 
 Timor-Leste Textiles Exhibition & Forum: Meanings, Makers and Markets
Exploring the issues surrounding the making of the hand-woven textiles of East Timor called Tais (tie-ss)
Meanings:
deeper meanings behind these textiles¡ªthe culture they embody, the lore they contain, the stories they tell, their customary and ritual value, along with their modern manifestations
Makers:
the women artisans who make these textiles and their spinning, dyeing and weaving skills and creativity involved in the production
Markets:
the challenges artisans and modern producers face in creating livelihoods through craft while maintaining the cultural integrity of their practice and products
¨n Exhibition Launch Friday 5 Sept 6.00pm ¨n Forum ($20/$12) & Market Saturday 6 Sept 10am til 5pm ¨n
Exhibition runs 5-30 September 2008 at the new St Kilda Town Hall & The Gallery 99A Carlisle St St Kilda (trams 3, 16, 67 or train to Balaclava Station)
RSVP to assist@portphillip.vic.gov.au or call 92096777
¨n The Alola Foundation, Friends of Suai Committee, City of Port Phillip, East Timor Women Australia (ETWA), METAC, International Women's Development Agency (IWDA), and Monash University have joined together to put on this exhibition of traditional and modern hand-woven textiles from Timor-Leste followed by a one day forum and demonstration to explore and explain the issues that affect cultural and commercial production. We seek to support the artisans and producers of Timor-Leste by bringing their crafts and products to an Australian audience and developing a deeper appreciation of their skills. An equally important aim is to create new markets for their products and explore solutions for the challenges they face. We are seeking support and sponsorship for these events so please contact us if you are interested in supporting these events and initiatives. All sponsors gratefully acknowledged.
¨n Weavers and Sponsors please Contact City of Port Phillip Friends of Suai T: 9209 6777 E: pjessen@portphillip.vic.gov.au
¨n Sara Niner at Monash University E: sara.niner@arts.monash.edu.au ¨n East Timor Women Australia T: 9819 3239 E: office@etwa.org.au
We are also seeking Timorese women in Australia who might be able to take part in weaving demonstrations on the day of the Forum (6th September)2008
Timor-Leste Textiles Exhibition & Forum:
Meanings, Makers and Markets
Exploring the issues surrounding the making of the hand-woven textiles of East Timor. Meanings: deeper meanings behind these textiles¡ªthe culture they embody, the lore they contain, the stories they tell, their customary and ritual value, along with their modern manifestations Makers: the women artisans who make these textiles and their spinning, dyeing and weaving skills and creativity involved in the production Markets: the challenges artisans and modern producers face in creating livelihoods through craft while maintaining the cultural integrity of their practice and products
Program
10.00am Registration and coffee
10.30am Outline of Day & Welcome
Opening address Robyn Maxwell, Senior Curator of Asian Art at National Gallery of Australia
Robyn is the author of Textiles of Southeast Asia, described as the definitive work on Southeast Asian textiles. Robyn will locate the textiles traditions of East Timor in an international and South East Asian context.
Ofelia Napoleao, Alola Foundation
Ofelia has been working with weavers and small handcrafts projects since 1999, initially with Timor Aid and currently with the Alola Foundation in Dili who are our partners in this exhibition and forum. Ofelia will talk about the textile traditions in Timor-Leste today.
Joanna Barkmann, Curator, Southeast Asian Art and Material Culture, MAGNT.
Joanna will be speaking about the important East Timorese textiles in the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory collection and about their cultural meaning and significance. She will also mention the exhibition of East Timorese artefacts Husi Bei Ala Timor Sira Nia Lima - From the Hands of our Ancestors' MAGNT is holding in November.
Sara Niner, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Monash University will follow up with her latest research on the weavers of East Timor and the modern significance of this craft and the impact of recent history on its production.
1.00pm LIGHT LUNCH $10 & MARKET
2.00pm Afternoon Workshop:
The Challenges and Opportunities for the Handcraft Industry in East Timor. Panel discussion covering the major challenges of developing the handcrafts industry in East Timor in a way that best advantages the women weavers and producer groups.
Panel includes Taryn Lane (ETWA) OH&S, Balthasar Kehi & Ego Lemos (The politics of cotton) Erin McKinnon (IWDA) Women & Literacy, Jessica Howard (Fair Trade principles) facilitated by Natalie Moxham - Clear Horizon
4.30pm Facilitated Conclusion to decide on outcomes of day.
Marketplace with stalls by: Alola, METAC, ETWA, AETA, Friends of Suai & other friendship groups.
 Timor Leste Textile Forum Program Saturday, 06 September 2008
Women's Handicrafts & Development in East timor: Looking to the Future-Dr Sara Niner
Fair Trade & Sustainability for Timor Textiles
Gallery Women & Weaving in Suai 2008
Alola Foundation Textiles and Products
E Timor Womens Association Products
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