five winners during UBelong Week (Monday 7 - Friday 11 August) – each of whom will receive a $200 cash prize – and launch an online gallery featuring all submitted artworks.
From the submitted pieces, we may also choose to commission one artwork for a period of three years, which we’ll use across all health and wellbeing activities at Deakin. If we commission your artwork, you’ll be paid a one-off fee of $2000.
Possible Acquisition for Deakin Permanent Collection
Deakin may select one artwork from the pieces submitted to the competition for acquisition and inclusion its permanent art collection and possibly for display across health and wellbeing activities at Deakin. If Deakin does choose an artwork for acquisition, it will inform the artist and request the artist, as creator of the artwork, to transfer ownership of it to Deakin for a purchase price of $2,000 (including GST if applicable) and grant to Deakin a licence to copy and reproduce the artwork for a period of 3 years post-acquisition, subject to acknowledgement of the artist as the creator of the original artwork whenever it is reproduced. Deakin will provide all necessary documentation to give effect to the transfer of ownership and licence of copyright and payment will be made to the artist upon receipt of the signed documentation and payment instructions (and tax invoice if appropriate).