Arts North West Rivers to Ridges team following songlines to Tenterfield.

Arts North West, through their Aboriginal Culture Support Program, heads to Tenterfield next week to record stories of Elders as they prepare a series of documentaries for their “Rivers to Ridges, and the stories in between project” which has been funded by the Federal Government’s Indigenous Languages and Arts Program.

“Rivers to Ridges” and the stories in between, gathers and documents the stories of Elders, Artists and the Aboriginal history of the New England North West in multimedia format. It provides Aboriginal Artists the opportunity to translate and share the stories with the broader community through workshops across our region over two years.

Lead artist for the Tenterfield component of the project is well known Elder, Aunty Ronella Jerome, better known as Dolly. Dolly has been working with Creative Consultant/Project Manager, Lorrayne Riggs, Arts North West Aboriginal Arts Officer and Film Maker, Brendan Blacklock from Blacklock media in preparation for recording the stories of other local Elders including Helen Duroux, Rod McIntosh, Grace Binge and Glen Innes’ Adele Chapman-Burgess.

“I’m really looking forward to this deadly project”, said Aunty Dolly Jerome. “Recording our stories is something I am very passionate about, it is paramount for the preservation of our cultural knowledge”

Lorrayne Riggs, Project Manager said “this is the first time that we know of where the stories recorded will be focused on the unique cultural value of our region. Too often Aboriginal culture from NSW is not valued as highly as in our neighbouring states.By translating and sharing the stories from our region we are able to show the world that Aboriginal culture is alive, important and highly valued in the New England of NSW”.

The project team will spend a week in Tenterfield filming before they head to Tamworth, Narrabri and Moree later in the year.

SUCCESS! $166,913 for two projects promoting unique Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages and arts in the New England Electorate

$166,913 for two projects promoting unique Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages and arts in the New England Electorate

The Coalition Government is providing more than $22 million to support the maintenance of Indigenous languages and showcase Indigenous arts and culture through the Indigenous Languages and Arts program.

This funding will support a range of activities including large scale contemporary works in dance, music and theatre and traditional Indigenous arts practices and projects.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce said two organisations in the New England Electorate will share in more than $250,000 of funding through the Federal Government’s Indigenous Languages and Arts program.

“I am pleased to announce that 2 Rivers Pty Ltd has received $121,700 and Arts North West $145,213 for the respective projects, Looking Through Windows and Rivers to Ridges.

The project Looking Through Windows is a multimedia exhibition created by Lorina Barker, a student at the University of New England.  It explores the removal, dispossession and ‘protection’ of Aboriginal people in NSW and will be exhibited at the New England Regional Art Museum (NERAM) in late 2017, then at the Diggers on the Darling in March 2018 and the Campbelltown Art Centre in May?June 2018.

The Rivers to Ridges project aims to provide opportunities for Aboriginal artists to translate and share stories at workshops that will be presented in a multimedia format over two years. In the year 2016?17 it will receive $69,897 and in 2017?18 the funding amount is $75,316.

“These projects will contribute to a vibrant and diverse Indigenous cultural landscape where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are empowered to maintain, celebrate and promote their arts and languages,” Mr Joyce said.

The Minister for the Arts, Senator Mitch Fifield said the Coalition Government will provide $22.8 million to showcase Indigenous cultural and artistic expression and support the maintenance of Indigenous languages.

“The Indigenous Languages and Arts program supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to keep their cultural identity strong by funding arts and languages organisations and projects,” Minister Fifield said.

Twenty-one Indigenous arts and languages organisations will receive almost $15 million over five years to support the revival and maintenance of Indigenous languages and the delivery of arts projects.

A further 63 Indigenous languages and arts projects will receive almost $8 million for projects to be undertaken over the next two years.

The Indigenous Languages and Arts program helps to maintain and encourage participation in Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures by providing support for projects and organisations for language and arts projects.

More information about the program is available at www.arts.gov.au

SUCCESS! Grant for Aboriginal Artists in the NENW

$770,000 FOR ABORIGINAL ARTS AND CULTURAL PROJECTS The NSW Government has provided almost $770,000 for 25 projects that support training, career development, employment and marketing opportunities for Aboriginal artists, arts workers and young people across NSW. Deputy Premier and Minister for the Arts Troy Grant said the new projects will enable Aboriginal artists to build on their abilities and talents, boost local economies and encourage a greater appreciation of Aboriginal culture in the wider community. “Almost $296,000 will fund two Aboriginal art fairs, two projects that provide dance and theatre training to young Aboriginal people and two career traineeships,” Mr Grant said. “An additional $260,000 will provide employment placements for four Aboriginal arts professionals at leading arts organisations, while 15 projects valued at $208,000 will support Aboriginal artists in regional and remote communities.” Mr Grant said the Government is proud to invest in a vibrant and distinctive Aboriginal arts and cultural sector, supporting local artists and arts workers across NSW to tell the stories of their communities. “NSW is fortunate to have a vast array of Aboriginal artistic talent across art forms including visual art, dance, theatre, literature and music,” he said. “The funding is part of the Government’s Aboriginal Arts and Cultural Strategy, which guides Arts NSW’s ongoing partnerships and supports new creative opportunities for Aboriginal artists, arts workers, communities and audiences. “In February, we launched the second stage of this strategy, Connection, Culture and Pathways, which has a focus on career pathways through initiatives such as mentorships, secondments, employment placements and industry partnerships,” he said. Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Leslie Williams said these projects would help many talented Aboriginal artists continue to tell compelling stories in many art forms. “Aboriginal artists have been telling unique stories for thousands of years and we want to make sure that continues in Sydney suburbs and throughout regional NSW,” she said. 

Arts North West Inc: $15,000 for Making Old Markings New, a project to support professional skills development of four Anaiwan and Kamilaroi artists to re-connect with their regional cultural identity. The artists will work with experts at the Australian Museum and the University of New England to explore objects and mark-making traditions from the New England North West. It will include an e-resource and mini exhibition. 

Community Consultations To Establish Cultural Priorities

Arts North West have been engaged by Arts NSW to conduct community consultation in Armidale to establish the cultural priorities of the Aboriginal community in line with the objectives of the Armidale and Region Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place and we want to hear from community members and groups who are interested in having their voice heard in the process. “Arts North West is delighted to be working with the Aboriginal community to develop ideas and priorities for what is an iconic cultural institution not only in our region, but in NSW.” said Caroline Downer the Executive Director of Arts North West.
The consultations will be facilitated by Arts North Wests Aboriginal Arts Officer Lorrayne Riggs who is interested in talking to individuals and organisations within the community, and with a connection to the community in order to develop positive strategies and cultural priorities that will be used to provide recommendations to strengthen the centre.
“We really hope that the community can identify the positive outcomes this process can produce for the ACCKP, embrace the process and commit to working holistically in partnership to see how we can develop community driven strategies to strengthen the centre and drive the cultural priorities of the community in Armidale” said Ms Riggs.

To discuss your thoughts and ideas please contact Lorrayne on 0467 668 977 or aao@artsnw.com.au