The Wildflowering Collective Inc.
The Wildflowering Collective Inc is a not-for-profit association of artists and cultural practitioners who work with nature, place and ecological systems through contemporary art and cultural practice. The Collective supports creative projects that foster care for Country, honour First Peoples’ knowledge, and encourage deeper relationships between people, plants, landscapes and the more-than-human world through art, learning and shared experience.
Our organisation
The association is governed by a volunteer Board. Other members may be co-opted for various roles as the organisation grows.
Board of Directors
President
Dr Susan Davis OAM
Vice President
Dr Lisa Chandler
Secretary
Joolie Gibbs
Treasurer
Marni Stuart
Co-opted Committee Members
Grace Smith
Our story
The Wildflowering Collective Inc builds upon a body of work that began in 2016 with the Wild/flower Women series of exhibitions and initiatives. The first exhibition featured Kathleen McArthur’s work at Noosa Regional Gallery in 2016. Since then, Wild/flower Women exhibitions have been staged at Caloundra, Gympie, the Fryer Library (University of Queensland), Bundaberg and Hervey Bay.
The inspiration continued with the ‘Wildflowering by Design’ exhibition tour to seven galleries and museums in South-East Queensland from 2023-25 (Wondai, Warwick, Bribie Island, Redland, Dogwood Crossing Miles and Caloundra). As the exhibition toured, a highlight was the engagement with artists, communities and environments in each location.
A network of connections grew, as did our passion for learning about the wildflowers, the plants and the people who have used art to mark the moment or make a statement. We felt a need to continue this work, and find ways to continue to share and expand the wild/flower women stories, art and spirit. We also wanted to build something that could grow and enact a living legacy. Hence, The Wildflowering Collective Inc was born!
Walking
Collaborating
Wildflowering
Making
Learning
Sharing
Responding
Image by Sarah Jane Smith, Your Life Photography
Values and Guiding Principles
01
Care for Country
We recognise Country as living and relational, and approach creative practice as a form of care, attention and responsibility.
02
Respect for First Peoples
We honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge, cultures and custodianship, and commit to respectful, ethical and collaborative ways of working.
03
Art as Connection
We believe contemporary art and cultural practice can create meaningful connections between people, place and the more-than-human world.
04
Deep Engagement
We value slow, place-responsive and research-informed processes grounded in listening, learning and long-term relationships.
05
Generosity and Sharing
We prioritise collaboration, knowledge-sharing and inclusive participation, supporting artists and communities to learn and create together.
06
Integrity and Professionalism
We work ethically, transparently and with care for people, environments, and cultural contexts.