Ngumpie Weaving

Terms 2 & 4

  • Schools
  • Kids & Families
  • Creative Arts
  • History
  • Society and Culture
  • Centre for Creativity
  • Run time – 75 minutes

First Nations weaving, story and culture

In this creative weaving workshop, students learn about First Nation traditions from Australia’s first STEM knowledge makers. Reflecting upon the importance of weaving and how Aboriginal people have used this craft to weave important things for their people to source food and provide for family, students learn different weaving techniques and how all mobs across Australia use similar ways of weaving. 

First Nations weaving is a traditional practice of purposeful and sustainable making. Aboriginal people use natural materials such as long grasses, gumnuts, flowers and leaves to weave baskets for gathering food and other materials, as coolamons to carry babies or place ochres in for painting in ceremony, as well as for decorative reasons for performance, corroboree and to express their identity. 

In this way, students will connect with a living First Nations practice, on the traditional lands known as Tubowgule, a site renown for corrobboree, song and dance well before the Sydney Opera House building was built.

What to expect

  • Explore First Nations identity and cultural practices throughout time, and their relationship to nature, place and materials.
  • Learn about First Nations agricultural and sustainable practices such as weaving and other tool-making techniques.
  • Create woven bracelets, dilly bags and wearable pieces using natural fibres, seeds, leaves and flowers. 

All materials for this workshop will be provided.

Thank you to The Greatorex Fund for enabling the development of STEAM creative learning programs in the Centre for Creativity

Sydney Opera House presents Ngumpie Weaving led by Barkindtji, Maraura, Yorta Yorta and Duduroa artist Tegan Murdock

Event details

I want my weaving circles to help break down barriers between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Tegan Murdock

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Attending this event

Plan your visit

Address

Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia

Getting to the venue

The Opera House is a 7-10 minute walk from Circular Quay, and is easily accessible by car, train, ferry, lightrail, bus, bike and on foot.

Location and access

Centre for Creativity

The Centre for Creativity is located at the end of the Western Foyers, next to the Drama Theatre. Best accessed through the Western Foyers entry.

All Sydney Opera House foyers are accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers. The public lift to all foyers is accessible from the corridor near the escalators on the Lower Concourse and also in the Western Foyer via the corridor on the Ground Level (at the top of the escalators).

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