As NAIDOC Week comes to a close for 2025, we want to acknowledge and celebrate the profound impact our Wiradyuri partners and team members have in shaping The Wired Lab's journey.
We are particularly grateful to Aunty acheryl Penrith OAM @stylin_up_with_chezzy_ , Mel Evans @mel_starfishdreamings , Peter Beath @prbeath and all our First Nations collaborators who generously share their knowledge, wisdom and cultural practices. Your guidance in teaching us the principles of Yindyamarra, to go slowly, be gentle and demonstrate respect in all we do, continues to shape our values and direction.
As we reflect on the partnerships we've built together through projects like 'Waybali Murruway', and the redevelopment of the (soon to be renamed) ‘church’ project, we look forward to continuing to deepen these relationships and creating more opportunities for First Nations-led cultural sharing and learning on Wiradyuri Country.
🖤💛♥️
#NAIDOCWeek #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe #WiradyuriCountry #FirstNationsLed #TheWiredLab #CommunityArts #Yindyamarra
#wiradjuri #blerf #bushfirelocaleconomicrecoveryfund
We're thrilled to announce that The Wired Lab has received a grant from @creative.australia inaugural Creative Future Fund, a program which supports the creation and sharing of Australian stories in innovative ways.
This funding will help us commission some of the inaugural works to be exhibited in Australia's first dedicated deep listening space, currently under reconstruction in a deconsecrated church in Muttama NSW on Wiradyuri Country. Two high-profile Australian artists will be commissioned to collaborate with our Indigenous and agrarian communities to develop experiential ambisonic sound works for the nave of the redeveloped space.
We'd like to offer a heartfelt thank you to the entire Wired Lab community: our friends, colleagues, project partners, board members, artists, and particularly the Wiradyuri leaders and communities who we will continue to collaborate with.
You can read more at creative.gov.au/creative-futures-fund.
We also gratefully acknowledge the investment from the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund (BLERF), a bushfire support program co-funded by the Australian and NSW governments, which funded the 1st stage of building works for the ‘church’ project.
📷 L-R Hon Michael McCormack, Member for Riverina, TWL Chairman Mr Andrew Clinton, Wiradyuri leaders Aunty Cheryl Penrith OAM and Peter Beath, and TWL’s Artistic Director/CEO Sarah Last out the front of the church building at the BLERF - Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund announcement.
#TheWiredLab #CreativeAustralia #RegionalArts #WiradyuriCountry #Wiradyuri #WiradjuriCountry #Wiradjuri #RegionalNSW #CommunityArts #CreativeFutureFund #CulturalDevelopment #RegionalArtsAustralia #TheFutureIsRegional #DeepListening #SoundMatters #RegionalArts #BLERF
@nswgov@ausgov@jgnswmlc@michaelmccormac@stephcookemp@tony_burke_au@ausgovarts
We're excited and humbled to announce that The Wired Lab is a recipient of @creatensw 's 4-Year Multi-year funding, as part of a significant investment in NSW's arts and cultural sector through to 2028.
This transformative funding will enable us to build long-term workforce capacity and unlock new creative opportunities. As a regional arts organisation, this support is game-changing for our future vision and sustainability.
A heartfelt thank you to the entire Wired Lab community: our collaborators, colleagues, project partners, board members, artists, and particularly the Wiradyuri leaders and communities who we will continue to collaborate with. Your ongoing support and inspiration drive us to ensure rural and regional Australians have access to world-class arts experiences they deserve.
We also acknowledge the many outstanding organisations who were unsuccessful in receiving funding. We're well acquainted with the heartbreak that comes with 'unfunded excellence'. We're with you in solidarity and will continue to advocate for increased funding investment that reflects our sector's cultural diversity and value to society.
1. Julie Vulcan @mzvvv
2. Dave Burraston @noyzelab
3. ‘Waybali Murruway - Weaving Paths’ still
4. @speakpercussion
5. @pvicollective
6. Bellweather @mflynnth
7. Medicament for your Predicament @catjones_artist
8. Sarah & Anna from TWL not looking tired at all.
📷 @rachaellenehanphotography
#TheWiredLab #CreateNSW #RegionalArts #ArtsFunding #NSWArts #NSWGovernment #ArtMatters #ArtChangesLives #RegionalArtsAustralia #RegionalArtsNSW #NAVA #BLERF #bushfirelocaleconomicrecoveryfund
@nswgov@jgnswmlc@stephcookemp@tony_burke_au@m_mccormackmp
Over the years ‘Waybali Murruway - Weaving Paths’ has explored Wiradjuri culture and language, along with the creation of cultural objects and caring for Country.
Led by curator/artist @mel_starfishdreamings and Aunty @stylin_up_with_chezzy_ OAM, Waybali Murruway has contributed to the revival of traditional weaving practices and plant knowledge, bringing together women and girls across generations. From Mitta Mitta to Mutta Mutta, Ngurrungera to Wagga Wagga, and Gudhamangdhuray, the project has created deep connections across six Wiradyuri communities.
As Waybali Murruway continues to evolve, we're thrilled to announce that we have received a Creative Australia grant towards developing the exhibition for a national tour, sharing these important stories and cultural practices with a wider audience.
Stay tuned for more info coming soon!
Waybali Murruway is funded by the @ausgov and @nswgov , supporting our commitment to cultural preservation and community connection.
#WaybaliMurruway #Wiradyuri #TheWiredLab #creativeaustralia #CNSW
@michael__mccormack@stephcookemp@tony_burke_au@jgnswmlc
📸: @jackofheartsphotos
'Waybali Murruway – Weaving Paths' has been nominated for the 2025 National @landcareaustralia Awards in the First Nations Landcare Collaboration category!
This multi-year Wiradyuri and female-led project has been a profound journey of connection, bringing together four generations across six Indigenous communities in the Wiradyuri Nation. 'Waybali Murruway' beautifully reflects the interconnectedness of caring for Country to cultural resilience and community wellbeing.
'Waybali Murruway' continues to evolve, and we are currently planning more community workshops and a national touring exhibition.
Project leaders Aunty Cheryl Penrith and Mel Evans, along with our Artistic Director Sarah, will be representing The Wired Lab at the Gold Coast awards, as part of the National Landcare Conference (21-24 September 2025).
Held every two years, the National Landcare Awards celebrate the incredible achievements of Australia's Landcare community. We're humbled to be recognised alongside so many inspiring projects and people working tirelessly to care for Country.
The conference has an amazing array of activities. Visit Landcare Australia for tickets and more information.
#WabaliMurruway #WiradyuriCountry #CaringForCountry #TheWiredLab #NLC2025 #NationalLandcareConference #Landcare #NSWLandcare #LandcareAustralia
Our Artistic Director Sarah recently headed to Parkes to participate in an @ruralleaders_au Changemaker workshop.
These two-day workshops are designed to empower people to enact positive change within our communities, focusing on building resilience, managing setbacks and fostering creative collaboration.
It was inspiring to see such diverse expertise in the room - from government agencies and private enterprise - united in their commitment to strengthening our rural communities.
After the compound effects of drought, floods and COVID on rural communities, it's heartening to see proactive, community-led solutions being developed and supported. Thanks to the Rural Leadership Foundation and the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund for providing these vital initiatives to rural and regional communities.
#TheWiredLab #ARLP #ARLPC32 #LeadershipInAction #ARLF #RuralRegionalRemote #AustralianRuralLeadershipProgram #FutureFocused #CommunityLeadership #SystemsChange #AgLeadership #RuralLeadership
What a delight to celebrate 100 years of the historic Muttama Memorial Hall!
A wonderful celebratory dinner was held on Saturday 17th May, along with a fabulous family fun day on Sunday 18th May.
This unique and beautiful building has stood as a testament to community spirit for a century, hosting countless meetings, social gatherings and commemorative events for those who have served.
It also holds a particularly special place for The Wired Lab - our Artistic Director was Vice-President of the Hall’s Management Committee from 2016-2022 and her family were involved in the Hall’s construction in 1925!
The Wired Lab secured and auspiced the grants that funded vital heritage advisory services by Ray Christison at High Ground Consulting and @dunnhillam Dunn Hillam Architects. These activities were integral towards saving the Hall from demolition and securing further state and federal government capital works funding which ensured the Hall’s preservation as a significant War Memorial and community space in our region.
We're proud to have helped protect this important piece of our community's heritage, ensuring it remains a vibrant gathering place for future generations.
Congratulations to the Muttama Hall Management Committee for organising such a great celebration to mark the occasion.
The Muttama Hall is now able to take bookings, we encourage you to check out this amazing venue at muttamahall.com.au
#TheWiredLab #MuttamaHall #RegionalNSW #AustralianHistory #Muttama #CulturalHeritage #NSWWarMemorials #CommunityHall #WarMemorial #Lestweforget #dunnhillam #NSWheritage #Cootamundragundagairegionalcouncil #NSWGovernment #HeritageMatters
@m_mccormackmp@stephcookemp@cgrcnsw@nswgov
Work is now progressing on our redevelopment of the deconsecrated Church of the Immaculate Conception in Muttama!
Along with our community partners, we’re transforming this historic building into a cultural tourism destination that will serve our community for generations to come.
We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to our local suppliers, who in recent weeks, have commenced the formative works to bring this vision to life:
✨Booths Demolition and Construction
✨Fallons Excavations
✨@panthers_concrete_tanks
✨Gundagai Earth Moving
These skilled teams have been hard at work safely removing asbestos and lead-painted materials, installing underground water tanks and completing crucial earthworks to prepare the site for its next chapter.
Aiding the development of the project is a grant from the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund, which is jointly funded by the @nswgov and @ausgov .
We're looking forward to sharing more updates with you over the coming months as this long-awaited project unfolds. After years of planning, it's incredible to see the physical work finally underway!
@CreateNSW@Creative.Australia@regionalartsaustralia@regionalartsnsw@m_mccormackmp@stephcookemp@cgrcnsw@tony_burke_au@jgnswmlc
#TheWiredLab #RegionalArts #RegionalartsNSW #Muttama #RuralArts #RegionalDevelopment #NSWArts #AustralianArts #CreativeAustralia #RegionalArts #WiradyuriCountry #Wiradyuri #wiradjuricontry #wiradjuri #RegionalNSW #CommunityArts #CreativeFutureFund #CulturalDevelopment #regionalartsaustralia #thefutureisregional #deeplistening #soundmatters #creatensw #muttama #muttamansw #cootamundagundagairegionalcouncil
Vale Dr Alan Lamb (1944-2025)
It is with sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Dr Alan Lamb, one of Australia's important and innovative sound artists.
Alan combined his medicine and neurophysiology qualifications with his profound interests in sound and music. His pioneering work with recording and composing sounds derived from telegraph wires and wire installations earned him international recognition. His work featured in numerous Australian films and established him as one of the founders of 'dark ambient' music.
Alan was also a collaborator on the inaugural Wired Lab project, 2007-2012. This project featured a range of artistic collaborations, skills development workshops and presentations at our Wired Open Day festivals and others around Australia. With the 2009 Wired Open Day, which featured Alan, David Burraston, Garry Bradbury, Robin Fox and Oren Ambarchi, being realised into a beautiful double vinyl release with TAIGA records in 2012. Many of the large-scale Aeolian wire installations we built with Alan remain on The Wired Lab site and in the Eastern Riverina region from Alan’s prior collaborations with the Wagga Space Program’s unsound festivals, which were also curated by our Artistic Director Sarah Last.
Condolences to Alan's family, friends, and the artistic community who were touched by his remarkable work.
You can read Alan’s obituary by fellow artist and collaborator @cathope in Cyclic Defrost at cyclicdefrost.com/2025/05/alan-lamb-singing-in-and-with-the-air
You can check out TAIGA records at taigarecords.bandcamp.com/merch
#TheWiredLab #CreativeAustralia #RegionalArts #WiradyuriCountry #Wiradyuri #WiradjuriCountry #Wiradjuri #RegionalNSW #CommunityArts #CulturalDevelopment #RegionalArtsAustralia #TheFutureIsRegional #DeepListening #SoundMatters #RegionalArts #AlanLamb #DaveBurraston #noyzelab #GarryBradbury #RobinrFox #OrenAmbarchi #Muttama #WaggaSpaceProgram #unsound
Today we recognise National Sorry Day.
National Sorry Day commemorates the anniversary of the tabling of the ‘Bringing them home’ report in the Australian Parliament in 1997 and honours the survivors from the Stolen Generations. Nearly 30 years later, only 6% of the recommendations in the reports have been implemented.
As we pay our respects to Stolen Generations survivors and their communities, we acknowledge the strength and resilience of First Nations Peoples and call for action to support survivors, their families and future generations.
#NationalSorryDay #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe
