# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
AGSA - The Art Gallery of South Australia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Aligned with the Australian Curriculum, this publication encourages educators to prioritise artists and their stories, make connections to the lives of students at all levels and expose them to the diversity of art made by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. The 316-page second volume builds on the success the 156-page first volume which sold over 5,000 copies nationwide.

The second volume adds new content, features over 50 First Nation artists and writers and provides more examples of classroom projects and case studies nationwide from reception to Year 11. This publication highlights how works of art can be used as a starting point for learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and culture through a variety of learning areas including English, Design, History and Science.
AGSA's education programs are supported by the Government of South Australia through the Department for Education. Tarnanthi is presented in partnership with BHP and with the support of the Government of South Australia.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A percentage of the profits from sales of this book will go to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Art Gallery of South Australia houses one of Australia’s most stunning art collections. Its outstanding collection of 38,000 works covers Australian, European, North American, and Asian art.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Art Gallery of South Australia houses one of Australia’s most stunning art collections. Its outstanding collection of 38,000 works covers Australian, European, North American, and Asian art.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
AGSA - The Art Gallery of South Australia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Browse our online galleries of student work created in response to works of art, exhibitions and education resources.

If you have student work you would like to submit for our online galleries see our submission guidelines.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Works of art created by children and young people

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
AGSA - The Art Gallery of South Australia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Extend your Start experience at home with these activities

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
AGSA - The Art Gallery of South Australia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Seeing works of art in situ and engaging with primary sources is an effective strategy for learning about the skills, techniques, materials and processes used by artists, and in turn can be used by students in their own work.

Sometimes seeing the detail in a painting or print, the texture of a surface or the scale of a sculpture can only be appreciated when in front of the work itself. Works of art are ideal platforms to talk about our collective history while simultaneously exploring what is happening in the world today.

Contact AGSA Education via email or T 8 8207 7033

Guides are currently in high demand and requests for Guided Tours in Term 3 (August and September) are now closed. Exceptions may be given to equity listed or regional schools, subject to availability.

We welcome Guided Tour requests from October onwards.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Pre and post visit activities as well as how to read a wall label

# data[].attributes.headline
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Resources

# data[].attributes.subject
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Resources

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
AGSA - The Art Gallery of South Australia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Incorporate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art into your classroom

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
AGSA - The Art Gallery of South Australia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Artist Videos and Talks

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
AGSA - The Art Gallery of South Australia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
While we prioritise 'long looking' at works of art, a wall label can provide you with some valuable information about an artist, where they are from, their age and where and when the work of art was made. This information can be 'drip fed' into discussion or contextualised further in your classrooms. For example, you may locate the artist's language group on a map of Australia or discover what year a work was made and investigate what else was happening in the world at the time the work of art was made. Wall labels will include the following information:

Artist

Language group

Where the work of art was made

Artist's date of birth

Medium (what the work of art is made from)

Dimensions

Credit line - this relates to how the work of art was acquired

Extended label; sometimes, an extended label, which provides some specific information about the work or the artist, might be included.

# data[].attributes.headline
Reconciliation Week - A School's approach 

# data[].attributes.subject
Reconciliation Week - A School's approach 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Reconciliation Week - A School’s Approach

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Art Gallery of South Australia houses one of Australia’s most stunning art collections. Its outstanding collection of 38,000 works covers Australian, European, North American, and Asian art.

# data[].attributes.body
PD and Resources

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
AGSA - The Art Gallery of South Australia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
AGSA offers a range of professional development opportunities for educators throughout the year. Events range from practical workshops to networking opportunities and briefings on new exhibitions and artist practices.

Fees may apply. Certificates of attendance addressing the AITSL Standards are provided for all professional development opportunities.

# data[].attributes.body
Workshops and tours

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
AGSA - The Art Gallery of South Australia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Information Sheets Archive - Arts Law Centre of Australia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Arts Law Centre of Australia acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation and all Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia.

# data[].attributes.body
https://arr.news/2025/07/22/narungga-film-inspires-young-people-to-sing-in-language/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
About

This is the first artistic outcome of a multi-year cultural maintenance and revival project that connects the Dingo story from Kaurna and Narungga country in South Australia to Lardil Country in Mornington Island, including cultural links stretching to the Wild Dog story for the Bunun people from Taiwan.

The project, conceived and artistically directed by Kaurna/Narungga artist Jacob Boehme, has been created to preserve and maintain the Wild Dog story. Often renegaded as a pest, the Dingo has and continues to be a significant living figure in First Nations' cultures and presence within the Australian ecological system.

Wild Dog is an immersive installation and exhibition exploring the importance of one of Australia's most misunderstood but significant cultural symbols - the dingo.

The project, conceived and artistically directed by Kaurna/Narungga artist Jacob Boehme, has been created to preserve and maintain . Often renegaded as a pest, the Dingo has and continues to be a significant living figure in First Nations' cultures and presence within the Australia n ecological system.

This is the first artistic outcome of a multi-year cultural maintenance and revival project that connects the Kadli, Ngarembee and Bilmee (Dingo) story from Kaurna and Narungga country in South Australia to Lardil Country in Mornington Island, including cultural links stretching to the Wild Dog story for the Bunun people from Taiwan.

Learn more

Are you sure you want to close?

All the details you provided will be lost

The project connects First Peoples across Australia and Asia to share, preserve and maintain the Wild Dog story.

Extensive research, consultation, community leadership, participation and shared ownership are central and integral to the Wild Dog Project. In 2020 South Australia and Queensland, Jacob worked with Elders, alongside Community Leaders and a creative team which has led to the creative response of Wild Dog as an exhibition/installation outcome.

The project was conceptualised in 2019 and was initially proposed to be a large-scale public dance presentation. Jacob spent the predominate part of 2020 consulting First Nations communities and identifying who would be involved in the Wild Dog artistic outcome. This included engaging key creatives from across Australia to work on the original Wild Dog public dance presentation.

In the latter half of 2020 due to COVID and further consultation and conversations Wild Dog was reshaped to ensure that communities and artists could continue to develop and contribute to the Wild Dog project and also for audiences to safely engage with the work.

In 2021 an additional extensive consultation with Narungga Elders was undertaken at Stenhouse Bay Hall where 50+ Narungga Elders and community members gathered over 3 days to discuss the Wild Dog and other related stories. From here both men and women representatives were nominated, the creative development and beginnings of the Narungga Wild Dog contemporary dance film had begun.

Through these initial conversations two key Elders were identified and consultation with Kaurna Elders has been ongoing. Senior Kaurna Elders Uncle Lewis O'Brien and Aunty Lynette Crocker have worked with Jacob to gather, collate and record stories about the Kaurna's relationship with the dingo. They explored themes from the dingo's role as family to Kaurna people and significance of the Dingo in Kaurna Dreaming stories and as a cultural symbol.

Jacob continued to undertake consultations, this time with Lardil Community in Queensland, with Elders (women and men) who were identified as leaders. A new body of work by Aunty Roxanne Thomas in response to the Ngarmbee (Dingo) story was created. In addition, works by established Kaiadilt artist Netta Loogatha Birrmuyingathi Maali had been selected for exhibition, for their important focus on the Bilmee (Dingo).

Early in Jacob's research he learned that the dingo arrived in Australia between 3,500 - 5,000 years ago, via sea-faring traders along the Austronesian language belt originating in Taiwan, with DNA and ancestral lineage that ties him to the Singing Dogs of New Guinea and the Malaysian Archipelago, the Formosan Mountain Dogs of Taiwan and even the Pariah Dogs of South India. This evidence reaffirming the ancient songs and stories about the Dingo that stretch across two continents and multiple First Nations.

In Taiwan, Jacob has worked closely with Bunun Nation Curator Dr Biung Ismahasan, and together they created a program comprised of workshops for First Nation communities. The workshops ran by a professional artist, would instil knowledges of the wild dog stories and traditional cultural practices.

Parallel to this on Narungga Country in the town of Maitland, Narungga artists and Elders visited the Central Yorke School and delivered a school's program that responded to intergenerational transfer of cultural knowledge. The workshops were engaging and relevant for young people today.

Workshops included a wide range of art forms including, but not limited to, revival and traditional practice of dance, song, ceremony and artefact making, while simultaneously including contemporary art forms such as puppetry, visual arts and performance (theatre and dance).

A cross-cultural exchange was undertaken between Narungga and Bunun children. As a result of COVID-19, Namasia Junior High students were unable to be physically present at school during March - May. As such, their workshops and artist residency took place at a different time to the Narungga Nation. A private website was created for children to share the outcomes of their work and learn about each other's Wild Dog story online.

Narungga country hosted an 8-day film shoot, capturing the traditional Narungga stories that feature the Dingo, Emu, Kangaroo amongst other native animals. The film shoot was overseen by Narungga elders and featured dancers and performers from Narungga Nation and other First Nations. The crew consisted of producers, costume designers, make-up artist and a film crew. Filming took place at several locations across Narungga country including Ardrossan, Curramulka and Troubridge. Directed by Jacob Boehme, the film will make up the Narungga component of the Wild Dog Exhibition.

Throughout the process of Wild Dog many times the project has shifted and shaped due to Elders advice and or COVID impacts. The outcome of Wild Dog will be presented in a live setting while also online to ensure the longevity of the Wild Dog project.

The needs of First Nations Elders to continue the sharing of cultural knowledge has driven the Wild Dog project.

Virtual Tour

For Schools

Wild Dog is an exciting project that features film animation, puppetry, dance, song and interactive installations created by artists and communities across five Nations: Narungga (SA), Kaurna (SA), Lardil (Qld), Kaiadilt (Qld) and Bunun (Taiwan). As students move through this fascinating, beautiful, and visceral story that has been thousands of years in the making they will find out how the dingo teaches us many lessons for life; ways of behaving, kinship and our responsibility to caring for Country.

The storytelling of the event is suitable for all ages.

An Education Resource has been prepared to support teachers to prepare students prior to visiting the event and as a follow up after the event and to engage in the Revitalisation & Maintenance of First Nations peoples' cultural practices of:

-Language
-Dance
-Visual Arts
-Drama
-Storytelling

The Education Resource includes a sequence of learning activities for students from Foundation to Year 10 that will provide:

-Culturally responsive teaching activities with curriculum aligned lesson plans
-Learning activities for students post attendance at Wild Dog.

Creative Team

Wild Dog Dreaming - Narungga Film

Elders
Aunty Deanna Newchurch | Narungga, Kaurna, Adnyamathanha, Ngaduri, Ngarrindjeri Peoples
Uncle Rex Angie | Narungga, Kaurna, Bungala, Nauo, Wirangu, Ngadjuri Peoples
Uncle Dimmy Agius | Narungga

Garrdi & Dhuggudja Dancers
Tjaruta Dance Collective:
Melanie Koolmatrie | Ngarrindjeri
Caleena Sansbury | Ngarrindjeri, Narungga, Kaurna Peoples
Kenneth Johnson | Ngarrindjeri, Erawirung, Kanakas Peoples

Camera 1st AC
Sasha Smith, Boandik People

Wild Dog Dreaming has been made with permission from Narungga Elders and the community.

Wild Dog Dreaming is an adaptation of several ancestral stories from the Narungga Nation as told by Papa Eddie Sansbury and his grand-daughters, Aunty Irene Agius, Aunty Pamela and Aunty Elaine Newchurch, with permission from Narungga Elders.

Wild Dog Narungga cultural story, handed down from Aunty Irene Agius to Quenten Agius and Louise Brown.

Filmed on Narungga Country, South Australia

Six Dog Night - Kaurna Exhibition

Uncle Lewis O'Brien
Kaurna

Kaurna Night Sky Design
Graeme Stanley

Students from Namasia Junior High School

Artists
Students from Central Yorke School, Maitland, Yorke Peninsula
Caitlin Wanganeen
Isaiah Rigney
Caylum Karpany-Drover
Kuliah Power
Blake Elliot
Tyreese Scott
Tiaysha Power
Kyleasha Scott

Book by Dick Roughsey, Lardil People
Film by Western Woods Studio

There are so many people and organisations that came together to make this project happen. Thank you to each and everyone of you.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Acknowledgement of Country

At Country Arts SA we pay respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, artists, communities, and recognise their continuing connection and spiritual relationship to these lands, waters and skies. We embrace the principle of 'First Nations first', are committed to listening and helping care for Country, and to safeguard, share and celebrate First Nations' living cultures.

Country Arts SA pays respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and recognises their continuing connection and spiritual relationship to these lands, waters and skies. We are committed to listening and helping care for Country, and to safeguard, share and celebrate First Nations' living cultures.

Enter the site

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Wild Dog is an immersive installation and exhibition exploring the importance of one of Australia's most misunderstood but significant cultural symbols - the dingo. This is the first artistic outcome...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
AGSA - The Art Gallery of South Australia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Ghost Nets of the Ocean consists of woven sculptures made by artists from Erub Arts Collaborative on Erub (Darnley) Island in the Torres Strait Islands. Erub (Darnley) Island is one of the most remote communities in Australia, located 160km north east of Queensland's Cape York Peninsula.

Artists from the island have transformed ghost nets (abandoned fishing nets) to create a dynamic installation featuring marine animals and environments. Ghost nets drift with the ocean currents and tides, continuing to catch fish, trapping and killing marine fauna in the process. Indigenous rangers, who care for their country in Northern Australia, clean up the nets and rescue entangled wildlife. The nets are then used by the artists to create works of art, bringing to light the irreparable harm that discarded nets cause to local marine life.

These works share the artists' concern for the loss of marine life and environmental damage caused by rogue nets. Importantly this project helps to raise awareness of the devastation that ghost nets cause.

'We are all connected by the world's oceans'.
Artist Florence Gutchen

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Ghost Nets of the Ocean consists of woven sculptures made by artists from Erub Arts Collaborative on Erub (Darnley) Island in the Torres Strait Islands. Erub (Darnley) Island is one of the most remote communities in Australia, located 160km north east of Queensland's Cape York Peninsula.