Overview

Opening The Door is a collaboration with First Nations artists David Arden and Violet Arden in partnership with the Wilin Centre for Indigenous Arts and Cultural Development to create opportunity and positive change through the Arts — amplifying First Nations voices and leadership, and cultivating spaces where dialogue, change, and shared stories can flourish.

 

Outcomes 

The development of arts and cultural projects that are First Nations led that engage the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community through a strong community engagement framework and creative process.

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Aims and Purpose

 

• Invest in grassroots community for a three-year period: Support and develop First Nations led arts and cultural projects.

 

• Engage communities: Create opportunities for diverse communities to connect through shared creative processes in a safe space.

 

• Promote reconciliation: Use the arts as a pathway to truth-telling, cultural exchange, and healing. Acknowledge historical injustices and work towards healing through creative expression.

                                                              

• Strengthen capacity: Build models for authentic collaboration between First Nations artists, communities, and institutions.

 

Overall Aim

 

• We believe there is a different way of engaging in the creative sector – led by First Nations artists.

 

• Currently there are valuable community resources in the arts: local art centres and community halls where Aboriginal communities feel like outsiders.

 

• Many arts organisations find it difficult or don’t know how to work with First Nations artists and community which results in us feeling emotionally scarred, often unwelcome and that we do not belong.

 

• First Nations performances must be presented in our Arts Centre’s programs but there is often a reluctance plus little knowledge of a way of working with community. Aswell, there are very few Aboriginal staff working professionally in our art centres to guide community engagement.

 

• We want to make real change, opening the doors for First Nations artists and communities.  

Partnership History and Achievements

 

The Arden and Wilin Collaboration (2016–Present)

 

Over seven years, Uncle David, Aunty Violet and The Wilin Centre, have built a deep partnership spanning community engagement, academic collaboration, and cultural leadership. This partnership has helped shape Wilin’s Indigenous-led engagement framework and influenced faculty-wide approaches to collaboration and teaching.

 

Key milestones include:

 

2018 Wilin Jam: Uncle David featured to acknowledge the contributions of the Victorian Aboriginal Child & Community Agency.

 

Meerta (Rise Up): Collaboration between Wilin and the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music (MCM), leading to performances at the Yirramboi Festival (2023) and Narrm Scholars Program (2025).

 

Cross-disciplinary engagement: VCA Animation and Film & TV students contributed to the production, enriching their artistic and professional development.

 

Academic integration:

 

• Yil Lul (To Sing) ensemble within MCM’s Small Ensemble subject, culminating in a professional studio recording.

 

• Workshops for Stories of Place and Musical Perspectives subjects on place-based creative practice.

 

• Contribution to Wilin’s breadth subject Indigenous Musical Instruments.

 

Why Now

 

Following the outcome of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum, many First Nations people experienced deep emotional and cultural impact. This project responds to that moment by strengthening local leadership, self-determination, and grassroots' advocacy.

 

Through initiatives like Dave Ardens show Meerta, which toured 12 towns across Victoria in 2025, we’ve seen the power of truth-telling and storytelling to inspire change and build understanding.

 

We believe the arts have the power to change people’s thinking, hearts and minds.

 

Now is the time to expand this work, connecting more communities, creating new pathways for First Nations artists, communities and students, and equipping educators and arts centres to engage in culturally informed practice. This involves creating the opportunity for cultural understanding to flourish through truth telling and First Nations led engagement.

 

Shared Aspirations

 

• Open doors and build bridges through culture and creativity.

 

• Model authentic, two-way collaboration between First Nations and non-Indigenous communities.

 

• To create a new template/model for an authentic way of working with First Nations artists and community.

 

• Provide opportunities for shared learning, storytelling and dialogue.

 

• Expand regional engagement to increase participation of First Nations students in the arts.

 

• Build faculty-wide capacity for Indigenous-led teaching, research, and community collaboration.

 

• Strengthen partnerships with regional and community-based organisations to sustain long-term impact.

 

Program Delivery

 

• Workshops: Host storytelling and music workshops – Facilitate sessions where communities share personal and cultural narratives together.

 

• Community engagement: Engage with local Indigenous and local knowledge holders – Ensure traditional knowledge is respected and authentically represented.

 

• Performances: Develop and curate performances – Showcase performances that explore themes of reconciliation and cultural exchange that engage with local community.

 

• Partnership building: Work collaboratively to bring Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities, organisations and individuals together.

 

• Recruitment and outreach: Visits to schools and community organisations.

 

• Facilities and support: Provide venues for performances, rehearsals and workshops. Host and facilitate community meetings to support the goals of the project.

 

• Partnership facilitation: Participate in partnership building with arts centres and other organisations to advance the goals of the project within the University of Melbourne and beyond. 

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