Meet NAS’s Head of First Peoples Programs

Meet NAS’s Head of First Peoples Programs

2022-02-03

NAS is very happy to welcome to John Waight, our new Head of First Peoples Programs who starts on 21 February, 2022. John is from the Mangarayi people whose country is just outside Katherine. He has worked as Curator and Liaison Officer at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney and in Darwin was Manager of the Maningrida Arts and Culture Shop, and Curator of Aboriginal Art at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, where he delivered the 29th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award.

Most recently he was Artists in the Black Coordinator at the Arts Law Centre of Australia, and completed his Masters of Curation and Cultural Leadership at UNSW. John also sits on a number of cultural boards and committees, including Artback NT, Create NSW MultiArts, MAAS Indigenous Reference Committee, and the Sydney Culture Network.

As Head of First Peoples Programs at NAS, John will lead the development and coordination of First Peoples academic, community and public programs, policies and curricula. The role provides important leadership for First Peoples engagement and public advocacy at NAS, including the development of courses, student welfare and professional practice.

John will ensure First Peoples academic teachings and protocols are in place across the campus and in the public domain, working closely with Georgia Mokak, First Peoples Program Coordinator at NAS, the Executive Leadership Team, and academic and professional staff.

NAS Director and CEO Steven Alderton said, “I am very pleased to welcome John and look forward to his leadership as we build significant First Peoples programs at NAS.”

The appointment of the National Art School’s Head of First Peoples Program has been made possible through the generous support of the Oranges & Sardines Foundation.

Photo: Peter Morgan

‘Queer Contemporary: Chaosophy’, as part of Mardi Gras 2025, is now open until Saturday 8 March.

Curated by Dr Liz Bradshaw, with work by artists Kika Kereru Baker, Daniel Browning, Sam Chan, Blake Griffiths, Frankie L.A, nikita lelu, r e a, Victoria Spence, Jake Starr, Ali Tahayori, Magic Young and Justine Youssef.

Three generations of queer artists make and break language across the intersections of art, activism, poetry and performance. Through their individual aesthetics and distinct voices, together the artists disrupt histories, languages, conventional silences and institutional spaces, using and queering language to propose alternate perspectives on and interpretations of identity and ways of being.

11am – 5pm Monday to Saturday
Building 25 Project Space
Free admission, all welcome

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Feb 17

Open

Thank you to everyone who attended the opening night of ‘Queer Contemporary: Chaosophy’

‘Chaosophy’ is now open until Saturday 8 March
11am – 5pm Monday to Saturday
Building 25 Project Space
Free admission, all welcome

Learn more about the exhibition at the link in bio.

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Feb 14

Open

NAS Library is proud to launch their 2025 Library Stairwell Gallery programming with this years LSG show for Queer Contemporary, ‘Subtexts’, opening this Thursday 13 February.

‘Subtexts’ unites four artists whose work demonstrates the complexities of queer identity, each considering their own personal relationship with queerness. The show offers alternative narratives and styles that challenge notions of queer uniformity, opting to explore the undertones and implications of queerness as a dislocated front.

‘Subtexts’ asks of the ambiguous term; Are we united by virtue of our difference, or rather the unique positions it presents us?

Featuring works by
@professional__disoppointment
@sarah_r_serfati
@theolathouras
@ziggywoodartist

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Feb 9

Open

Three generations of queer artists make and break language across the intersections of art, activism, poetry and performance in ‘Queer Contemporary: Chaosophy’, as part of Mardi Gras 2025.

Through their individual aesthetics and distinct voices, together the artists disrupt histories, languages, conventional silences and institutional spaces, using and queering language to propose alternate perspectives on and interpretations of identity and ways of being.

Opening night Thursday 13 February, with special guests Swamp Daisies.

RSVP at link in the bio.
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Sam Chan, ‘Transfiguration’, 2024, Chillagoe White Pearl marble, mild steel, incense, image courtesy and © the artist, photograph: Jennifer Leahy (Silversalt)

Ali Tahayori, ’The four elements: fire, earth, water, air (detail)’, 2022, hand cut mirrors plaster on wood, image courtesy and © the artist, photograph: Daniel Kukec Photography

nikita lelu, ’I drip into a bath and drift’, 2024, glazed mid-fire paperclay, underglaze, terra sigillata, silver, image courtesy and © the artist, photograph: Jennifer Leahy (Silversalt Photography)

Magic Young, ‘Evulva’, 2024, nylon, image courtesy and © the artist, photograph: Jennifer Leahy (Silversalt)

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Feb 6

Open

Three generations of queer artists make and break language across the intersections of art, activism, poetry and performance in ‘Queer Contemporary: Chaosophy’, as part of Mardi Gras 2025. Through their individual aesthetics and distinct voices, together the artists disrupt histories, languages, conventional silences and institutional spaces, using and queering language to propose alternate perspectives on and interpretations of identity and ways of being. Opening night Thursday 13 February, with special guests Swamp Daisies. RSVP at link in the bio.
—
Sam Chan, ‘Transfiguration’, 2024, Chillagoe White Pearl marble, mild steel, incense, image courtesy and © the artist, photograph: Jennifer Leahy (Silversalt) Ali Tahayori, ’The four elements: fire, earth, water, air (detail)’, 2022, hand cut mirrors plaster on wood, image courtesy and © the artist, photograph: Daniel Kukec Photography nikita lelu, ’I drip into a bath and drift’, 2024, glazed mid-fire paperclay, underglaze, terra sigillata, silver, image courtesy and © the artist, photograph: Jennifer Leahy (Silversalt Photography) Magic Young, ‘Evulva’, 2024, nylon, image courtesy and © the artist, photograph: Jennifer Leahy (Silversalt)

We’re looking for an Exhibitions Project Officer!

The role has a focus on major Indigenous exhibition projects currently in development for the National Art School as well as touring programs. The role assists with the delivery and coordination of Gallery programs, talks, and other events in the gallery spaces.

You have a background in visual art, art history, curatorship and gallery experience. You have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, along with strong organisational and project management experience.

Note this is an Identified Role and is open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants only, in accordance with Section 14(D) of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act, 1977 NSW.

Application deadline extended to Sunday 9 February.

Apply at the link in bio.
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Ronan Pirozzi, `Serpentine`, 2023; `Trajectory`, 2023; `Desolate`, 2023; installation view, undo the day, NAS Gallery, Sydney, 2024, oil on welded steel, image courtesy and © the artist, photograph: Zan Wimberley

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Feb 2

Open

We’re looking for an Exhibitions Project Officer! The role has a focus on major Indigenous exhibition projects currently in development for the National Art School as well as touring programs. The role assists with the delivery and coordination of Gallery programs, talks, and other events in the gallery spaces. You have a background in visual art, art history, curatorship and gallery experience. You have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, along with strong organisational and project management experience. Note this is an Identified Role and is open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants only, in accordance with Section 14(D) of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act, 1977 NSW. Application deadline extended to Sunday 9 February. Apply at the link in bio.
—
Ronan Pirozzi, 'Serpentine', 2023; 'Trajectory', 2023; 'Desolate', 2023; installation view, undo the day, NAS Gallery, Sydney, 2024, oil on welded steel, image courtesy and © the artist, photograph: Zan Wimberley

The National Art School has today announced respected Australian academic, writer and curator Dr Kristen Sharp as the next Director and Chief Executive Officer.

Kristen joins the National Art School with extensive experience in the fields of contemporary art and tertiary education having spent six years as Associate Dean Discipline, Art in the School of Art at RMIT University, and previously 9 years as Academic Lead Art History and Theory at RMIT. She will commence her new role at the National Art School on 24th February 2025.

Read the full media release at the link in bio.

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Jan 30

Open

Meet NAS’s Head of First Peoples Programs