Everyone is welcome to come together with community and artists on the historic site of the Blacktown Native Institution to celebrate living Aboriginal cultures with new performance, sculpture and interactive artworks.

Working with local communities, artists Tony Albert, Sharyn Egan and Moogahlin Performing Arts have responded to the site’s importance as a place of ceremony and culture and its history as the location of the Blacktown Native Institution. Operating from 1823–1829, the Institution was one of the earliest instances of institutional removal of Aboriginal children from their families.

Tony Albert has worked with a group of Blacktown young people to create ‘Gubangala Gumadangyiningi (Let’s honour his/her spirit)’, an artwork that reaches across time to share positive memories and create a new future for the site.

Working with Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation and local weavers, Sharyn Egan has created 7 large-scale flannel flowers as a memorial to the Institution’s residents.

Moogahlin Performing Arts has worked with elders and local dance groups to create ‘manuwi jam ya murong (footprints in the sand)’, a multi-faceted performance installation honouring local customs and growing up Aboriginal in Western Sydney.

This program is part of C3West – MCA’s immersive arts initiative that sees artists, communities, organisations and businesses collaborate in Western Sydney, in conjunction with Blacktown Arts.

There will be a free BBQ and refreshments!

Date

Saturday 9th June.

Location

Blacktown Native Institution site (corner Rooty Hill Road North and Richmond Road, Oakhurst).

Getting there

Limited parking available onsite with access via Richmond Road. A bus to the site will be leaving Blacktown Arts at 3.30pm and returning following the event.

Wet weather

In case of inclement weather, the event will be held at Blacktown Arts Centre, 78 Flushcombe Rd, Blacktown. Fresh information about the event will be made available via the MCA website, social media and event page.