“Red Ridge wants to create and be part of a culture of giving.”

Red Ridge the Label - Canvas to Catwalk will bring their spectacular fashion event to the opening night of WOW Longreach, and it includes some incredible artworks and performances, that will be seen for the very first time.

It will open with Central West Aboriginal Corporation’s dreamtime story of Matya as retold by Janeece Thompson about How the Sun and Moon Came to Be. A dynamic Catwalk experience will showcase 15 garments made by local seamstress in Isisford from prints by local artists some of who will be wearing their garments Walking Together in Harmony. Red Ridge the Label will showcase both the Diamantina and Georgina collection of high fashion modelled by local women and students, including women from Barcaldine, Longreach, Isisford, Blackall, and Winton.

General Manager Louise Campbell has been working at Red Ridge for over 10 years, and she can attest to the growth and success of the organisation in providing critical development opportunities for Western Queensland.

“Red Ridge was established in 2009 in response for a leading arts organisation to serve rural remote Queensland communities.   Our programs and projects respond to local needs and driven by local communities.  Red Ridge helps create healthy and resilient communities in remote western Queensland by bringing people together in art and cultural activities.   We enrich their lives and we protect our heritage by working with our communities, government and donors. Our focus is the social and economic health of our own communities and all who live here.

“The goal of Red Ridge is to be the premier arts organisation for interior Queensland, an organisation that is trusted to operate with integrity and that delivers projects and programs that change lives and creates social capital. Red Ridge wants to create and be part of a culture of giving.”

What has happened since Red Ridge – the Label launched in 2020?

“In addition to the high-end Label Red Ridge has created a program called Canvas to Catwalk which is an educational program that teaches artists the process of creating artworks prints for fabric and then engaged in a catwalk experience.”

Red Ridge actively promotes the social and economic development of the Aboriginal communities of remote western Queensland through expression and preservation of their arts and culture.  Red Ridge supports programs that are Indigenous led such as Red Ridge the Label where Aboriginal artists have a vision to see their artworks come alive in fashion prints. 

“Indigenous arts are an important part of Australia’s culture, and artists make an important contribution to Australian society. The arts can have an impact on personal wellbeing and to a lesser extent the wider community. The arts can impact on child development, and an impact on our ability to express ourselves. The arts can have a very big impact on how we deal with stress, anxiety or depression, our sense of wellbeing and happiness, and our ability to think creatively and develop new ideas.”

Canvas to Catwalk was one of the highlights of WOW Charleville in June 2021, an event that brought the whole community together, with Red Ridge receiving nothing but praise for their professionalism and approach to community engagement. We can’t wait for a repeat performance in Longreach!

All of the stunning images featured in this article were taken by Katrina Lehmann Photography at Red Ridge the Label - Canvas to Catwalk, the opening night event of WOW Charleville 2021.

Enjoy this short film of Red Ridge the Label - Canvas to Catwalk filmed at WOW Charleville 2021.