A Festival Called Panama

CollaborationConsultationCuration & Production
Written By Caleb Nichols-Mansell

Yarning circles opening space for cultural exchange and shared storytelling at Kani Tunapri.

Engaged to curate and produce Kani Tunapri (Talking Knowledge), I developed a program of yarning circles within the festival that created space for cultural exchange between First Nations Elders and the wider community. Highlights included powerful talks from Puralia Meenamatta/Uncle Jim Everett and Auntie Theresa Sainty, who shared poetry, story, and environmental insights. In addition to curatorial responsibilities, I served as artist liaison for Aboriginal musicians and artists and facilitated a community ticketing initiative that welcomed 100 First Nations attendees to the festival free of charge each year.

Client: A Festival Called Panama
Project Type: Curation & Production, Collaboration, Consultation
Location: Panama, Tasmania
Year: 2024-25

Like this? Let’s get started on a commission!

Caleb Nichols-Mansell

Caleb Nichols-Mansell moves between Country, culture, and contemporary practice — weaving stories from land, spirit, and community into powerful visual languages. As a proud Palawa man, Caleb's work bridges the ancient and the evolving, reimagining Aboriginal knowledge systems through design, public art, and digital storytelling.

His practice is rooted in Country and carried forward through site-responsive interventions, graphic and surface design, and large-scale public commissions. Through intricate textures, flowing linework, and bold organic forms, Caleb invites reflection on identity, resilience, and the enduring strength of Palawa people.

His works have been commissioned by leading institutions across Australia, including MONA, University of Tasmania, Arts Tasmania, Australian Fashion Week, Lifeline Australia, and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra; embedding stories of survival, connection, and contemporary Aboriginal identity into the cultural, public, and built environment.

www.calebnicholsmansell.com.au

https://www.calebnicholsmansell.com.au
Previous

Hobart City Council
Next

Lazy Girl Lingerie