First Nations Arts and Culture
Celebrating First Nations artists, arts and culture on the Sunshine Coast and providing opportunities for artists, creative businesses and arts organisations to develop, create, connect and present.
Featured artwork by Renee Mead - Photo by Luna Productions
The Sunshine Coast is the traditional Country of the Kabi Kabi and Jinibara Peoples, whose deep connection to these coastal plains and hinterlands spans thousands of years. These lands have always been places of cultural, spiritual, social, and community significance. Recognising that living culture continues today.
Together, we honour the past, embrace the present, and create pathways for a vibrant future.
This section celebrates First Nations arts and culture in our region. Including Traditional Owners and their enduring stories and explore resources and opportunities to support and grow First Nations arts practice.
Developed and delivered in collaboration with the local creative sector, MadeSC is a responsive, sector-informed initiative that provides strategic support for arts practice and industry development. It plays a key role in nurturing a vibrant and resilient independent arts sector in the region.
Traditional Custodian Groups
For thousands of generations the Kabi Kabi & Jinibara Peoples have been the Traditional Custodians of the land, sky and waterways we now know as the Sunshine Coast. They were the original storytellers, artists, mark makers, dancers, singers, performers, educators, healers and care takers of this region.
We pay our respects to Elders and Descendants, past and present and are eternally grateful for their continued connection and care for Country and the richness of their culture they share with us today. We are committed to working in partnership with Traditional Custodians and the local First Nations community and strive to be a leader in First Nations engagement.
Find out more about the Kabi Kabi Peoples Aboriginal Corporation (KKPAC) (link to https://www.kkpac.org.au/ and https://nativetitle.org.au/find/pbc/8996.
Find out more about the Jinibara Peoples Aboriginal Corporation (JPAC) (link to https://nativetitle.org.au/find/pbc/7794)
First Nations Strategic Arts Plan
The First Nations Strategic Arts Plan (FNSAP) led by the First Nations sub-committee will engaged and support First Nations artists and reflect, translate and help shape the culture of our region.
This First Nations Arts Plan 2026 - 2031 sits alongside the Sunshine Coast Creative Arts Plan 2023–2038 and provides a focused, place‑based framework to support First Nations arts, culture and creative practice. It reflects Council’s commitment to working in genuine partnership with Kabi Kabi, Jinibara and First Nations peoples, and to embedding culture, respect and self-determination across our arts and cultural systems.
Together, we are working towards a Sunshine Coast where First Nations creativity is visible, valued and thriving now and for generations to come.
This project has been undertaken as a partnership between the Sunshine Coast Council and the Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast.
The First Nations Strategic Arts Plan is currently being finalised and will be published in late 2026. For any questions or enquiries please contact [email protected]
Resources for First Nations Artists & Creatives
Building a sustainable arts practice means knowing your worth and having the tools to advocate for yourself. This section provides practical resources to help First Nations artists price their work confidently, protect their cultural and intellectual property, and communicate expectations with clients and collaborators.
Creative Australia: Protocols for using First Nations cultural and intellectual property in the arts
True Tracks®: a pathway to Indigenous engagement
https://www.terrijanke.com.au/true-tracks
NAVA https://code.visualarts.net.au/
Arts Law https://www.artslaw.com.au/services/legal-query-form/
Broader First Nations Resources can be found here - https://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/experience-sunshine-coast/events/inclusion/first-nations-partnerships/first-nations-resources
Stay up to date on all opportunities
The Artist Edition is your up to date resource for all of Sunshine Coast Council's led First Nations arts sector funding and professional development opportunities. Subscribe to the artist edition here.
You can find previous editions of The Artist Edition here.
Unsure? Have questions?
Come chat with the Creative Sector Development Team—we’re here to help.
Contact us at: [email protected]
We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table.
MadeSC is supported by the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF). The Regional Arts Development Fund is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Sunshine Coast Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.