Jacob Boehme photo by Dorine Blaise

As part of the British Council Australia’s Connections Through Culture programme, Collaborative Curatorship: Indigenous Voices at RISE 2026 will bring together renowned multidisciplinary theatre-maker, choreographer and curator Jacob Boehme with Dance North Scotland to deepen Indigenous and First Nations representation within UK contemporary arts festivals.

Hosted by Dance North during RISE 2026 (Friday 29 - Sunday 31 May), Jacob Boehme will lead a creative residency that pilots a new framework – a Land Lab - designed to foster future First Nations artist exchanges and collaborative practices with Dance North.

During his residency, Jacob Boehme will adapt his acclaimed performance Guuranda for the coastal landscapes of Findhorn, engaging in a process of deep cross-cultural dialogue.

The project will bring together First Nations Elders and artists with Scottish artists and performers, local experts, and community participants in a shared exploration of landscape, history, language, and memory. The development will include online cultural immersion sessions and a three-week creative process leading up to the festival. This collaborative journey will culminate in a series of performances presented in Findhorn as part of RISE 2026. 

Planning and development for this year’s RISE has been undertaken by Dance North in careful collaboration BlakDance, a national industry organisation for First Nation contemporary dancers and choreographers based in Brisbane, Australia.

BlakDance has contributed to the early development of this initiative through its international First Nations partnerships, including cultural competency resources, risk mitigation frameworks, and facilitating preliminary dialogue with Indigenous Elders and cultural leaders in Australia. For both organisations, the Land Lab model exemplifies what culturally safe and artist led global First Nations exchange can look like when done with care, respect and deep listening.

Through Collaborative Curatorship: Indigenous Voices at RISE 2026, Dance North and Jacob Boehme hope to establish lasting pathways for intercultural artistic exchange and ensure Indigenous voices continue to shape contemporary performance on a global stage.

Jacob Boehme is an award winning theatre maker and choreographer, from the Narungga and Kaurna Nations of South Australia, creating work for stage, screen, large-scale public events and festivals.Alumnus of the Victorian College of the Arts and NAISDA College (MA in Playwriting, MA in Puppetry, Diploma in Dance), Jacob has led the artistic direction of opening ceremonies for major international and Australian festivals: Melbourne Festival, Cairns Indigenous Arts Fair, Australian Performing Arts Market, FINA World Swimming Championships, Australian Football League, Cricket World Cup. Jacob is the founding Creative Director of Yirramboi Festival, recipient of the 2018 Green Room Award for Curatorial Contribution to Contemporary and Experimental Arts. He has held positions in major institutions including the National Institute of Dramatic Arts as the inaugural Lecturer First Nations and at Carriageworks, as the inaugural Director First Nations Programs. Jacob is the recipient of the 2017 Green Room Award Best Independent Production for the critically acclaimed solo work Blood on the Dance Floor, and recipient of the 2023 Ruby Award for Outstanding Community Event or Project for Wild Dog, commissioned by Tarnanthi Festival, Art Gallery of South Australia. Jacob’s latest work Guuranda, commissioned by Adelaide Festival premiered at Her Majesty’s Theatre Adelaide 2024 to critical and audience acclaim. Jacob is a published writer and arts reviewer for Witness Performance, The Australian and The Saturday Paper. Jacob is an Australia Council for the Arts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Fellow and currently sits on the Board of Directors for Art Gallery of South Australia’s First Nations Advisory Committee, Birraranga Film Festival and The Festival Academy. Jacob has held previous governance roles as a member of International Advisory Committees for the Calouste Gulbenkian UK Inquiry into the Role of Arts Organisations, the Ministry of Culture Taiwan South East Asia Advisory Panel, the Global First Nations Advisory and Bibu Festival International First Nations Curatorial Committee. www.jacobboehme.com.au

Dance North Scotland exists to create space for transformational contemporary dance; engaging with people from across the globe to just down the road. Dance North does this by supporting artists and their practice; inspiring audiences and participants; presenting work; empowering through creativity; treating people fairly; and working in partnership. RISE is Dance North Scotland’s annual festival of contemporary dance and performance, bringing a mix of local, national and international artists to Moray each year. This year’s RISE will take place in Findhorn on Fri 29 – Sun 31 May and will have a focus on global Indigenous dance and performance. RISE 2026 is supported by British Council Australia and multi-year funding from Creative Scotland. www.dancenorth.scot

BlakDance is a self-determined, First Nations-led industry organisation and producer for Australian First Nations contemporary dance. A vital advocate for Indigenous voices in the arts industry, supporting the growth and development of Indigenous dance through professional pathways, productions, national and international tours that keep culture strong and careers sustainable. www.blakdance.org.au

Share this