The Place

The Place for Indigenous Art and Culture (The Place) aims to change how universities and museums work with Indigenous people and collections. Collaboration with the communities and families represented in the Collections (communities of origin) will be integrated into the design of The Place.

Our work is guided by Indigenous leadership and is informed by deep listening. We acknowledge the right of Indigenous peoples to determine the application of traditional knowledge and the representation of their cultures.

The Place will be a purpose-built home for Indigenous material culture, artworks, natural history, library and research archives. It will be a safe and welcoming context to explore cultural knowledges, add new knowledge and map kinship and connection. It will encourage new approaches to collections storage, exhibitions and storytelling. Communities of origin will be invited to engage in cultural exchange with our staff, students and the public. Importantly, The Place will provide a respectful environment that prioritises comfort, care of people and its collections.

The Place is a signature project of the University of Melbourne’s Indigenous Strategy 2023-2027 and a major investment in reconciliation, education and conservation of Indigenous knowledge for future generations. It aspires to be a leading example of collaborative care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander material.