Weaving Stories, Cultivating Kinship
Studio Kiin's story is one of community, creativity, and resilience in the face of a competitive industry. It all started with Emele Ugavule, who recognized the need in her own creative practice for a supportive space where Indigenous creatives could thrive together.
In an industry often marked by intense competition and individualism that leads to burnout, Emele saw an opportunity to forge a different path that was informed by the way she was raised as a Pacific woman. She envisioned a collective where collaboration would replace competition, where shared success would be celebrated, and where the unique and likeminded voices of Indigenous artists could be amplified and supported. So she reached out to creatives she had frequently collaborated with, artists and placemakers whose work she admired and whose voices she wanted to elevate and celebrate .
Her invitation was clear: let's work together in a way that feels good, and feels fun!
This wasn't just about creating another studio; it was about building a community of creativity and support.
Founded in 2021, our journey kicked off when Emele’s call to collaboration was answered by incredible artists, researchers and people weavers - Natasha Ratuva, Elsie Andrewes and Linda Iriza. Natasha had joined Emele’s coverage team for Dance Rites, Elsie had re-designed the Talanoa logo, and Emele had supported Linda to produce a workshop series and book of poetry with Bla(c)k women in Boorloo for Soul Alphabet.
Emele landed on the name Studio Kiin, a creative space that prioritises relations, and asked brilliant Chamorro artist, Veronica Cruz, to design our logo.
This vision of Studio Kiin quickly materialised into our first project, Haus of Memories, as part of the 'Paper' residency at Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, at the invitation of Lee Kinsella which involved a creative response to the exhibition, and a public program that included a workshop by Amateka Series, and oratory from Taonga Sendama, Ngadie Roberts and Lesina Ateli-Ugavule. This initial collaboration set the tone for what Studio Kiin would become - a place of innovation, cultural expression and collaboration, and collective growth and support.
Since then, other incredible storytellers have joined the call - Makanaka Tuwe (founder of Sesa Mathlo Apothecary), Arieta Tegeilolo Talanoa Tora Rika (founder of Talanoa), Iya Ware (Actor and playwright), Amy Zhang (Movement director and choreographer), and Nduta Gathoga (Actor and people weaver). The common thread between each storyteller who joined the collective was shared values, building community, intentional engagement with ancestral knowledge and a deep love for storytelling.
Elsie Andrewes and Emele Ugavule for Boosted x Moana. Photo by Southsides.
The Power of Storytelling
At the core of our work lies a profound love for our stories and ancestral ways of knowing. We recognize the unique power of storytelling. Studies show that humans tend to remember stories more than statistics. Storytelling induces a trance-like state in listeners and viewers. In many cultures, storytellers embody sacred knowledge and histories specific to space, place, and time. We see storytelling as critical to improving quality of life, preserving cultural and scientific knowledge, and essential to human survival.
Our Mission and Focus
At Studio Kiin, we are more than just a creative studio; we are a family of storytellers. Our mission is threefold:
1. Normalize story sovereignty
2. Cultivate kinship
3. Prioritize healing in creative practice
We are passionate about empowering artists to lead with culturally responsive, ethical, and sustainable creative practices. Our methods are not one-size-fits-all; instead, we tailor our approach to the specific needs of each community, project, and partnership, honoring the place, space, and time in which they exist.
In 2024, we expanded our vision with the launch of Rarama Ink, an independent press dedicated to stories by and for Indigenous peoples.
Natasha Ratuva facilitating a Masi making workshop at the Tok Talanoa Festival. Photo by Saint Andrew Matautia.
Our Unique Approach
Studio Kiin's approach is rooted in our core values:
Fatu: Embedding seeds of ancestral knowledge into creative and community arts practice.
Aganuku: Curating protocols and conditions for respectful, responsive, and safe spaces.
Folau: Learning, practicing, and teaching in varied and unique ways, spaces, and places.
Tupu: Creating opportunities to share knowledge, learn skills, and build career paths across communities and generations to expand our culture of reciprocity.
Makanaka Tuwe facilitating a story sovereignty workshop at the New Zealand Young Writer’s Festival. Photo by Brendon Williamson.
We offer a range of services, including:
Creative workshops, consultation and collaboration for individuals and community groups
Graphic, spatial, and relational design for galleries, museums, libraries, archives, and festivals
Cultural mapping for production companies, arts organizations, and institutions
Achievements That Define Us
Our unique approach has led to several key achievements:
Tok Talanoa: The first Melanesian arts symposium in Aotearoa funded by Creative NZ, featuring thought-provoking conversations and celebrating Melanesian brilliance.
Haus of Memories: A multidisciplinary residency project exploring how we archive and draw upon memory to honor our future past that has presented in Australia and Aotearoa engaging 20 artists from various communities.
Rarama Ink: An imprint that focuses on telling Indigenous stories, our way.
Although our core collective is made up of nine members, since 2021 we have collaborated with hundreds of artists and many Indigenous knowledge holders and community groups across Fiji, Aotearoa and Australia with lineages to Rwanda, India, Zenadth Kes, Papua New Guinea, China, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Kanaky, Palestine, Tokelau, Fiji, Whadjuk Boodja, Sāmoa, Burundi and Aotearoa.
Arieta Tegeilolo Talanoa Tora Rika reading at the book launch of Kalokalo at Lost in Books
Community, community, community
Studio Kiin is more than just a creative studio. It is a family of storytellers, a supportive network where Indigenous artists could find mentorship, collaboration, and the freedom to explore their artistic visions without compromise. In doing so, Studio Kiin challenge the status quo of the creative industry, proving that community-building and artistic excellence not only go hand in hand but are necessary for the sustainability of the practice of Indigenous creatives.
As we continue to grow and evolve, Studio Kiin remains committed to our mission of empowering Indigenous voices, preserving cultural knowledge, and creating spaces where stories can flourish. We invite you to join us on this journey of storytelling, kinship, and healing through creative practice.
