Friends of Mäpuru

Volunteering for cross-cultural exchanges

Friends of Mäpuru was established in 2012 to bridge barriers of distance, culture and language through two-way collaboration. As a founding member I have coordinated volunteers and led the planning and logistics of the partnership projects including community consultation, mentoring, grant writing and logistics.

The partnership has supported over twenty-five Master and apprentice weavers from the tiny township of Mäpuru to participate in three exchanges to Melbourne. While in Melbourne weavers have run sell-out weekend workshops in the urban bush setting of CERES, learnt about installing an exhibition in a gallery and participated in museum visits and city excursions to events and places including the market, zoo, beach and women’s footy. In 2018/19 they produced work produced work for a sell-out exhibition at Tacit Galleries, Melbourne. Weavers homestay with old friends and family, providing a safe experience to learn and experience city life.

2012 ongoing

Image credit: All photographs are from https://friendsofmapuru.wordpress.com/