FIRST STORIES PROGRAM

Arts North West First Stories Program works with individuals and organisations to build and improve opportunities for Aboriginal arts and communities in our region.

Extensive community consultation and strategic partnerships guide the development of programs and partnerships designed to foster and develop paid opportunities for Aboriginal artists, and build cultural safety and competency throughout all Arts North West initiatives.

Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support (IVAIS) Funding is to support and foster Aboriginal artists in the New England North West. Arts North West has engaged three First Nations contractors to deliver a myriad of programs and projects throughout the North West to diversify and increase opportunities for Indigenous creatives.

view the ARTS NORTH WEST ABORIGINAL ARTS & Cultural STRATEGY 2024 - 2028 (pdf)

Aboriginal arts steering committee

Arts North West supports the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities to celebrate and practise their cultures and to fulfil creative and cultural aspirations. Furthermore, we recognise and respect that Aboriginal people have a right to self-determination particularly in respect to cultural matters. This includes making decisions about preserving and sharing their traditional and contemporary cultural knowledge and practices.

Arts North West, through the Aboriginal Cultural Support Program, provides dedicated, cohesive, and regionally-based support for Aboriginal arts and cultural development which will allow our community greater access to opportunities to strengthen culture through arts practice, projects and career development.

The NENW Aboriginal Arts Steering Committee supports Arts North West with cultural guidance and decision-making, strategic planning, advice and feedback and will be developing respectful and sustainable relationships based on trust and respect for our cultural values and our histories. The NENW Aboriginal Arts Steering Committee is comprised of two Aboriginal volunteer representatives from each of the contributing LGAs in our region.