Australian poster collectives facts for kids

Australian poster collectives were groups of artists who came together, mostly in the late 1960s, 70s, and 80s, in Australia's big cities. These groups often had women as leaders and focused on creating posters to support different social and political causes. Some collectives also appeared in the 1990s, like RedPlanet.

What Were Poster Collectives?

These art groups started mainly in Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, but also in other Australian capital cities. This happened from about 1965 to the 1980s. Artists formed these collectives because they cared about important issues. They wanted to use their art to support social justice, women's rights, and Indigenous Australians' rights. They also protested against the Vietnam War, worked for environmental protection, and supported LGBT rights.

The collectives made posters for many things. They created posters for concerts, bands, protest marches, and various community groups. Many feminists were part of these collectives. Some groups were even made up only of women. Women were very important leaders in this movement. They started groups, taught others, welcomed more women, and made decisions together.

These collectives were seen as a way for art to be democratic. They worked outside traditional art galleries. This allowed them to quickly show changing social and political ideas. They challenged old ways of thinking by designing, printing, and putting up posters in public places. Some artists belonged to more than one collective. Often, they didn't sign their own names. Instead, they credited the poster to the collective. Similar groups also appeared in places like the UK, Europe, the US, and Cuba during this time. This article focuses on Australian poster collectives from the 1960s to the 1980s.

Where to See These Posters?

Posters made by these collectives are now kept in important places. You can find them at the National Library of Australia and the National Gallery of Australia (NGA). Other collections include the Flinders University Museum of Art and the Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA). The Art Gallery of NSW (AGNSW) and the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences also have them. The Tin Sheds Gallery at the University of Sydney also holds some.

Important Poster Collectives and Artists

Poster collectives were very important in starting the community arts movement. Some collectives grew to offer training workshops. They also worked on community art projects and even helped set up community food co-operatives. Many artists from these groups later worked with community arts groups. Some also started their own art careers. The list below shows some of the key collectives and artists. It highlights how these groups influenced many Australian artists today.

Here are some of the poster collectives and their members, organized by location:

Sydney Collectives

• Earthworks Poster Collective: This group was part of the Tin Sheds Art Workshops at the University of Sydney. Artists included Marie McMahon, Chips Mackinolty, Jan Mackay, and Toni Robertson.
• Lucifoil: Also at the Tin Sheds Art Workshops. Most artists in this group were women. Some artists were Pam Debenham, Leonie Lane, Yanni Stumbles, and Jan Fieldsend.
• The Women's Warehouse Screenprinting Collective: Artists like Marla Guppy and Anne Sheridan were part of this group.
• Harridan Screenprinters: This group also included artists Marla Guppy and Anne Sheridan.
• Women's Domestic Needlework Group: This was a women-only group. They focused on traditional sewing skills. They also printed posters for exhibitions and classes. Artists included Marie McMahon and Frances Phoenix.
• Social Fabric: This group made screenprints on fabric, not paper. Artists were Jan Mackay, Marie McMahon, and Kathy Letray.
• Garage Graphix: Located in Mt Druitt, Western Sydney. Their posters showed Western Sydney in a positive way. They also focused on Indigenous rights. Most members were women, including Indigenous women. Artists included Maxine Conaty and Alice Hinton-Bateup.
• Matilda Graphics: A women-only creative business collective. Frances Phoenix was an artist here.
• Redback Graphics/x: This was a commercial graphic arts workshop. It focused on community issues. It started in Queensland and later moved to Sydney. Artists included Michael Callaghan, Gregor Cullen, and Alison Alder.
• Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-Operative: This group makes all kinds of art. Their famous poster series "We have survived" was for the 1988 anti-Bicentennial event. Founders included Euphemia Bostock, Fiona Foley, and Bronwyn Bancroft.
• Women's Art Movement: Artists like Vivienne Binns and Frances Phoenix were part of this group.

Melbourne Collectives

• Jillposters: This was a women-only group. It was open to non-artists who wanted to make a statement. Artists included Julia Church, Carole Wilson, and Lesley Baxter.
• Dag Printing: Artists were Wendy Black, Angela Gee, and Eveyln Vyhnal.
• Brunswick Work Co-Operative/Redletter Community Workshop: Bob Clutterbuck was an artist here.
• Another Planet Posters: Most artists in this group were women. Artists included Julia Church and Kath Walters.
• Bloody Good Graphix/Graphics: Artists were Julia Church and Kath Walters.

Canberra Collectives

• Megalo International Silkscreen Collective: Now called Megalo Print Studio. Alison Alder and Colin Little were co-founders.
• Acme Ink: A screenprinting workshop at Gorman House Canberra. Artists included Julia Church and Mandy Martin.

Adelaide Collectives

• Anarchist Feminist Poster Collective: Some of their posters are at the Flinders University Museum of Art. Artists were Sally O’Wheel and Megan Schlunke.
• Women's Art Movement (WAM): Some posters are at the Flinders University Museum of Art. Artists included Barbara Hanrahan and Frances Phoenix.
• Community Media Association: Later called Co-Media. Artists included Deborah Kelly and Frances Phoenix.
• Community Association of Prospect (CAP) Poster Collective: Artists included Ann Newmarch and David Kerr.

Brisbane Collectives

• Mantis Prints/Press: This was a women-only group. Artists were Lyn Finch and Cherie Bradshaw.
• Redback Graphics/x: Started at Griffith University. Artists included Michael Callaghan, Lyn Finch, and Cherie Bradshaw.
• Black Banana Poster Collective: This group mainly made political posters. They were against Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen's government. Artists included Ivan Nunn and Phyllis Patterson.

Darwin, Katherine, Northern Territory Collectives

• Jalak Graphics: In the early 1980s, Chips Mackinolty from Earthworks moved to the Northern Territory. He worked with Aboriginal organizations. His group, Jalak Graphics, made posters for Aboriginal community groups. These posters had designs by various artists. Chips Mackinolty, Lorna Fencer, and Abie Jangala were artists.