WHAT WE DO
Wantok Musik Foundation works with communities to record, retain and promote music, cultural practices and languages that are at risk of being lost forever.
We mentor and provide employment pathways for First Nations musicians, artists and cultural workers.
We support First Nations artists from Australia and Oceania to build sustainable music careers, retaining and celebrating their culture and language.
We help to tell stories that need to be told, such as Kutcha Edwards' experience of the Stolen Generations, George Telek’s anthem for West Papuan freedom, and Vanuatu labourers' songs from the Queensland sugarcane fields.
We support artists to speak out on social issues such as gender-based violence (Emily Wurramara and George Telek), resistance music by Timor-Leste freedom fighters, and the 1998 Byak Massacre in West Papua.
CULTURAL DIPLOMACY
Wantok collaborates with communities to preserve and share vital songs, stories, and cultural expressions. By fostering pride and identity, we promote language retention, youth engagement, and strengthen social unity. We also partner with governments to create programs that enhance cultural diplomacy.
CAREER PATHWAYS
We empower young people to cultivate creative industry skills and forge sustainable careers while integrating their cultural practices into music. In locations such as Bougainville, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste, emerging artists receive mentorship from First Nations Australian artists in music production, songwriting, performance, and publishing. This initiative fosters the next generation of artists and strengthens cultural tourism, while also building strong networks among diverse regional artists.
