The paintings and sculptures from the Western Desert community of Warakurna recreate scenes of everyday life and tell historical and contemporary stories. The artworks were first featured in Warakurna: All the Stories Got into our Minds and Eyes, an exhibition originally displayed at the National Museum of Australia, Canberra, in 2012–13. From 2014 to 2019, with the assistance of the Australian Government’s Visions of Australia program, the Warakurna exhibition travelled around Australia and was appreciated and enjoyed by thousands of visitors. In 2023 the Museum created a digital resource rich with activities for our communities to enjoy.

This resource is the result of a collaboration between the Museum’s education and touring exhibitions teams. Teachers and students can use the resource as a whole class, in small groups, or on their own. Key artworks from the exhibition are featured, together with videos and classroom activities that give an insight into the Warakurna community, its history, and its people.

All activities link to the cross-curriculum priorities in the Australian Curriculum – Country/Place, Culture and People – allowing students to inquire, analyse and create. Activities are presented in diverse forms such as downloadable PDFs and instructional videos for classroom engagement.

Extending knowledge with diverse educational resources is a valuable way to further build on programs. Below are educational resources developed by the National Museum of Australia which will strengthen your understanding of the artworks in  Warakurna: All the stories got into our minds and eyes.