In its first decade, the program has taught over 1,000 First Nations arts students and created 146 tertiary pathways and 52 internships.
Carriageworks’ Solid Ground initiative celebrates 10 years of providing education and employment pathways in the arts for First Nations youth aged 11-25.
Since its launch in 2015, around 1,034 students have joined the Solid Ground program, under the mentorship of 41 artists-in-residence, including Dennis Golding, Thelma Plum, Sani Townson, Emma Donovan, Dobby, Shannon ‘Monks’ Smith, Bjorn Stewart and Kodie Bedford. The program has placed 52 interns, both at Carriageworks and arts organisations such as NIDA, and has supported and funded 146 students to engage in tertiary education opportunities at leading institutions, including the National Art School, AFTRs and NIDA.
“Solid Ground has had a profound impact in its first 10 years – creating pathways into the arts that simply didn’t exist before,” Carriageworks CEO Fergus Linehan said. “It’s a crucial program that empowers First Nations youth, and we’re proud to support them in creating real, lasting change – both for individuals and the arts sector as a whole.”
The only program of its kind in Australia, Solid Ground allows students to connect with culture and discover their creative practice under the mentorship of First Nations practising artists and cultural leaders. Through year-long artist residencies, the program provides training and career development pathways for primary and high school students in Western Sydney and Inner Sydney schools. During the weekly sessions, students collaboratively create new artworks within the resident artist’s discipline.
Each year, Solid Ground students showcase their creativity in a Carriageworks exhibition, with the upcoming one taking place during the NAIDOC Week. This year, the program welcomed leading artists, including rapper and host of triple j’s Blak Out Nooky, weaver and visual artist Peta-Joy Williams and singer-songwriter Akala Newman to mentor First Nations students from Alexandria Park Community School, Erskine Park High School and Chifley College Dunheved. Through the exhibition, students share what they have learned in the program, their connection to culture and their artistic expression across diverse media.
The Solid Ground program has profoundly impacted students, with teachers reporting increased school attendance and motivation. The program’s artists-in-residence serve as powerful role models, showing First Nations youth that creativity, talent and passion can lead to professional success. Beyond artistic inspiration, the program also provides a vital space for students to feel supported in connecting with their cultural identities, reinforcing a sense of belonging and confidence.
“When I started the program back in year eight, I didn’t have a very big cultural connection,” Solid Ground former student Jade Walker said. “The program meant a lot in being able to connect to such an important part of my background and be able to teach that to my Pop, because he wasn’t allowed them experiences when he was a young kid.”
In addition to its ongoing in-school program, Solid Ground will expand its career pathways initiative to include arts administration roles, broadening opportunities for First Nations youth pursuing careers in the creative industries.
The Solid Ground program is funded partly by the Australian Government through the National Indigenous Australians Agency and supported by private philanthropy and community donations. For more information, visit the Carriageworks website.
Read also: First Nations arts and languages gets bolstered with $68M funding
Geraldine is currently the Content Producer for Third Sector, an Akolade channel. Throughout her career, she has written for various industries and international audiences. Her love for writing extends beyond the corporate world, as she also works as a volunteer writer at her local church. Aside from writing, she is also fond of joining fun runs and watching musicals.
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