Wellington multidisciplinary artist Jamie Berry (Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki, Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Porou, Ngāpuhi, and Ngāti Ruanui) will be going to Canberra on a residency exchange programme later this year, as the two cities relaunch their indigenous artist exchange.

Mayor Tory Whanau said Jamie is uniquely positioned to explore shared indigenous narratives across various art forms, as the Canberra Pōneke Indigenous Artist Exchange once again reconnects the artistic communities of both cities.

“We are proud that Jamie will be representing our city in this significant cultural exchange, offering her a chance to immerse herself in a new creative environment,” says Mayor Whanau.

“The exchange programme’s relaunch means we can continue building bridges through art and fostering cultural understanding.”

artsACT, the Australian Capital Territory Government’s arts agency, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming Jamie later this year and announcing the successful Canberra artist who will be travelling to Wellington.”

Jamie said she was excited to take part in the exchange programme and believed it would help her grow as an artist.

“I look forward to engaging with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and learning about their way of life, identity, culture, spirituality, and relationship to their country,” says Jamie.

During her residency exchange, she aims “to learn and share about the universal and culturally specific ways in which dreams serve as conduits to ancestral knowledge and creative inspiration.”

“Dreams have a powerful and pivotal influence on my creative endeavours, acting as a wellspring of clear signs, dynamic symbols, and invaluable direction that consistently informs and shapes my artistic practice.”

Jamie’s practice is grounded in her whakapapa (genealogy) and focuses on the past, present, and future. She reimagines stories through various mediums, including digital content, DNA soundscapes, moving images, and installations.

Jamie is a Lead Designer of this year’s World of WearableArt – New Zealand’s world-famous annual design competition culminating in a show combining theatre, art, fashion, music and performance – and has had her work featured in local and international arts exhibitions.

Toi Manu Tautoko, the Canberra Pōneke Indigenous Artist Exchange, aims to strengthen cultural connections between the two cities. This initiative is a vital part of their sister city agreement, which was signed in 2016. It supports a Wellington-based mana whenua artist to go to Canberra for four weeks and a Canberra-based Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander artist to visit Wellington for four weeks.

Launched in 2018, the exchange programme was suspended due to the global pandemic and is being relaunched this year.

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