Walantanalinany Palingina

Walantanalinany Palingina

WAPA is a Tasmanian Aboriginal community multi arts initiative, motivated by conversations and dreams that have existed in our community for many many years. WAPA is the short name version of Walantanalinany Palingina.

In 2016 a group of Aboriginal community members with the support of Contemporary Art Tasmania (CAT), sat around the table in conversation. What emerged was a clear desire to form a program that included:

• A multi-arts outcome

• Partnerships

• Mentoring & development opportunities

• Engagement of young & emergent practitioners

• Established artists working with young and emergent practitioners, embracing intergenerational transference of knowledge

• Events showcasing traditional to contemporary art forms

• Being challenging, provocative & brave

A shared commitment and excitement at putting contemporary Aboriginal Arts Practice at the foreground of Tasmanian arts practice was ignited.

The ‘We’re Here!  A Tasmanian Aboriginal Multi-Arts Program’ was birthed, under the banner of Walantanalinany Palingina (WAPA). The program focused on development and capacity building projects that nurtured us toward longer term visions of a ‘Place – a Tasmanian Aboriginal Multi-Arts Organisation’, and, a ‘Festival of First Nations’.