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Babbarra sweeps into European Parliament

04 March 2020

In a rare opportunity, contemporary Australian Indigenous textile artworks will be exhibited at the European Parliament in Brussels from 16 to 20 March 2020. 
The exhibition features 17 textile artworks created by female artists from Maningrida's  Bábbarra Women’s Centre.
The Exhibition title, ‘Jarracharra’, comes from Burarra language to describe the powerful cold wind that arrives at the start of the dry season in Arnhem Land.  
It’s a time for clans to move about and visit families in what is one of the most linguistically diverse regions per capita in the world. It’s a time for ceremonies where customs and languages are shared between Aboriginal peoples and passed down through generations, preserving the 65,000 years of the world’s oldest living culture. 
 It’s a celebration of the remarkable achievements and talents of these artists, who not only give new light to the ancient narratives of Arnhem Land through their contemporary art practice, but act as advocates for the self determination of Aboriginal peoples.   
Bábbarra Women’s Centre was established as a women’s refuge in the early 1980s. Ndjébbana leader Helen Williams founded the women’s centre with a strong vision for Maningrida women’s rights.  During the 1990s, Bábbarra began a series of art workshops, and over time, their collection of designs grew. 
The Bábbarra women continue to advocate for women’s empowerment, improved health access, environmental protection for Arnhem Land and promotion of Indigenous languages. 
Today, Bábbarra supports more than 25 artists and is managed by Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation as a key social enterprise. Their art reflects imagery from a diverse range of Arnhem Land country and cultures. 
The exhibition is co-hosted by the Australian Mission to the European Union and Ulrike Müller MEP, Chair of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Australia and New Zealand.