Reconciliation Action Plan

8 Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art Reconciliation Action Plan 9 Professor Emeritus Ian O’Connor AC Chair, Queensland Art Gallery Board of Trustees MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR AND CHAIR We are pleased to present the first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) for the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA). The Board, Gallery management and staff believe that a formal process of reconciliation is both necessary and timely. While reconciliation is something we consistently recognise in acknowledging Country, we know that for any institution-wide commitment of this kind to affect real and lasting change in our engagement with First Australians, demonstrable and measurable action needs to be taken. This Innovate RAP begins that important journey. In communicating stories of local and global art, we start from here, on the south side of a great bend in the Brisbane River known as Kurilpa. It was named for the kuril — the ever-resourceful, mangrove-dwelling rat who was a sacred totem for the original custodians of this land. For millennia, the Kurilpa area was a gathering place for trade and exchange. Among those who met in this vicinity were creative and visual artists, whose stories were and are indelibly woven into both customary and contemporary practices. Today, we honour the cultural production that is unique to this area, together with the creativity of First Nations artists in Australia and the world. Through this RAP, QAGOMA commits to a deeper consideration of how we share and understand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rich cultural histories and stories. To acknowledge the remarkable legacy of a continuous connection with this land, we will ensure the process of reconciliation is central to our values. We want to recognise and empower Indigenous peoples and be open to truth-telling, knowing this RAP will affect the way we collect, display, care for and share our art holdings, with a focus on centring these voices and experiences. We will strive to increase our connections to communities, employment and economic opportunities, and to champion the representation of First Australians. We wish to acknowledge the many contributors to this RAP. This journey began with our staff being guided by Terri Janke and Company, led by Wuthathi/Meriam woman Dr Terri Janke, who have supported us every step of the way. Our large staff working group will continue to monitor our commitment to reconciliation, ensuring we fulfill the objectives of this plan, as will regular reporting through our Indigenous Advisory Panel and Board of Trustees. We sincerely thank Reconciliation Australia for making this RAP possible. Importantly, we acknowledge the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, Trustees, artists and communities who, now and in the past, have lent their knowledge, experience and wisdom to QAGOMA with such generosity and insight. Striving toward reconciliation and truth-telling is an urgent imperative for Australia; from this small first step by the Gallery, we envision a contribution to a stronger and more just nation. MESSAGE FROM THE INDIGENOUS ADVISORY PANEL As the Chair of the Gallery's Indigenous Advisory Panel and a proud member of the Nunukul tribe of the Quandamooka people, I congratulate QAGOMA for taking this important step towards reconciliation: a plan of action that will guide the Gallery for the next two years. QAGOMA’s representation of Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and artists has increased over recent decades and significantly engaged the broader community through exhibitions and programs. The state art collection also continues to expand and be enriched by the acquisition and display of works by First Nations peoples from countries other than Australia, to the benefit of all Queenslanders. This document, the Gallery’s first Reconciliation Action Plan, formalises an existing commitment to recognising and celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ values and working towards meaningful reconciliation. The Indigenous Advisory Panel looks forward to working with Gallery staff to promote and deliver greater engagement with, opportunities for, and wider recognition of Australia’s First Peoples, whose contributions to visual art are and will continue to be integral to the culture of this country, now and into the future. Chris Saines CNZM Director Avril Quaill Chair, QAGOMA Indigenous Advisory Panel QAGOMA’s Indigenous Advisory Panel with QAGOMA staff, in front of Kaiadilt artist Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda Sally Gabori ’s Dibirdibi Country 2008 / Purchased 2008 with funds from Margaret Mittelheuser AM and Cathryn Mittelheuser AM through the QAG Foundation / Photograph: Chloë Callistemon / © Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda/Copyright Agency, 2022