Careers in the Arts Handbook
Aboriginal arts are inherently interdisciplinary and are part of our living culture.
STORYTELLING & WRITING: Since the beginning of time, tribal and family legends and stories have been told in the language of the people. These stories recount our histories and are often told in a way that incorporates music, song, dance and props.
MUSIC & SONG; DANCE: Our traditional songs and music are always accompanied by dance, and as such, always include special regalia, clothing and props.
VISUAL: Wearable art, adornments, masks, woven items, clothing and other special ‘visual arts’ objects have always been a part of our traditional ceremonies and part of our everyday lives. They are presented alongside our songs, dances and stories.
THEATRE: Our traditional ceremonial spaces are our ‘theatres’. As part of visual art works, the theatrical setting is created through set design, creation of props, special effects, training and rehearsals. An ancient script is followed to ensure the traditions are carried out appropriately with all protocols intact. These same principles apply in modern Aboriginal theatre.
MEDIA: media has become a modern tool for our artists. Ceremonies can be recorded and studied; artists can now retell ancient legends through animation, film and video. The restoration and re-mastering of archival recordings has also enabled artists from all disciplines to study their respective traditions and to embark upon creation of new works.
In traditional times and now in modern times, there were also people who coordinated, organized and managed logistics with the artists—these are arts managers, administrators, and coordinators, and there are many careers in this field as well.
The following pages provide a snapshot of just some of the career possibilities within each artistic discipline.
Also check out the list of arts training and educational institutions that offer related training and education programs.
