Yvonne Carrillo-Huffman
Yvonne Carrillo-Huffman is a Senior Collections Officer with the Pacific Collections, at the Australian Museum. Her management and curatorial experience with the Pacific collection has consistently been focussed on applying methodologies prioritising the recognition of Indigenous Knowledge and activating Peoples’ access and engagement with their cultural heritage.
In 1997, she joined the AM Community Access Programs project team, developing short-term exhibitions involving a broad range of indigenous and non-indigenous Sydney-based communities illustrating personal narratives of place, identity and relationship with cultural objects. Her curatorial work over the years developed a strong impetus in prioritising the recognition, inclusion and application of indigenous knowledge systems to all aspects Pacific collection-based projects. This vision over the years has led to significant collaborative initiatives thus developing and expanding relationships between the AM and Pacific Cultural institutions and People across our region.
Some of these initiatives include the Development of a Collection Acquisition Policy (2006) to include intangible heritage knowledge and for all new field acquisitions to be made in partnership with Indigenous Communities (Erromango island, Vanuatu Barkcloth collection 2008; Lake Sentani, West Papua Malo Paintings 2009; Rituals of Seduction: Birds of Paradise Highlands – Headdress 2010; Asaro People, Holosa masks 2017; Body Adornment (Bilas) 2018-2019); Collection-based Research Projects (Erromango cultural revival project 2002-2006; Maketi Ples Pacific (annual event) of Pacific artists researching the collection 2011-2014) and Development of exhibitions: (ICOM Australia award for International Relations) for Rituals of Seduction: Birds of Paradise 2011; Pacific Spirit Gallery (2015); Pacific Patterns (2006) are some examples.
Yvonne studied Anthropology at the University of New South Wales and Macquarie University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in cultural anthropology (1995-2000). She also conducted studies in Photography at the National Arts School and Fine Photography at Point Light Gallery under the guidance of Australian Photographer Gordon Undy. Her interest in documenting people’s stories, relationship with their Living Environment and cultural collections led her to undertake filming and Editing Media courses at Metro Screen Film School.
