Our story began in 2008 when South Hedland-based artists Irene Coffin, Max George, and members of the Mothers Against Drugs group approached non-profit cultural organisation FORM to request help in facilitating community workshops and professional development for the town’s Aboriginal artists.
Naming themselves the Spinifex Hill Artists (after an old name for Port Hedland), the group held their first solo exhibition, Before the Town Got Big, at Port Hedland’s Courthouse Gallery in 2009.
Over the next five years, the Spinifex Hill Artists continued to develop artistically and professionally. In March 2014, the group took up residence in a purpose-built home in South Hedland, the Spinifex Hill Studio. This was made possible through FORM’s long-term partnership with BHP and the Federal Government’s Regional Development Australia Fund, with the land being donated by the Department of Lands.
In 2021, the Spinifex Hill Project Space was built as a place for the local community and visitors to connect with the Pilbara’s dynamic creative practice, and to further the preservation and promotion of the local culture, heritage, and traditions. Designed by Officer Woods Architects and built by Cooper&Oxley, the Spinifex Hill Project space is a welcome addition to Spinifex Hill Studio.
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