4 June, 2019

In a first for the region, TAFE NSW Ulladulla students are being offered cultural art skills by a leading Aboriginal artist and teacher.

Students are learning traditional Aboriginal art techniques with the potential to use their skills to supply a growing visitor market on the South Coast. More than 6000 new tourism and experience-related jobs are forecast in southern and south-western NSW by 2021, according to the TAFE NSW Jobs of the Future report.

The first enrolments in the Ngulla Storytelling Through Art, a seven-week Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Arts short course, are beaming with pride at the artistic skills they have learned.

TAFE NSW student Gayle Nolan credits her teacher, Glenn Duffield, with helping her discover a hidden talent she never knew she had.

“I was surprised after a few weeks I could paint,” Mrs Nolan said.

“I enrolled in this course without any artistic skills. It is very inspiring to work with someone as talented as Glenn and to have him teach me a number of Aboriginal art techniques and tips.”

Mr Duffield is proud to share his artistic skills and knowledge with his students and he has plenty to offer.

Throughout his career he has had an art piece acquired by the National Gallery of Australia, has been a finalist in the Parliament of NSW Aboriginal Art Prize for five consecutive years, and has exhibited and curated exhibitions as well as being involved in many South Coast community art projects.

Mr Duffield gained his formal qualifications at TAFE NSW, where he completed Certificate III and IV in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Arts he then graduated with a TAFE NSW Diploma in Visual Arts.

“I went from being a student to becoming a teacher, it’s a real highlight of my career,” Mr Duffield said.

“It’s fantastic to help the students grow their artistic talent. I’m there to pass on and share what I know and it’s wonderful to see what the students can do with it. A lot of them feel really proud of what they can do.”

Local artist Leanne Brook helps co-ordinate the Giriwa Garawanga Aboriginal Art Gallery at the Ulladulla Local Aboriginal Land Council.

She said it was a gallery for the community and welcomed Aboriginal art created by the TAFE NSW Ulladulla students.

“We are supporting the students, and we also have a relationship with the Ulladulla Visitors Information Centre who recently decided to start removing fake Aboriginal art, so there is a potential market there,” Ms Brook said.

 “There are quite a few skilled Aboriginal artists in the community and this TAFE NSW course will help others discover their talent. There is definitely a demand for more Aboriginal art classes.”

More information about TAFE NSW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Arts and other semester two courses is available at www.tafensw.edu.au or by phoning 131 601.

Media contact: Adam Wright, TAFE NSW Media Officer, 4421 9895, mobile 0466 375 552.