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

Arts North West ON TOUR is excited to launch Pocket Productions

This is a new initiative by Arts North West to offer small communities in our region a
networked approach to find and fit hand-selected affordable theatre or musical
productions to tour to the smaller regional venues without a dedicated performing arts
venue. These productions will fit into venues like a community or school hall, school of art
building or an undercover showground area. Pocket Productions would be based on the
successful Arts North West ON TOUR model.
Arts North West ON TOUR now in its fifth year is an established network of community,
LGA, and privately managed venues/presenters (between 8-10 in the New England North
West region). Each network member pays an annual service fee for specialised tour
management. This includes the negotiation of a minimum of 2 negotiated professional
performing arts tours per year; itinerary programming; administration; marketing and
audience development, and the coordination of regional network meetings. More
information can be found at http://www.artsnw.com.au/anw-on-tour
Projects Officer, Nicci Parry-Jones explains, “We have been getting such good feedback
about audience satisfaction from the high quality performing arts touring our regional
theatres got us thinking that it would be wonderful if the smaller and sometimes more
remote communities had the same opportunity.”
For a nominal annual fee, the Pocket Productions package will include: sourcing and
managing the tour itinerary of one suitable touring production, assistance to each venue
to ensure the production is well promoted, liaison between the production company and
venue staff, advice on presentation, ticketing and promotion.
 

Speed Dating for Aboriginal Artists

Speed Dating for Aboriginal Artists was coordinated by Arts North West’s Aboriginal Arts Officer with 9 highly motivated Aboriginal Artists of professional standard who came together with 3 commercial galleries, 3 regional galleries and 3 funding bodies to connect, network and develop strategic relationships and linkages.

Aboriginal Artists
Rod McIntosh
Jodie Herden
Tess Reading
Chris Roberts (Mehi Gallery)
Elizabeth Munro (Mehi Gallery)
Cindy Duncan (Mehi Gallery)
David Craigie (Mehi Gallery)
Loretta Weatherall (Gomeroi Gaaynggal)
Aunty Pearl Slater (Gomeroi Gaaynggal)
Megan Naden (Gomeroi Gaaynggal)
Dannielle Thomas (Gomeroi Gaaynggal)
Aunty Rona Slater (Gomeroi Gaaynggal)

Aboriginal Artist Collectives
Gomeroi Gaaynggal
Mehi Gallery

Regional Galleries
Tamworth Regional Gallery

Commercial Galleries
Weswal Gallery

Funding Bodies
Australia Council
Arts NSW

Museums & Galleries
Arts North West

"Career-changing services were on show at the Tamworth Showground today, at a ‘speed dating’ event for Aboriginal artists.

Collaborators, funding bodies, galleries and support services were able to hear from individual creators who were showcasing their work.

Talking to them about their goals, aspirations and struggles as indigenous artists breaking into the creative industry.

“There are lots of barriers for regionally artists. One is money. Arts have taken a hit over the last couple of years financially and that’s been felt by artists… Being able to run projects, like this, enable our artists to connect with those people and hopefully some funds… to be able to practise.”

Watch the video here http://www.nbnnews.com.au/2016/08/31/services-and-artists-meet-at-speed-dating-event/

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.