"Connections to Community" by Emma Bamblett.
As part of U3A Victoria’s ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion, we are proud to showcase the commissioned artwork “Connections to Community” by acclaimed artist Emma Bamblett.
Emma is a proud Wemba Wemba woman with strong connections to the Ngadjonji, Gunditjmara, and Taungurung peoples. Her bright and vibrant acrylic paintings often explore themes of cultural identity, resilience, and the journeys that connect communities. Through bold colours and intricate patterns, Emma’s work celebrates the strength and beauty of Aboriginal culture.
For many years Emma has worked within the Community sector with a passion for teaching, guiding, and strengthening family connections to culture and Community through art based projects for children, young people and families.
Since moving to Melbourne 20 years ago, Emma found a passion for visual art and finds inspiration and motivation from the arts community in Melbourne. Through this she has had many wonderful opportunities through events such as the Koorie Night Market, Koorie Heritage Trust and Craft Victoria to showcase her artworks.
When looking at her paintings, Emma hopes to inspire people to connect to her culture, to see and feel what she was feeling whilst creating it
With Emma’s permission, both the artwork in full and various elements of “Connections to Community” have been incorporated throughout many of our U3A Network Victoria communications materials to reflect the values of respect, belonging, and shared learning that underpin U3A Network Victoria.
This collaboration between U3A Victoria and Emma Bamblett is a meaningful step in recognising and honouring the rich cultural heritage of First Nations peoples within our community.
In the spirit of reconciliation, the Victorian U3A movement acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land that we live, work, learn and play on, and pays respect to their Elders, past, present, and emerging.
The U3A movement is a welcoming place for all, and is committed to the process of reconciliation.