Baluk Arts is an urban Aboriginal community arts centre making waves in the art world. Based in Mount Eliza, Victoria. Baluk supports artistic, career and audience development for artists of the Bayside, Peninsula and greater Melbourne. Baluk Arts also works on a project basis throughout Victoria and wider Australia. Baluk artists are from diverse Aboriginal backgrounds from all over Australia and artworks created reflect themes of identity in a contemporary cultural context.
Baluk is a local Bunurong and Boonwurrung word meaning many or group of people and this reflects the diversity of our artists and their work. Our emerging and established artists hail from all over Australia and their art expressed their identity and cultural heritage in a contemporary context.
Through Baluk Arts, family groups and members of the stolen generation have reconnected with their culture and express their histories through strong artistic practice to support their cultural and creative wellbeing. Baluk Arts encourages community development, youth leadership, participation and interaction, and Indigenous governance through innovative arts practice.
The range of artworks and gifts created by Baluk Artists include clap sticks, carvings of wood, stone and bone, painting, works on paper, natural jewellery, weaving, kelp works, handmade cards, books, scarves, t-towels and sculptures. These are available to purchase through our exhibition program in our gallery and throughout the year in partner galleries throughout Melbourne.
Not only is the purchase on Aboriginal artwork through Baluk Arts an investment in the potential of an artist and their work it also directly benefits our artists through access to materials, studio space and professional development opportunities.
