Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board members

Dr Chris Sarra Qld, chair

From Bundaberg, Chris Sarra has been Principal of Cherbourg State School, a regional Aboriginal community school in Queensland, since 1998. During this time, he has developed highly innovative strategies to combat problems such as low results in literacy and numeracy, with amazing results. His academic research interests include Aboriginal identity within a contemporary society. Chris was named Suncorp Queenslander of the Year in 2004. He is a NAIDOC and Deadly Award winner and Australian of the Year finalist in 2005.

Rosie Barkus Torres Strait

Rosie Barkus is a self-taught textile designer and printer and is based on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait. Her works have been exhibited extensively both nationally and internationally and are inspired by her culture, the maritime history of the Torres Strait and the marine and beautiful island environment that surrounds her. In 2001 she was winner of the prestigious national Jaguar New Australian Designers of the Future award and, in 2006 was named the Torres Strait Islander Citizen of the Year. While on the board, Rosie looks forward to raising the profile of Torres Strait artists and craftspeople along with their arts and crafts.

Richard Frankland Vic

Richard Frankland is one of Australia’s most experienced Indigenous singer/songwriter and filmmakers. His film and stage credits include Who killed Malcolm Smith, No Way To Forget, After Mabo, Harry's War, Conversations With The Dead and An Evening With Richard Frankland. Richard is also an acclaimed musician whose music features on the soundtracks to many of his films. Richard has written, directed and produced a wide range of films, documentaries stage productions and has toured nationally as a musician.

Jeanette James Tas

Jeanette James is a traditional shell necklace stringer who has inherited the tradition from her mother, one of three elders regarded as senior custodians of the Palawa tradition. Jeanette James’ necklaces have been nationally recognised with a Telstra Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander award in 2000. She has exhibited in the Darwin Museum, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery Launceston and her work has been acquired by private and public collections across Australia.

Djambawa Marawili NT

Djambawa Marawili is a successful visual artist, community leader and arts administrator. He has won major art awards and is represented in most major Australian institutional collections and several important overseas public and private collections. Djambawa is a leader of the Madarrpa clan and a caretaker for the spiritual wellbeing of his own and related clans. He is a committee and board member of numerous organisations including chairperson of Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Centre 1994-2000 and director of the Association of Northern and Kimberley Aboriginal Artists Association.

Lynette Narkle WA

Lynette Narkle is a highly respected performer and director of Indigenous theatre and film. She has been a pivotal force in theatre since the early days of Jack Davis when she acted in Dreamers (1973), Kullark (1978) and No Sugar (1985). Her film and television credits include Heartlands (1994), Natural Justice (1996), Heat (1996), Jackaroo (1990), and Southern Cross (2001). She has worked as a director with the acclaimed Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company directing Ooh La Nah Nyungah (1996), Donkalonk (1996) and Aliwa (2000). She also worked for Screen West to increase the engagement of Indigenous filmmakers with screen culture.

Gina Rings SA

Gina Rings is a freelance dancer and choreographer and is currently project manager for Ausdance SA Indigenous Dance Alliance. She was a performer with Bangarra Dance Theatre between 1994 and 1998 and toured again with them in 2002. In 2002 she was also project manager for the Indigenous School for New Media Arts and received a NAIDOC award for work within the Aboriginal community. Gina has experience in writing, new media and film. She has appeared in several short films as a dancer and actor, has directed a music video clip and this year is working with Home and Away writers as part of an AFC TV Writers Initiative.

Tara June Winch (youth representative) NSW

Tara June Winch is a young writer who’s accolades include the Maureen Donohue Award for Queensland Young Writers Award (2003) and David Unaipon Award for Indigenous Writers (2003). Her first novel Swallow the Air received the 2006 Victoria Premier’s Award for Indigenous Literature and was short listed for the Age book of the year.