News
2019 Dhumbadha Munga Exhibition Launch
The Torch had a fantastic night last night, celebrating the launch of our exhibition Dhumbadha Munga: Talking Knowledge at Metro Gallery. Five of our post-release artists that featured in the exhibition were there on the night: Kelvin Rogers, Renee Gray, Ash Thomas, Ralph Rogers and Marbukk, with Kelvin also making a terrific speech talking about
Have you seen The Torch tram around?
It’s carrying an important message As one of the eight recipients of the 2019 Yarra Trams Community Partnerships Program, The Torch has chosen to use this valuable brand exposure as an opportunity to shine a light on one of our country’s most harrowing statistics — the rate of incarceration amongst Indigenous Australians. First Nations Australians
‘The Art of Incarceration’ sells out
We are thrilled to announce that the Australian premiere of ‘The Art of Incarceration’, a feature documentary exploring The Torch’s Indigenous Arts in Prisons and Community program, has sold out! The screening is taking place on closing night of the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival (Sunday 28th of July) and will be followed by an Q&A
Confined 10 celebrated on ABC TV
In our 10th anniversary year, watch post-release artists Chris Austin and Kim Kennedy chat about how the program has shaped their lives. Thank you to the ABC breakfast team for a thoughtful story which also includes an interview with The Torch CEO Kent Morris. This story originally aired 30 Jan 2019.
2019 Yarra Trams Community Partner!
The Torch is very excited to have been chosen as one of eight Yarra Trams Community Partners for 2019! The Torch will be featuring artwork created from our program on one of Melbourne’s trams in 2019. Stay tuned to see our tram wrap on the world’s largest tram network next year! Our video application for
The Torch Collection book launch
Jeff Kennett launched The Torch’s very first publication on Thursday 13th December 2018! The Torch has published a stunning, hard copy coffee table book ‘Indigenous Artists, A Selection of the Best – THE TORCH COLLECTION’. This book celebrates the strength of artwork created through the program in 152 pages, featuring 126 artworks from 77 men
First recipients of the Palais Theatre Community Fund!
The Torch is pleased to be one of the very first recipients of the Palais Theatre Community Fund! Thanks to the Palais Theatre, Live Nation and City of Port Phillip. These funds will go towards custom built storage units to help The Torch store increased artworks from participants in our program at our office in
Wurreker Award Winners 2018!
The Torch recently won the Community Based Employer Award at the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated (VAEAI) Wurreker Awards. Wurreker means message carriers in Wemba Wemba language and the Wurreker Awards encourage, celebrate and promote excellence in Koorie education and training. As a small organisation it is a great achievement for The Torch to be
Torch artists represented at Norton Rose Fulbright’s RAW Exhibition
The Torch was invited to showcase four of our artists at Norton Rose Fulbright’s RAW exhibition in their Melbourne office on the 22nd August 2018. Norton Rose Fulbright is a global legal firm and as part of their commitment to Reconciliation under their Reconciliation Action Plan they held an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and
Victorian art in prison program ‘helped me get back to my country’, former inmate says
Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass is reminded every time she walks into her Melbourne offices of her recommendation three years ago to allow prisoners to sell their artwork for profit. Robby Wirramanda is the first person from The Torch’s Indigenous Arts in Prison and Community program to be employed by The Torch to help support In