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Exchange Country
A hand holding a paintbrush with green paint adding detail to a landscape painting.

About Exchange Country

Exchange Country is a visual artist residency program, conceived by Noongar artist Rohin Kickett, and supported by the City, designed to facilitate meaningful connections, skills development and cultural exchange between First Nations artists across Western Australia.

The program offers an opportunity for artists to spend time on Country, making new connections, collaborations and the creation of new artworks inspired by this exchange. The project timeline and travel is artist led, to facilitate meaningful exchanges, allowing for flexibility and to make the most of new opportunities made through connections. 

Artworks produced as part of this project will feature in a major exhibition, scoped for 2026, and some of the works created during these exchanges will be acquired for the City of Melville’s Art Collection.
 
Image: Photograph by Robyn Jean 

Part One - Emily Rose and Juluwarlu Art Group

In 2023, emerging Noongar and Yamatji artist Emily Rose travelled to the Pilbara and spent time on Ngarluma/Yindjibarndi Country (Roebourne) and (near Roebourne) to work with senior artist Wendy Hubert, emerging artist Ava Christopher and members from Juluwarlu Arts.

In the second part of the exchange, Emily hosted Wendy Hubert and Ava Christoper on Noongar Country and travelled through the southwest with Emily’s daughter Kai Rose and mother – photographer, artist and writer Robyn Jean who documented the southern exchange.
 
Image: Emily Rose, photograph by Robyn Jean

Part Two - Michael Jalaru Torres and Rohin Kickett

In 2025, fine art photographer and poet Michael Jalaru Torres, welcomed multidisciplinary artist Rohin Kickett to  Rubibi (Broome). Michael is a Djugun-Yawuru man with tribal connections to the Gooniyandi/Jabbir Jabbir/Ngarluma peoples. 

In the second part of the exchange, Michael travelled from Rubibi (Broome) to work with Rohin on Ballardong Country. Rohin and Michael spent time exploring Country and sharing practices that will inform future works as part of the exchange.


Image: Micahel Jalaru Torres, image courtesy the artist

Exchange Country Gallery

  • Exchange Country Part One - artists on CountryExchange Country Part One - artists on Country
  • Exchange Country artist Emily with her daughterExchange Country artist Emily with her daughter
  • Exchange Country artist, Wendy Hubert in the studio Exchange Country artist, Wendy Hubert in the studio
  • Exchange Country artists on CountryExchange Country artists on Country
  • Exchange Country artists on CountryExchange Country artists on Country
  • Exchange Country Part One - artists on Country
  • Exchange Country artist Emily with her daughter
  • Exchange Country artist, Wendy Hubert in the studio
  • Exchange Country artists on Country
  • Exchange Country artists on Country

Find out More

To find out more about the program, contact Visual Arts Programs / Art Collection Curator, Yvonne Doherty via email arts.melville@melville.wa.gov.au.

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