Meet the Makers Sharing Culture Through Creativity

Across Australia, you can join First Nations artists at immersive creative workshops—experiences that invite you to connect with community, learn from Traditional Custodians and support artists dedicated to keeping culture strong. Here, you can meet some of the inspiring makers sharing stories and passing on tradition through the rhythm of weaving, the brushstrokes of a story-filled painting, and the aroma of native spices on the flame.

Cook with native ingredients alongside Luke Bourke

Proud Palawa man from Dharug Country

“For sixty thousand years, our people have shared stories, woven through time like threads of firelight and earth,” says Luke Bourke, a proud Palawa man and The Good Food Guide’s 2026 Young Chef of the Year. Through his First Nations seafood masterclasses at Sydney Seafood School, Luke invites you to experience the stories that have been passed down for generations and recipes he first learned from his grandmother. 

On Luke’s cooking class menu, you’ll find a celebration of fresh local seafood brought to life with native flavours like lemon myrtle and Warrigal greens. Whether it’s Luke’s barramundi—a favourite at his family gatherings—or the genius take on a classic fish sandwich, when you step into the kitchen with Rockpool Bar & Grill’s Sous Chef, you will be reminded that Indigenous culture is living and evolving.

Luke’s hope? That you leave the kitchen inspired by his culture and carry it forward in your own way. “For the next generation, I hope they take away a sense of pride, connection and responsibility,” he says.

Try Dot Art painting with Kabushka Ngemba

Proud Ngemba woman from Brewarrina NSW

“We need to share information about our art and culture so people have a better understanding of us as First Nations people,” says contemporary artist Kabushka Ngemba. Drawing on her Ngemba heritage and a deep passion for storytelling, Kabushka invites you into a creative space where art becomes a bridge to cultural understanding.

Much-loved by ClassBento’s community of makers, Kabushka’s Dot Art Circles welcome you into a special painting experience where you’ll journey far beyond the canvas. Kabushka encourages you to ask questions, challenge stereotypes, and respectfully connect with her culture. You’ll reflect on your personal story through symbolism and be reminded of what connects us all. 

By joining a Dot Art Circle, you can actively contribute to the collective knowledge and understanding that Kabushka aims to cultivate. “I like to share art and culture in the hopes of bridging the gap between us and non-Indigenous people,” says Kabushka.

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Sit, weave and connect with Tegan Murdock

Proud Barkindji / Yorta Yorta woman living on Cammeraygal country

For Tegan Murdock, weaving is more than art—it’s a way of keeping culture visible, vibrant and alive. As the artist behind Ngumpie Weaving (meaning “beautiful” in Barkindji, a tribute to her late grandmother), Tegan invites you to sit, weave and connect with story and spirit.

“My passion for storytelling and the connection it creates inspires me to share culture through weaving,” she says. “It highlights our shared spirit and breaks barriers through sitting and creating together.”

With strong ties to the Barkindji, Yorta Yorta and Dhudaroah peoples, Tegan’s workshops are grounded in community, culture and collaboration. When you join her weaving circle, you’ll be encouraged to slow down and truly listen, not just to the technique but to the knowledge passed through hands and yarn.

Each class creates space for you to have meaningful conversations, foster cross-cultural connections and engage in reflection. For Tegan, it’s about honouring legacy while inspiring the next generation to carry culture forward with pride.

“I hope participants develop a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity, and see the role of art in healing, connection and community,” she says.

Create and connect with Peta Joy Williams

Proud Wiradjuri woman living on Bidjigal land

“Not all Aboriginal art looks the same... depending on where you come from, the art styles are completely different,” says Peta Joy Williams, a proud Wiradjuri woman, artist and educator. “I like to share this in my sessions to break those stereotypes.”

Through her business, Wiradjuri Wave, Peta brings culture to life across various mediums, including fashion and sportswear. But her purpose runs much deeper: to reclaim, preserve, and proudly share her culture.

Having spent much of her adult life piecing together cultural knowledge that was once silenced by laws and social sentiment, Peta now creates space for others to learn with respect and curiosity. In her painting and weaving classes, you’re invited to explore the depth and diversity of Aboriginal art, challenge assumptions and help keep these traditions strong.

“It's important culture continues to be shared but it has to come from people of that culture.”

Discover these workshops and support First Nations makers as they share culture through creativity.