THANCOUPIE’S BURSARY FUND

About This Project

About the project

The Thancoupie Bursary is a unique scholarship for study in the arts offered to Indigenous youth of the Western Cape York communities. It was the dream of Dr Thancoupie Gloria Fletcher James AO (1937–2011), an Australian sculptural artist, educator, and linguist who is credited as the founder of the indigenous ceramics movement in Australia. The Bursary began with a modest sum left in Thancoupie’s will for a fund to promote and support emerging young Aboriginal artists and aspiring Aboriginal arts workers. You can find out more information about Thancoupie’s Bursary Fund here https://www.thancoupiebursary.com/.

One of the fund’s current projects is the compilation of Thancoupie’s legends into a book for use in schools. Those involved in the project include Thancoupie’s cousins, nieces and grandchildren living in Weipa. Participants in this creative project will learn how to check for errors, location descriptors and concurrently cement their traditional stories of Thanaquith Drangith and Lueng families.

How the ABF helped

We supported the project with a $5,000 grant.