Solid Lines drawing a pathway for First Nations illustrators 

Solid Lines drawing a pathway for First Nations illustrators 

Australia’s only First Nations led agency dedicated to representing First Nations illustrators and artists has been created by two RMIT academics.

Solid Lines illustration agency marks a major milestone for protecting Indigenous cultural and intellectual property (ICIP) within design and digital spaces. 

It will provide First Nations artists with a culturally safe pathway into the industry and educate the design and commercial art community to understand the requirements for engaging with First Nations creatives within commercial settings. 

The agency is an outcome of a research conducted by Emrhan Tjapanangka Sultan (Western Arrarnta, Luritja and Kokatha) and Dr Nicola St John, with the support of First Nations artists and The Jacky Winter Group.

Their research explored current experiences, challenges, and opportunities for First Nations access and participation within the design and commercial art industries through direct First Nations engagement.  

Artist Tyrown Waigana in front of 3 illustrations at the Lamington Drive gallery space Wandandi Noongar and Ait Koleda artist Tyrown Waigana contributed to the research by sharing his experiences and reimagining a more supportive design and commercial art industry for First Nations voices. Photo: RMIT University

St John says currently there are no licensing or production guidelines to ICIP within design and digital spaces, despite the prominence of visual arts-based guidelines and protocols (for example ArtsLaw, the Indigenous Art Code, and the Copyright Agency).   

“Our research has led to real world impact in establishing Solid Lines directly alongside First Nations artists and industry. This agency is ground-breaking in how the business structure, commissions and ICIP policy have been collaboratively established with transparency and cultural integrity at the heart,” she said. 

“Solid Lines creates a culturally safe pathway into commercial design industries, but also acts as a space to inform the design and commercial art community on the diversity of First Nations creative practice and how to engage respectfully and meaningfully within commercial settings.” 

 “Ensuring supportive representation, appropriate payment and protection we aim to generate respectful employment opportunities and long-term careers within industries which have often been ignorant of or refused to engage with First Nations ways of working.” 

A person with headphones on watching an animation as part of the exhibition Solid Lines launch exhibition is on at Lamington Drive until 31 July 2022. Photo: RMIT University

Sultan says Solid Lines will begin as an incubator project with The Jacky Winter Group and will be primed to grow into an independent First Nations owned and run agency in the near future. 

“Solid Lines is leading the way for change and strengthening respectful relationships and opportunities in a marginalised creative design industry,” he said.  

“It’s a platform to showcase First Nations artists and creatives and ensure they will be represented fairly within the commercial art industries.”  

“As part of this process, we listened and heard from First Nations creatives at the grass roots level who highlighted where we needed to start and what values needed to be at the heart of this venture.”  

Solid Lines launched 24 June 2022 with an exhibition at Lamington Drive, Collingwood. The exhibition will run until 31 July 2022. 

 

Story by: Katie Comas

06 July 2022

Share

06 July 2022

Share

  • Indigenous
  • Arts and culture
Engage

Related News

news-coffeeconcretesupport-1220px.jpg

Coffee concrete shortlisted for national research impact award

Universities Australia has shortlisted RMIT University’s coffee concrete innovators for the upcoming 2024 Shaping Australia Awards in the Problem Solver category.

Screenshot from “We breath underwater” by Vigo

Creative video works envision inclusive futures for Arts Centre Melbourne initiative

Artworks by RMIT students have been selected to feature in Alter State, a disability-led arts initiative celebrating Deaf and Disabled artists, creativity and culture.

5 people standing together in front of wooden wall

How stories and poetry are reconnecting cultures across the Asia-Pacific

A series of events in Melbourne this October bring together First Nations and non-Indigenous writers, poets and scholars from across the Asia-Pacific.

streaming-1220x732.jpg

What does Australian film and TV look like after nearly ten years of streaming?

RMIT University brings together researchers and screen industry to look at changes in our film and TV audience habits, streaming strategies, and policy recommendations.

Show more
aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

More information