NETS Victoria has announced Koorie Heritage Trust (KHT) as the recipient of the 2025 Exhibition Development Fund for the full award amount available of $40,000 for their project Journey Among Men.

Conceived as a program to support the mental health and well-being of male members in our First Nations communities, the Project will support the mentoring of Victorian-based First Nations men by community Elders, passing on cultural knowledge through the design and production of carved cultural belongings. Importantly, the Project will take place on Country.

Journey Among Men is intended to build practical skills and share traditional knowledge of culture and Country through a series of First Peoples-led workshops. The project will culminate in an exhibition at KHT which will showcase works created during the mentored workshops. Development of the exhibition’s content, scope, themes and design, and that of the accompanying publication, will be characterised by collaboration, consultation and deep listening, guided by the cultural storytelling and creative approaches of the participating artists.

KHTs CEO, Tom Mosby says: “We are thrilled and humbled to be the recipient of this prestigious grant from NETS Victoria. This generous grant means we will be able to commence this important project, one that has long been in planning. It will see First Peoples cultural leaders mentoring and working alongside emerging artists including: Mick and Mitchil Harding (Taungurung), Kevin Williams (Waradjuri) and Earl Handy (Mutthi Mutthi), Brendan and Carl Kennedy (Tati Tati, Wadi Wadi and Mutti Mutti), Iluka Sax-Williams (Taungurung, Tibrean), and Lewis Wandin-Bursill (Wurundjeri).”

Chair of NETS Victoria’s Board of Management, Bec Cole says: “We are thrilled to announce Koorie Heritage Trust as the exclusive recipient of NETS Victoria’s Exhibition Development Fund. KHTs mentorship model to support early career First Peoples creatives won the hearts of our Artistic Program Advisory Committee, chaired by David Sequeira. I can’t wait to see this important project come to fruition. This is the most significant investment NETS Victoria has ever made towards a project for the full available amount of $40,000.”

NETS Victoria Exhibition Development Fund provides seed funding to research and develop new, curated exhibitions of contemporary visual arts, craft and design. The funding supports activities that have a focus on Victorian based artists, curators or organisations. NETS Victoria Exhibition Development Fund is awarded biennially and is open to independent curators and incorporated not-for-profit arts organisations in Australia (including local councils, public galleries, festivals and other arts organisations). NETS Victoria Exhibition Development Fund is supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria.

KHT is a unique cultural space, rich in heritage and history, that welcomes all people to come together in the spirit of learning and reconciliation. They provide a safe and inclusive space for everyone to learn about, honour, and celebrate the continuing journey of the First Peoples of south-eastern Australia. kht.org.au

Iluka Sax-Williams (Taungurung, Tibrean): Woora Liwik 2022, kangaroo skin (pyrography). Courtesy of the artist. Photo Christian Capurro.