The University of Melbourne x Donald Thomson — Making history with First Nations
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- The University of Melbourne
Comms positioning of the landmark donation of the UNESCO-inscribed Donald Thomson Ethnohistory Collection to the University of Melbourne.
Manifest played a pivotal role in the comms surrounding the donation of the UNESCO-inscribed Donald Thomson Ethnohistory Collection to the University of Melbourne
We worked closely with the University of Melbourne and Traditional Owners in Arnhem Land to ensure the donation of the Ethnohistory collection remained true to history.
The Challenge
To ensure proper recognition and First Nations acknowledgement of the historical significance surrounding the landmark donation of the UNESCO-inscribed Donald Thomson Ethnohistory Collection to the University of Melbourne.
Manifest was appointed to ensure the donation of the UNESCO-inscribed Donald Thomson Ethnohistory Collection to the University of Melbourne was communicated with historical accuracy.
Comprising over 11,000 photographs, maps, and thousands of field notes documenting Indigenous culture, this collection is a vital resource for all Australians to better understand the world’s oldest living civilisation. Manifest worked closely with the University of Melbourne, Professor Marcia Langton, and First Nations communities to ensure its significance was communicated to the media. Working alongside the University of Melbourne’s communications team, Manifest co-wrote the press release to announce the donation of a national cultural treasure.
Reviewing historical documents, interviewing the Donald Thomson family and helping ensure community representation was included in the announcement, Manifest played an instrumental role in ensuring the story’s positioning remained true to its history.
By blending academic and community-led storytelling, Manifest demonstrated its expertise in reaching First Nations audiences and collaborating with key educational institutions to present stories of cultural significance in a sensitive, inclusive and impactful way. The donation took place ahead of the 65,000 years: A short history of Aboriginal Art exhibit at the newly opened Ian Potter Gallery featuring a number of some of the oldest bark paintings in existence from the Donald Thomson Ethnographic Collection.
The communications campaign reached communities on Country, was featured in the University newsroom, and was distributed through a targeted media approach that led to placements across Fairfax Media, News Corp and the National Indigenous Times.
