19 Aboriginal art centres to receive more than $629,000
Made possible by the State Government's Royalties for Regions program
Projects include exhibitions, business skills development and capital works
Nineteen Aboriginal art centres have been awarded funding for 14 projects through the $24 million Creative Regions Program, made possible by the State Government's Royalties for Regions program.
Culture and the Arts Minister John Day said more than $629,000 would go to the centres from the Future Focus for WA Aboriginal Art Centres funding stream.
"Future Focus is one of five schemes under the program and aims to help make art centres sustainable commercially, socially and culturally," Mr Day said.
"Centres applied for funding for fully scoped projects ready to begin or for $5,000 to develop proposals for further assessment. The response has been excellent, with 10 high-quality projects approved and a further four with great potential funded to develop proposals.
"A number of the projects and proposals have been jointly submitted by groups of art centres, which means the majority of WA's art centres will receive help through the program."
Regional Development Minister Terry Redman welcomed the strong response and said Aboriginal art centres were important hubs for community and cultural activity in regional WA.
"Aboriginal art centres play a significant role in developing the skills of artists, maintaining traditional culture across generations and contributing towards regional WA's economic and social prosperity," Mr Redman said.
"This Royalties for Regions investment is helping to support the growth of Aboriginal culture in regional communities."
The $24 million investment program includes schemes to improve cultural infrastructure and arts development through venue upgrades, developing the skills of local arts groups, increasing the number of touring shows and helping Aboriginal art centres.
Fact File
Creative Regions Program is administered by the Department of Culture and the Arts
Applications for Future Focus funding were assessed by a panel including representatives of the departments of Culture and the Arts and Regional Development, Aboriginal art centre management and Aboriginal curatorial expertise
For more information, visit http://www.dca.wa.gov.au
Culture and the Arts Minister's office - 6552 6200
Regional Development Minister's office - 6552 6700
Future Focus for WA Aboriginal Art Centres - Funded Projects
Marninwarntikura Fitzroy Women's Resource Centre - $29,879
Learning You Mob - a community outreach and mentorship program will develop the workshop facilitation skills of Marnin Studio artists, build creative and technical skills for young women in outlying communities, and return products made in the workshop to the studio to fill demand for sales.
Roebourne Art Group - $5,000
To develop plans for a new art centre in Roebourne.
Warakurna Artists - $28,000
Warakurna Artists and Kayili Artists business model assessment and review, with a focus on sustainability and efficiency.
Wirnda Barna - $50,685
Wirnda Barna gallery enhancement project, and strategic business and marketing plan development to more effectively reach the Aboriginal art market.
Laverton Leonora Cross Cultural Centre - $5,000
For a review of the centre's business systems and planning aimed to enhance the centre's effectiveness.
Mara Arts Aboriginal Corporation (Yamaji Arts) - $60,000
Yamaji Art Pathway to Sustainability business model review and business planning, in addition to gallery enhancements, to help organisational growth.
Fremantle Arts Centre - $150,000
On behalf of Martumili Artists, Mangkaja Arts, Warakurna Artists and Papulankutja Artists, In Cahoots is an artist residency, skills exchange and collaborative arts project which will culminate in a major exhibition at the Fremantle Arts Centre.
Spinifex Arts Project Aboriginal Corporation - $82,197
Spinifex Studio - Stage 2 will complete construction and fit-out of the new art centre building in the Tjuntjuntjara Community, including solar system, air-conditioning, water storage and office space.
Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara Women's Council - $59,707
In Your Hands is a FORM, Polyglot Theatre and Tjanpi Desert Weavers collaboration which will result in a newly commissioned installation aimed at children and families, to premiere with FORM before touring.
Tjarlirli Art - $138,550
Ngurra - Home Project is a multi-arts program, linking six Aboriginal communities and three Aboriginal art centres (Tjarlirli Art, Warakurna Artists and Papulankutja Artists) in the Ngaanyatjarra Lands. The project engages community members of all ages in a range of media to explore community life and will culminate in a major touring exhibition in 2017.
Project development funding
Funding grants of $5,000 to fully develop proposals were awarded to FORM (Spinifex Hill Artists), Waringarri Arts (on behalf of Warmun Arts, Mowanjum Arts and Culture, Yarliyil Arts and Mangkaja Arts), Warlayirti Artists and the Shire of Wiluna (Tjukurba Art Gallery).
