Cissy Gore-Birch × Kimberley Aboriginal Fashion Textiles Art  #

Regional Arts Australia is pleased to announce the third residency in its Industry Residencies Program, welcoming fashion designer and cultural leader Cissy Gore-Birch OAM, delivered in partnership with the Kimberley Aboriginal Fashion Textiles Art (KAFTA).

Led by Cissy Gore-Birch, founder of First Nations fashion label Lulujaru, the residency entitled Living Fibres — Revitalising Indigenous Knowledge Through Country, Sustainable Textiles and Creative Practice explores how fashion, conservation and cultural knowledge can come together to support community-led enterprise, food security and self-determination in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

A proud Jaru/Kija woman with connections to Balanggarra, Nyikina and Bunuba Country, Cissy brings a career spanning Native Title, conservation and land management into a creative practice rooted in storytelling and sustainability.

This creative residency is delivered through a partnership between Cissy and KAFTA.

Together, the organisations bring expertise in First Nations fashion, cultural leadership, land and sea management, and Indigenous knowledge systems, creating a unique collaboration that connects art, culture, science, and environmental sustainability while supporting First Nations-led innovation across Northern Australia.

"I am honoured and blessed to be undertaking the Regional Arts Australia Industry Residency in partnership with KAFTA. This residency is an opportunity to reconnect creative practice with Country by working alongside Traditional Owners, Land Managers and Custodians to explore cultural fibre species, sustainable harvesting practices and innovative ways that Indigenous knowledge can shape the future of fashion, textiles and environmental stewardship,” Cissy Gore-Birch shared.

"Through this collaboration, we hope to strengthen cultural knowledge and practices,  support regional creative industries and demonstrate how Indigenous-led research and artistic practice can contribute to caring for Country while creating meaningful economic opportunities for our communities."

Ros Abercrombie, Executive Director of Regional Arts Australia, welcomed the residency as a powerful extension of the pilot program's reach.

“We are beyond excited to welcome Cissy to the Industry Residencies Program. Cissy's practice is a powerful example of what the program has been designed and implemented to support, helping flourish creativity that's deeply embedded in community, culture and enterprise,” Abercrombie shared. “Partnering with KAFTA to bring this residency to life reflects exactly the kind of cross-sector collaboration we hope to see more of across regional Australia.”

About Cissy Gore-Birch OAM #

Cissy Gore-Birch OAM is a proud Jaru and Kija woman with strong cultural connections to Balanggarra, Bunuba and Nyikina Country in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. For more than three decades, she has worked at the intersection of Indigenous leadership, environmental stewardship, cultural governance and community development, building a career dedicated to strengthening the relationship between people, culture and Country.

Beginning her career in local government in the East Kimberley, Cissy has become one of Australia's respected First Nations leaders in Indigenous land and sea management, conservation, governance and sustainable regional development. Her leadership has spanned local, regional, national and international organisations, including the Kimberley Land Council, Bush Heritage Australia, Balanggarra Aboriginal Corporation, the North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA), the Indigenous Carbon Industry Network and the International Savanna Fire Management Initiative. Throughout these roles, she has championed Indigenous-led approaches to caring for Country, recognising that cultural knowledge, biodiversity and community wellbeing are inseparable.

Working alongside Traditional Owners, Rangers, Elders, scientists and governments across Northern Australia has provided Cissy with a deep understanding of Indigenous ecological knowledge and the cultural significance of native plants, fibres, animals and landscapes. These experiences have shaped her belief that Indigenous knowledge systems are not only vital for environmental management but also provide innovative solutions for sustainable economic development and creative practice.

This way of life has led Cissy to the next chapter of her career bringing together Country, culture and creativity through fashion and textiles. As Founder of LULUJARU and Director of Kimberley Aboriginal Fashion Textiles Art (KAFTA), she is creating pathways for First Nations artists and designers to express cultural identity through contemporary fashion, wearable art and sustainable textile innovation. Her work explores how traditional fibres, natural dyes, weaving practices and cultural stories can inspire ethical design while supporting cultural revitalisation and regional creative industries.

Cissy's creative practice is a natural extension of her lifelong commitment to caring for Country. Through collaboration with Traditional Owners, environmental practitioners and artists, she is exploring how fashion can become a vehicle for cultural knowledge, environmental education and economic opportunity. Her proposed Living Fibres residency builds on more than 30 years of experience, investigating how Indigenous ecological knowledge can inform contemporary textile practice while strengthening cultural knowledge transmission, promoting biodiversity and inspiring sustainable futures for Northern Australia.

Awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the Indigenous community of Western Australia, Cissy continues to champion Indigenous-led innovation, believing that the future of Australia's creative industries is deeply rooted in the world's oldest continuing cultures. Through her leadership, she is helping to weave together culture, conservation and creativity into a future where Country remains both teacher and inspiration.

About Kimberley Aboriginal Fashion Textiles and Art #

Born from a clear call from Kimberley art professionals and regional communities, the Kimberley Aboriginal Fashion Textiles and Art (KAFTA) was established to create locally-based creative and fashion industry pathways. 

This initiative is a testament to self-determination, being completely Kimberley-run and actively engaging local businesses to provide essential equipment and event services. This commitment to local engagement ensures that the benefits of the event directly uplift the community, fostering a strong sense of ownership and pride.

https://kafta.com.au/

About Regional Arts Australia and the Industry Residencies Program #

Regional Arts Australia (RAA) is the national voice for arts in regional, rural, and remote Australia. For more than 80 years, we’ve been championing the belief that everyone - no matter where they live - should have the opportunity to create, share, and experience the arts. We’re a not-for-profit organisation working to make sure arts and creativity are at the heart of regional life, and embedded in how governments, industries, and communities plan for the future. We bring together artists, community groups, not-for-profits, commercial partners, and all levels of government to strengthen the creative fabric of regional Australia.

The Industry Residencies Program is an initiative of Regional Arts Australia, offering a third fully funded, 12-month residencies for regional Creative Practitioners. The program connects artists, designers, and creative thinkers with regional industries to explore new ways of working together, address real-world challenges, and imagine sustainable futures.

By fostering collaboration between the arts, community, and industry, the program highlights the essential role creativity plays in building resilient, vibrant, and liveable regional Australia.

The future is regional. The future is creative.®

Industry Residencies is made possible through the Regional Arts Fund, an Australian Government program that supports sustainable cultural development in regional and remote communities in Australia.