Baluk Arts is an Aboriginal owned and led community arts centre and gallery, the only one of its kind in the southeast of Victoria.  Based in Mount Eliza on Bunurong country, this hub for Aboriginal artists provides a space to come together, to create and to share their culture with the wider community.  

Baluk Arts, 5 Davies Ave, Mount Eliza, VICTORIA 3930

Open to the public Tuesday – Friday, 10am-5pm. Saturdays 10am – 3pm.

0497 004 179

info@balukarts.org.au

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Baluk Arts is proud to present a 5-day residency on Millowl (Phillip Island) in which award-winning, Aboriginal artist Mitch Mahoney (Boonwurrung/Barkindji) will create a traditional stringy bark canoe on country. A serendipitous moment when you bring wattle flowers into the gallery and the artist brings in a wattle illustration! @ndenerileyart Looking forward to sharing a few works in the lead up to N'Dene Riley's 'Ocean Strength' exhibition. Opening on the 14th September, 6pm, this exhibition will explore the power and healing nature of our surrounding oceans, which has been a source of inspiration for N'Dene and her Palawa ancestors. Baluk Arts is pleased to present our next exhibition, Ocean Strength, by N'Dene Riley. Our opening launch will be Thursday 14th September, 6 - 8pm. Baluk Arts as an organisation is strongly in support of the YES vote. It’s a YES to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament. Hearing from the Baluk Arts Chair, Aunty Yvonne: ‘I wish to thank Baluk Arts members who have agreed by majority to support the YES vote in the coming referendum. We at Baluk Arts are excited to walk with the wider community to ensure that the YES vote succeeds. To improve outcomes for Aboriginal people, we need to have our voices heard. Our voices need to have input in the delivery of policy and programs that impact our lives’. 🙌🏿🙌🏾🙌🏽🙌🏼🙌🏻 Aunty Patsy on the brush! Be in the running for the chance to attend a workshop with Salty One! Baluk Arts are proud to present this unique opportunity where you can win one of 10 limited spots to a workshop with multi-award-winning, Aboriginal artist Salty One (aka Lowell Hunter) at a beach on Phillip Island. If you don’t have plans for the weekend, consider a day trip to the cutest village… Mount Eliza! Only one hour from Melbourne, grab a bite from @shopate_mteliza or a German artisan sourdough @butterken_bakery_ , do a spot of shopping @thecolourenglish ,plenty of florists nearby, as well as barbers @thebarbershopandco and the greatest preloved clothing shop hidden in the alleyway @onebirdinthelane It’s not a day trip without a cheeky picnic from @ritchiessupermarkets and coffee @katies_koffee_and_cake or from @velosmazehmusette to enjoy on the local beaches. Saving the best for last, visit our friends @manyunggallery or immerse yourself in a cultural experience @balukarts Aunty Patsy's artworks sold out at the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, but thankfully we still have this gorgeous artwork here at the gallery. It was too fragile to come up with us on the plane due to the textured and layered ochre. Aunty Patsy used ochre that was sourced locally as well as some from Gariwerd, collected traditionally and traded. The neutral palette and subtle footprints remind us of the animals that grace the land. Unframed, 100cm x 70cm. There is still time to visit our current exhibition (running until the start of Sept) where our Aunty's and Uncle's have shared stories of their life. Many of our artists are from the stolen generation, with many parents sent to missions where they have experienced a loss of country, language and culture. Despite all the hardships experienced, our Elders share unwavering spirit and ongoing resilience. There is a sense of connection where our members have found their art as a form of expression, a way to connect with their ancestors, enabling them to revive traditional art practices. As Aunty Netty explains "once cultural practices have awoken, we need to keep them awake", hence it is her life's work to pass on her knowledge to future generations.

We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land, the Bunurong People, with deep respect for Elders past, present and emerging.  At Baluk Arts we pay homage to Aboriginal cultural heritage. 

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About Baluk Arts

Baluk Arts is an Aboriginal owned and led community arts centre and gallery, the only of its kind in the southeast of the state. Based in Mount Eliza the gateway to the captivating Mornington Peninsula, we support artistic, career and audience development for our Aboriginal artist members from the southeast and wider Australia. Artworks reflect themes of identity in a contemporary cultural 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 artistic excellence, community development, leadership, participation and interaction through innovative arts practices. Baluk Arts programs foster a deeper understanding of Aboriginal arts.

The range of artworks created by Baluk Artists include paintings, sculpture, kelp works, photography, prints, clap sticks, distinctive handmade jewellery, weavings, cards, books, scarves and bespoke items unique to each artist and their story. These works are available to purchase in our gallery, through our exhibition program, online, at art fairs and throughout the year in partner galleries.

Baluk Arts works on a project basis throughout the country and internationally and is open to collaborations, commissions, murals, programs, workshops and bespoke artworks.

Baluk is a local Bunurong and Boonwurrung word meaning ‘many’ or ‘group of people’ and reflects the diversity of our artists and their work.

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NOW SHOWING + UPCOMING

Explore underwater sea life and the healing powers of the ocean at our latest exhibition featuring artwork by N’Dene Riley. The exhibition runs through until the 14th November, 2023.

“Creating a traditional Stringy Bark Canoe”

5-day residency open to the public during the school holidays

Baluk Arts is presenting a 5-day residency on Millowl in which award-winning, Aboriginal artist Mitch Mahoney (Boonwurrung/Barkindji) will create a traditional stringy bark canoe on country.

The public will have the chance to interact with the residency during the school holidays, 10am-2pm daily from the 26th until 30th September. Thanks to Randall at Sheltered Glamping for hosting the residency. Participants will need to park at Phillip Island Village School car park to access the residency site, located at 483 Berrys Beach Road, Phillip Island.

The public is invited to come down to see the artist at work and have a yarn on country. Some lucky visitors may have the chance to assist the artist as he builds a stringy bark canoe using traditional methods that Aboriginal people have used for countless generations. Stringy bark canoes were used by Aboriginal people to access the island in years gone by.

Mitch Mahoney is a proud Aboriginal artist and cultural educator with a passion for sharing culture and teaching the public about Victoria’s rich cultural history. “All of the work I do is about the revitalisation and celebration of South-Eastern Aboriginal Culture and practices. I try to create works that are designed to spark interest and educate people,” the artist said. Mitch’s works are held in the public collections of Melbourne Museum and the Koorie Heritage Trust.

This residency has been supported and is delivered by Baluk Arts in partnership with Bass Coast Shire.

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