News

Internal Landscapes - Tupun Wultatinyeri–Kungullun

Tupun Wultatinyeri selected for ‘Internal Landscapes’ Exhibition at The Dax Centre

We are thrilled to announce that Tupun Wultatinyeri, a proud Ngarrindjeri/Kukabrak man will feature in Internal Landscapes, a powerful First Nations art exhibition at The Dax Centre presented in collaboration with The Wilin Centre and supported by the City of Melbourne Arts Grants. A Journey of Healing Through Art Tupun began painting in late 2022 as

Lightscape Melbourne

Lightscape Melbourne

This winter, as The Royal Botanic Gardens transforms into a wonderland of light and sound with Lightscape Melbourne, The Torch is proud to be a part of the magic! From 20 June – 10 August 2025, wander the illuminated trail and immerse yourself in a unique cultural experience alongside the dazzling light displays. Nestled beside

Confined 16 Awards Winner Tupun Wultatinyeri receives the Dennis Thorpe Award

Confined 16 Awards Winners

The Torch is proud to announce the winners of this year’s Confined 16 Awards, recognising the incredible talent and growth of First Nations artists participating in The Torch’s In-Prison and In-Community programs. These awards highlight artistic excellence, cultural storytelling, and personal growth, supporting artists in their creative and professional journeys. 🎨 2025 Confined 16 Award

Sir Doug Nicholls Round Boots

Artists Alisha F and Roey Design Sir Doug Nicholls Round Boots for Geelong Cats

Wadawurrung artist Alisha F and Warumungu/Yawuru artist Roey have created stunning bespoke Sir Doug Nicholls Round boots as part of a commission for Geelong Cats players. These unique designs honour the legacy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander contributions to the AFL. A Special Connection to Country and Club Indigenous Arts Officer Paul Kelly helped

Uncle Gordon Syron stands beside his painting Judgement by His Peers 1978 which is on display at Heide Museum of Modern Art as part of the exhibition Blak In-Justice: Incarceration and Resilience' presented by The Torch and Heide

‘Bridge Now to Next’ this Reconciliation Week

“I challenged the jury system of Australia. I asked that I be judged by my peers and your peers as your equals. I asked to have some Aboriginal people on my jury. One lawyer said that I wasn’t black enough to be black and the other lawyer said that I wasn’t white enough to be

Thelma Beeton

Takariliya – Thelma Beeton’s first solo exhibition

We are thrilled to announce Takariliya — meaning “family”, the first solo exhibition of Palawa artist Thelma Beeton. Launching on Thursday 17 April, at Fitzroy Library and running until 20 July 2025. This exhibition centres on her maternal family, starting with her grandparents and extending to her great-nephew. It is a testament to Thelma’s dedication

A woman walks through an art gallery featuring red hanging sculptures and a woven rug on a circular platform.

Anniversary of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody

The personal stories shared through artworks offer a moving counterpoint to the dehumanising statistics often associated with the anniversary of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. Today, we invite you to reflect on some of the artworks and stories presented in Blak In-Justice: Incarceration and Resilience, and remember that behind every number is

Closing The Gap - A vibrant painting featuring dragonflies and flowers in orange, white, and yellow on a red and patterned background.

Closing The Widening Gap | How to Respond to Alarming Statistics

One year after our last article on National Closing The Gap Day and only 4 of the 19 Closing The Gap targets are on track. This is a disappointing drop from last year and highlights the ongoing serious disparities faced by First Nations people in Australia’s legal system. The Closing The Gap 2024 report released

The women we work with are not only exceptional artists, but also powerful change-makers in their communities. This year, our amazing Arts Officer, Flick Chafer-Smith, launched Tiddas Group— a deadly group open to all women in our program. The group meets monthly to yarn, learn, share, and create together. If you’re a woman artist in our program, we’d love for you to join us at our next gatherings, held from 2–4pm on 17 March, 14 April, and 12 May at The Torch, 146 Elgin Street, Carlton. Get in touch with Flick, on 03 9042 1236 to learn more.

Celebrating First Nations Women | International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is an important day to not only celebrate the remarkable women who inspire us daily—whether they’re artists in our program, Elders, Aunties, mothers, sisters, daughters, or friends—it is also a time to stand together in the fight for gender equity and justice. This year’s theme ‘Accelerate Action’ urges us to push forward,

Artist B.P.G (Nari Nari/Wemba Wemba people) at Future Dreaming 2024, The Torch Gallery, Carlton. Photographed by Tiffany Garvie

Brodie Peters-Godden joins the team as First Nations Trainee – Operations Support

The Torch is delighted to welcome Nari Nari/Wemba Wemba artist Brodie Peters-Godden to the team as First Nations Trainee – Operations Support. Brodie Peters-Godden is a proud Nari Nari/Wemba Wemba man who grew up in Mildura. Since joining The Torch’s program in 2023, Brodie has embarked on a transformative journey, overcoming significant challenges and is