Local indigenous artist Noeline Holten has spent a week in Broken Hill as part of Bankstown City Council’s Artist Exchange program.

Mayor of Bankstown, Councillor Khal Asfour, said the Artist Exchange program is one of the first ventures in the new phase of the sister city relationship between Bankstown and Broken Hill.

“This new phase follows our 25-year sister city celebrations conducted last year when we signed a Memorandum of Understanding which will be used to guide the Bankstown and Broken Hill Sister city program over the next 25 years,” Mayor Asfour said.

“I congratulate Noeline on being selected to represent Bankstown’s Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Arts Community with her display of work at the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery.

“Fifteen of her paintings were selected and displayed.”

Noeline Holten is a self-taught artist who has been producing art for more than 40 years.

“I grew up on Burnt Bridge Aboriginal mission where, as a child, I used to draw on the white clay soil with broken sticks and broken bottles and use dark berries to make colour Mrs Holten said.

“Most of my works and stories come from a sacred and spiritual blessing.”

Mrs Holten and Bankstown Arts Centre Director, Vandana Ram, also met with artists in Broken Hill with a view to developing future exhibitions and cultural exchange.

More information about the Bankstown and Broken Hill Artist Exchange program can be contained from the Bankstown Arts Centre on 9707 9224.