Following almost 12 months of consultation with staff and artists at The Torch, we are proud to announce a new title for our frontline team: First Peoples Arts Mentors (formerly Indigenous Arts Officers).
This change comes in response to feedback that our team’s work is grounded in support, cultural care and artistic mentoring for artists both in prison and in the community, and the term ‘Officers’ carried unintended associations with police officers or prison officers.
First Peoples Arts Mentors will continue to be the community, cultural and artistic connection for artists engaging with our program. This new title honours the significance of the relationships they build at The Torch and the impact they have in the lives of the artists we work with.
We currently have six First Peoples Arts Mentors:
- Clare Williams (Wiradjuri people)
- Matty Chilly (Wemba-Wemba, Neri-Neri, Yiti-Yiti, Mutti-Mutti, Wuradjuri, Yorta-Yorta, Watti-Watti, Barapa-Barapa and Gubbi Gubbi peoples)
- Paul Kelly (Gunditjmara people)
- Flick Chafer-Smith (Ngarrindjeri people)
- Daniel Laird (Wiradjuri/Ngiyampaa peoples)
- Marli Maddison (Budjiti/Kunja peoples)
This team is led by Program Manager, Sharn Geary (Bundjalung people) and supported by Cultural Researcher, Joel Birnie.
Together, our First Peoples Arts Mentors deliver The Torch’s program across all Victorian prisons and throughout the community, engaging approximately 800 artists each year.