- Art Gallery of WA
The Art Gallery of Western Australia, situated in the James Street Cultural Precinct, exhibits, collects and manages the most significant public art collection in the state, the State Art Collection, including one of the most pre-eminent indigenous art collections in the country. The Art Gallery has a strong exhibitions program with a range of national and international artist’s work exhibited, as well as ongoing displays highlighting aspects of the State art Collection. The Art Gallery of Western Australia’s vision is to be a centre of excellence in the visual arts that contributes regionally and internationally to a living culture in Western Australia. - Artsource
The Artists Foundation of WA Inc. A service organization for artists providing quality service combined with inspirational delivery - Ethnic Communities Council
ECCWA is the state’s peak ethnic umbrella organization. Non- government, non-profit community based organization which takes an active interest in all aspects of Multiculturalism and Ethnic Affairs and acts on behalf of all ethnic communities in WA - Museum WA
Equips all Western Australians to better understand themselves, their environment [natural, social and built] and their place in the world. Museums throughout the state develop informative, interesting and vital programs to improve the generation and communication of our knowledge and to assist in building sustainable awareness and appreciation of the natural environment and cultural heritage. - National Council of Women of WA Inc
National Council of Women is a voluntary organization working for the advancement of women, their families and the community. Membership is open to individuals and like-minded organizations. A network of standing committees address important issues. - Office for Multicultural Interests
The Office for Multicultural Interests' vision is an inclusive Western Australia where all individuals and groups participate equitably in a spirit of mutual respect. - Royal WA Historical Society
Was formed in 1926 to give present and future generations access to the history of Western Australia - State Library of WA
The State Library of Western Australia aims to enrich the lives of Western Australians by 1) enabling access to resources for information, learning, enterprise and recreation and 2) collecting and preserving our social and documentary heritage for current and future generations. Our priority areas are capturing the Western Australian story, enriching client experiences, making content more accessible, developing partnerships and community connections and enhancing the public library network.
- Genealogical Team
This team checks the genealogical dates of each person detailed in the book. The team is led by Judith Parker who also is chair of the steering committee. Other members include Bridget Faye and Peg Martin.
This team of volunteers is providing authenticated biographical dates for the lead researcher (e.g., Birth Date, Marriage Date(s), Children, Date of Death).
- Team Leader, Judith A. Parker AM Genealogical Researcher
Judith has for the past 30 years researched her family history with a particular interest in hereditary diseases. She is a past management committee member of the WA Genealogical Society and was co-ordinator of the planning committee for the International Australasian Genealogical Conference held in Perth in 2000 - Bridget Faye AM
Bridget has been very interested in researching family histories, which has been made easier since the advent of the Internet. Her paternal family traces back unbroken to 1066 and her maternal families' histories go back only for three generations so far; difficulties arise because women lose their maiden name on marriage! - Peg Martin
Western Australian with a keen interest in history. Retired TAFE teacher. Peg has a BA from UWA majoring in History and English. She is an active member of National Council of Women of WA
The Steering Commitee, which looks after the day-to-day running of the project, consists of:
- Judith Parker (NCWWA)
Chairperson - Pam Ryder (NCWWA)
Secretary - Di Yarrall (Art Gallery of WA)
Publicity - Jude van der Merwe
Artsource - Rona Chadwick
Starfish Consulting
The Steering Committee is assisted from time to time by the lead researcher, Dr Robyn Taylor, and other consultants with knowledge in specialized areas.
The concept for this project originated from a public seminar organised by the National Council of Women of WA entitled "Arts and Culture—Who Needs Them?"
In preparing an abbreviated version of a ‘Roll of Honour’ for distribution at the seminar acknowledging the contribution that women have made to the arts - in all its disciplines - in WA since colonisation, it was found that no such definitive work on this subject existed. This was confirmed by subsequent research undertaken by the WA Centre for Research for Women.
NCW WA therefore undertook the task of preparing profiles on a selection of women who have made a significant contribution to the arts in WA, including the contribution of indigenous women who have gained prominence since the latter part of the 20th century. This history will be recorded in a number of ways - a book, website etc - for use by the public. It is anticipated that this project will be of interest to historians, policy makers, academics, students, community groups, historical societies, women’s groups, and all of the general public who have an interest in any form of the arts. The formation of a website allows for data to be updated, and for the future inclusion of further names.
A Consortium, with the National Council of Women of WA as the lead organization was formed of members from a number of relevant key organisations, which reflected the wider interest of the community in this work, to assist with the preparation of this project.
The HONOURING CREATIVE WOMEN IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA project proposes to research and document in various forms those creative women who have made a significant contribution to the arts (in all its disciplines) in WA since colonisation up to the present day. This research will be of the highest standard, and at its completion there will exist a body of work that will be presented to the community in various forms. The contribution of women to the arts in WA, and thus our rich cultural heritage, has been seriously under-acknowledged and is also in danger of being lost to future generations.
At the end of this project these future generations, and the WA community, will have access to a comprehensive and easy-to-access record. This record will showcase WA arts locally, nationally and internationally, and will be the first record of its type.
Artists
- The artist’s product needs to meet certain criteria, such as creativity and imagination
- Need to be the original creative source of the work
- The creator needs to have public recognition by a premier Arts body/bodies
- Needs to have widespread recognition by other organisations such as feminist/women’s organisations
- Can have statewide, national or international recognition
- Works can be held by such organisations as major Art galleries
What is West Australian?
- Can be resident in WA
- Has made a significant contribution to the arts in WA
- Spent a significant productive period in WA, and/or included WA in their creative work
- Identifies as West Australian
Categories to be included ...
Performance
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Writing
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Architecture
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Visual Arts and Design
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Supporters & Mentors |
Conclusion
At the workshop there was a good deal of discussion on which categories should be included and which omitted. The project needs to be confined to women who have made a significant creative contribution to the arts in WA.
What criteria makes a contribution significant?
It was felt a significant contribution in this context should make a sustained, deliberate and far-reaching contribution. This could be by means of production of work and/ or support for the arts.
Possible names for inclusion are gathered from a number of sources – the general public, community groups, key organisations/individuals in a particular field of the arts etc. These names are then submitted to the Steering Committee for general discussion, then all are sent to the key organisations for their comment.
The selection is made in batches, maintaining where possible a balance between the various disciplines of the arts.
Dr Robyn Taylor, MPHA
Robyn works as a historian and heritage consultant. Her special areas of interest are Western Australian art, architecture and cultural heritage. After a number of years lecturing in Art History at various tertiary institutions in Perth, she established her own consultancy practice in 1992. Since that time she has curated several art exhibitions including the Art Gallery of Western Australia’s centenary exhibition 'One Hundred Years' of Western Australian Sculpture”, ‘Living on the Edge’ for the opening of the WA Maritime Museum, and a retrospective on the well-known sculptor Hans Arkeveld. For a number of years she was co-author of Craftwest with renowned jeweller and historian Dr Dorothy Erickson. Robyn has a particular interest in researching the history of the visual arts in Western Australia and was delighted to be chosen as the researcher and writer for the ‘Honouring Creative Wom en’ project. She sees this project as offering an invaluable opportunity to find out about the contributions of the many talented women throughout Western Australia’s history and for this knowledge to be made available to the public.
Trisha Kotai-Ewers
For Trisha Kotai-Ewers involvement in this project to honour Western Australia's creative women seems a natural extension of her own life. The only daughter of author John K. Ewers, foundation president of the Fellowship of Australian Writers (WA) of which Trisha is currently acting President, and studio potter Jean Ewers, join founder of the Perth Potters Club, Trisha joined the WA Ballet Company at the age of fourteen, and at 20 understudied Terri Charlesworth in Giselle, dancing the role with guest dancer Robert Pomie. She danced the Prelude in 'Les Sylphides' with Ballet Workshop before the birth of the first of three daughters, after which she danced with the Keskeno Hungarian Dance Group.
In the early 1970's, Trisha studied fabric design and was Secretary of the newly established Craft Association. During the 1980's and 90's, she sang with the Perth Oratorio Choir and became president of the Fellowship of Writers in 1988. Her first book published in 2007 drew on her experience as writer in residence with people with dementia. Trisha has a B.A in languages and an MPhil in Medieval and Renaissance Studies. For twenty years she taught French in government and independent schools.
Trisha is currently completing a doctoral thesis at Murdoch University on the first forty years of the Fellowship of Australian Writers in WA
Lynn Fisher
Lynn Fisher's career is a patchwork quilt stitched together with the threads of dance, research and history. She spent her early adult years studying contemporary dance with leading performers in her native Canada, the US and London. Evolving into a dance academic, she studied with inspirational dace pioneers including Dr Juana de Laban (UCLA), Dr Iris Fanger (Harvard) and Dr Marion North (Laban Centre, Uni of London). Lynn has a Master of Education (Uni of Alberta) and Master of Arts (UWA); both degrees researched aspects of dance.
Lynn's scholarly works appear in many journals and reference texts; her specialist area is the social and economic history of dance in Western Australia. Her history commissions include 25 oral histories for the State Library, the history of tourism in WA and a family history published in 2008. She collaborated on the reconstruction and performance of WA pioneer Linley Wilson 1939 ballet, The Immortals, at the WA Academy of Performing Artsr (WAAPA) in 1992
Lynn spent 20 years lecturing in dance education, history, journalism and philosophy at ECU (Churchlands College) and later in the Dance Department at WAAPA. She was the dance reviewer for The West Australian from 1988 to 1995
Lynn's management jobs in community organisations included work for the Paraplegic-Quadriplegic Association, Perth International Arts Festival, Girl Guides WA and volunteering WA. She recently joined the Department for Communities (volunteering section) where she managed a major research project, The Economic Value of Volunteering in WA
Lynn is an Honorary Life Member of Ausdance WA, the peak body for dance. She was a Board Member of Ausdance WA for 15 years, including in the role of President and served two years as National Vice President of Ausdance Australia. She is a past Chair of the Graduate College of Dance. Lynn's idea of a dream job is researching the creative women who made a huge contribution to WA's performing arts.. Lucky Lynn.