Skill sharing at Ngapala Arts
Ku Arts ran a creative development workshop at Ngapala Arts this May, bringing together artists working in ceramics to share ideas, techniques, and stories. The workshop was funded by Country Arts SA through the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund.
Located 540km from Adelaide, Ngapala Arts is a community ceramics studio and gallery on Adnyamathanha Yarta in Copley. 2024 NATSIAA finalist and Ngapala Arts Chairperson, Donna Coulthard and her brother Dwayne Coulthard were inspired during the 2024 Ku Arts Activate! Darwin Professional Development trip to spend more time with other creatives. They wanted to find a way to share the studio with more artists - and hoped that they could find a way to exchange stories and techniques to deepen their creative practices.
“This initiative represents a significant opportunity for artistic and cultural growth, not only for the Ngapala Arts Association but also for the broader community. Through this project, we wim to create lasting connections and provide a platform for the continued development and celebration of First Nations art and culture.” — Dwayne Coulthard
Samantha Lester, Donald Mckenzie, and Juanella Donovan working on individual projects inside Ngapala Art’s ceramics studio.
Ku Arts supported Ngapala Arts with their funding application, providing grant writing and budget support. After a successful funding application, Ngapala Arts engaged Ku Arts to support the delivery of a one-week workshop in May. Building on the success of previous workshops at Ngapala Arts, Ku Arts engaged Ashlee Hopkins to share a series of new techniques with a focus on storytelling through mark making. Ashlee also assisted artists with technical needs around the ceramics studio.
Image: Samantha Lester working during the May 2026 workshop.
Photo: Mel Henderson.
Image: Donna Coulthard working during the May 2026 workshop.
Photo: Mel Henderson.
Image: Veronica Coulthard working during the May 2026 workshop.
Photo: Mel Henderson.
Image: Ashlee Hopkins and Juanella Donovan at the May 2026 workshop. Photo: Mel Henderson.
Ku Arts invited independent, award-winning Adnyamathanha, Luritja, Lower Southern Arrernte artist Juanella Donovan to join in the studio for the workshop. Juanella brought her cross-media approach to the studio, commencing new works in ceramics for the first time and shared stories about her practice with the group. Juanella’s husband, Gumbaynggir artist Michael Donovan also attended, learning how to use mark-making in clay to translate his previous paintings into this new medium.
Adnyamathanha artist Donald Mckenzie also attended the workshop, travelling from Port Augusta for the week. A talented sculptor and ceramicist, Donny shared his practice and alternative ways to approach ceramics as a sculptural medium.
Long standing members of Ngapala Arts, Adnyamathanha and Kuyani sisters Donna, Veronica, and Lesley Coulthard shared their studio, practices, and techniques with the visiting artists, along with their mum, Auntie Linda Coulthard. Arabana and Yankunytjajtara artist, Samantha Lester was back in the studio continuing to develop her Basket Weaving Story with new techniques learnt from Ashlee Hopkins.
A number of artists used the workshop to create works for entry into the 20th Our Mob at Adelaide Festival Centre. You can find their works on display from 10 July - 4 October 2026.
Image: Juanella Donovan during the May 2026 workshop.
Photo: Mel Henderson.
Image: Donald Mckenzie working during the May 2026 workshop.
Photo: Mel Henderson.
Ku Arts has been supporting Aboriginal artists at Ngapala Arts since 2021 by supporting funding applications, auspicing grants, running creative and professional development workshops, providing arts worker training, and ongoing administrative support.
All photos by Melanie Henderson.
