Welcome to Saltwater Collection
Indigenous Jewellery Designs
Saltwater Inc. evolved from a successful Government backed arts project "FNQ Indigenous Arts Marketing Project" and was supported in its initial stages by the Australia Council for the Arts and Arts Queensland. Following stages were supported by the Queensland Government: the Dept of State Development and Innovation and Dept of Employment, Work place Relations.
The inncubator is now in its seventh year of industry and business growth. The Saltwater artists have over 100 uniquely designed silver jewellery items in their range and proudly display them for your investment and pleasure.
Background to the Saltwater Collective of Artists.
The artists designers are of both Aboriginal and /or Torres Strait Islander descent.
The Saltwater Collection is the first Indigenous group training project involving the development of Jewellery manufacturing skills in Australia. Twelve Far North Queensland Indigenous artists and designers produced a new range of Jewellery as part of an innovative marketing and skills development project..
The project was designed to extend the professional practice of the artists and, to consolidate a platform to showcase the collection to a national and international audience, the artists undertook tailored workshops to provide them with the practical and business skills and marketing knowledge to seek new audiences and markets for their products. Workshops to develop the artists’ practical, business, and Intellectual property skills were also delivered in partnership with Labyrinth Design, a Kuranda based production, design and Jewellery manufacturing company and joint venture partner - who continues to manufacture the Saltwater Collection Jewellery.
Cast in precious metals, these unique pieces are based on themes drawn from the region's cultural heritage and environment, and depict traditional foods, objects and dream time stories, of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of the region.
The collection has generated significant interest both in Australia and overseas, to date and has traveled to UK, London, and Italy, Milan, and received interest from USA, France and Japan.
The Saltwater Collection long term vision is to extend the jewellery range and to expand their ideas into designing for the corporate gift market. Saltwater Inc. is positioned to become more prominent in the area of training and with established infrastructure, is poised to guide the business of Arts and Jewellery production in Far North Queensland for Saltwater artists and their local manufacturing industry partners.