- Five regional Aboriginal arts and cultural
groups receive funding to help enliven the Aboriginal arts scene
- More than $500,000 will go towards new works and
developing capacity within arts and cultural organisations
A new round of funding will support the gestation and birth of unique
Western Australian Aboriginal stories, while also supporting the groups who
tell them.
Five Aboriginal arts and culture groups from regional Western Australia
will benefit from the first round of the Regional Aboriginal Arts Development
grants.
Administered by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural
Industries, the grants provide funding for projects that support the
development of Aboriginal artists and the Aboriginal arts and cultural sector
in regional Western Australia.
Funding can be awarded in two categories. The creative development
category awards up to $150,000 to support the development and production of
new, large-scale Aboriginal artworks in regional WA. The business development
and capacity building category awards up to $50,000 to develop the capacity and
sustainability of Aboriginal arts and cultural organisations and creative
businesses in regional WA.
The peer assessment panel was made up solely
of Western Australian Aboriginal people. They recommended five applications for
a total of $548,802. The
recipients are:
- Marrugeku
- $150,000 for research and first creative development of a new major work in
the Kimberley;
- Goolarri
Media Enterprises - $149,624 for the creation of Because We're Blak, a new
Aboriginal theatre work in Broome;
- Juluwarlu
Group Aboriginal Corporation - $149,288 for the development of a major new,
multi-media work out of Roebourne sharing the sacred Burndud stories and
co-commissioned by Perth Festival;
- Warmun
Art Aboriginal Corporation - $50,000 to develop organisational skills, systems,
policies and planning documents to ensure Warmun Art in the East Kimberley
thrives into the future; and
- Baiyungu
Aboriginal Corporation - $49,890 to support cultural research, strategic
sustainability planning and marketing activities to ensure the Jamba Nyinayi
Festival in Coral Bay is more economically sustainable.
The Regional Aboriginal Arts Development is a competitive grants program
delivered as part of the Regional Arts and Cultural Investment Program (RACIP).
Comments attributed to Culture and the
Arts Minister David Templeman:
"Three of these grants go
towards the creation of new works in regional WA. Because of where they are
made and who they are made by, they will offer us unique perspectives and
insights, as well as leave a cultural legacy for our State.
"One project will tell
old stories using new technology, which will bring a greater depth of
understanding, as well as the preservation of these stories.
"It's important to
support works which the public see, but it's equally important to support the
processes which go on behind the scenes in the arts. Two of these grants will
help Aboriginal corporations create a solid business foundation from which to facilitate
further capacity and growth.
"I look forward to seeing
what kind of exciting work comes as a result of these grants."
Comments attributed to Regional Development Minster Don Punch:
"The regions often have a different perspective and that's certainly true
when it comes to the contribution of arts and culture.
"These grants will allow five Aboriginal groups to share that
perspective, while at the same time strengthening art and culture in the
regions."
Comments attributed to Kimberley MLA Divina D'Anna:
"I'm so pleased to hear that three of the five recipients are from the
Kimberley region - we really do have some world-class artists here.
"By supporting their work, it helps them to tell their stories, which in
turn leads to greater understanding and stronger partnerships."
