Jilda Andrews

Jilda is a Yuwaalaraay cultural practitioner, researcher and museum professional from north western New South Wales (NSW), based in Canberra. Her work is focused on cultural material held in museum collections – particularly historical material considered ‘ethnographic’ or collected for anthropological enquiry.

In her recently completed PhD titled Encountering cultural material in museum collections: An Indigenous perspective, Jilda explores the  concept of Custodianship in an era of increasing collaboration, co-creation and curation by Indigenous cultural practitioners. Her leadership in this sector has been recognised in her appointment by the British Council and Australia Council for the Arts’ Accelerate Program, her appointment to the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Network as well as the Minister’s Creative Council in the ACT Government.

Jilda is a member of the groups ‘Freshwater’ and ‘Biliirr’, where along with her sisters she celebrates her cultural heritage, language and experiences through song. Freshwater also represented Australia at the 2008 Festival of Pacific Arts in American Samoa. This work draws from both her Indigenous heritage as well as her Australian heritage which has their roots in Co. Clare, Ireland. She has performed across Australia as well as Lebanon, Kuwait, Dubai and across East Africa.

Learn more about the Custodianship Program.