Indigenous arts and culture - News and events

Events | Featured projects | Call for entries | Announcements

Events

Jan Billycan, Kirriwirri - Broome, Western Australia

Opens 29 August 2008

Jan Billycan is one of the seminal artists from the Yulparija Artists movement, a painter of such intense and internalised quality that her paintings seem to sing to the viewer. Billycan has been recognised both nationally and abroad over the many years she has been painting. This exhibition showcases a selection of works painted over 2008 depicting her traditional country Kirriwirri in the Great Sandy Desert. Short St. Gallery.

Mungowm Ngarraknarri Yaarun - Strong Stories, Strong Country - Broome, Western Australia

Begins 19 September 2008

Short St Gallery in association with Warmun Art present a survey show celebrating Warmun's 10 year anniversary. The exhibition showcases the beauty and diversity of Warmun art, ranging from the striking works of established artists such as Patrick Mung Mung and Mick Jawalji, through to the exciting new art of emerging artists such as Markia Mung, Marika Patrick and many more. Short St Gallery.

The 14th Annual Deadly Awards - Sydney

9 October 2008

Since 1995, the Deadly Awards have celebrated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander excellence in music, sport, the arts and community achievement. From humble beginnings in a small gallery in Redfern to the most prestigious venue in the country, the Deadlys have grown into a major national event, eagerly anticipated by Indigenous Australians across the country. Sydney Opera House.

Bangarra Dance Theatre - Washington DC, USA

16-17 October 2008

One of Australia's most unique and innovative dance companies, Bangarra Dance Theatre is renowned for its fusion of traditional indigenous culture with contemporary dance resulting in captivating and visually spectacular dance works. Fuelled by the spirit, energy, and inspiration derived from the culture, values, and traditions of Indigenous Australians, the troupe creates theatre that is artistically innovative, technically outstanding, and truly exciting. Kennedy Centre.

Through Our Eyes - The Canning Stock Route - Port Hedland, Western Australia

5 September - 24 October 2008

Through the eyes of emerging and established Aboriginal artists, FORM's innovative Canning Stock Route Project has resulted in the creation of over 200 works from over nine remote community art centres across the Pilbara, Kimberley and Midwest regions, celebrating their countries surrounding the Canning Stock Route. Port Hedland Courthouse Gallery.

Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award - Darwin

15 August - 26 October 2008

The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award. The Award is open to all adult Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander artists and aims to showcase the very best Australian Indigenous art from around the country. The non-acquisitive Telstra Award of $40,000 is awarded to the work considered by judges to be the most outstanding work in the exhibition. Additional prizes of $4,000 each are awarded in four media categories. Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.

Mitjili Napurrula

16 October - 9 November 2008

Mitjili Napurrula goes solo in this exhibition of more than 25 of her works. Each painting is a testament to her bold and distinctive style, where she combines traditional subject matter with a fresh and contemporary exuberance of colour. Her unique work seems made for modern interiors, and has appeal to professional designers, home decorators, and fine art collectors alike. Kate Owen gallery.

Desert Mob - Alice Springs

26 September - 9 November 2008

The Araluen Arts Centre is the annual host venue for Desert Mob. In 2007 the exhibition displayed 342 works from 35 Aboriginal art centres in Central Australia, with works by artists living and working in remote areas of the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia. All members of Desart, the participating art centres are owned and managed by the Aboriginal people in their own communities. The main focus of these art centres is to encourage the production of art and craft by local community artists and to assist them with the sale and promotion of their work. Araluen Arts Centre.

Featured projects

FORM's Indigenous Development Program - Western Australia

August 2008

FORM's Indigenous Development Program, running since 2005, is based on the need to promote intercultural celebration of Indigenous artists and their families in Western Australia. Currently encompassed by The Canning Stock Route Project, projects are implemented in collaboration with remote and regional art centres. Projects are mostly facilitated out-bush and 'in-country' - taking the aims and principles of Creative Capital to the remote regions of WA.

Gurrumul - solo album a transcendent experience

April 2008

The voice of Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu has been described as 'a gift from the gods'. Geoffrey, or Gudjuk as he is also called, is from Gumatj in North East Arnhem Land. A former member of Yothu Yindi, now with Saltwater Band (Elcho Island), Gurrumul's first solo album highlights his amazing talent as a singer/songwriter/musician. His beautiful voice singing the songs of his Gumatj country will never leave you ... 'it is as though Yunupingu has reached into a wellspring so deep it transcends cultural barriers'. (Bruce Elder, SMH, 12-13 April, 2008)

TERRA SPIRITUS... with a darker shade of pale

March 2008

Bea Maddock has etched the entire coastline of Tasmania with Terra Spiritus... with darker shade of pale, 1993-98, a fifty-one sheet red-ochre pastel drawing that forms a fully encircling panorama, almost 40 metres in extent. Distant inland mountains are reflected out onto the sea towards an imaginary viewer in a small boat. Blind-printed, inconspicuous lettering identifies mostly minor landscape features named by Europeans; curling along the mid-line of the work, hand-drawn Palawa words of the Tasmanian Aborigines. Her local earth, hand-ground and rubbed into delicate scratches in the paper, echoes Indigenous cosmetic use of redness. Art Gallery of South Australia.

Guides to help do the right thing with Indigenous culture

March 2008

The Australia Council for the Arts has revised its protocol Guides that assist people understand how to use Indigenous cultural material. The five Guides cover protocols for producing Indigenous Australian media arts, music performing arts, visual arts and writing. They were written for the Australia Council by Indigenous intellectual property lawyers Terri Janke and Robynne Quiggin.

Ningenneh Tunapry Tasmanian Aboriginal Gallery - Hobart

The new Tasmanian Aboriginal Gallery presents visitors with a rich, enlightening and inspiring experience. Ningenneh Tunapry means 'to give knowledge and understanding'. The gallery explores the journey of Tasmanian Aboriginal people and is a celebration of all Tasmanian Aboriginal generations - past, present and future. Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.

Call for entries

Selling Yarns 2: Innovation for sustainability - National

Entries by 15 January 2009 (full papers), event 6-8 March 2009

Selling Yarns 2: Innovation for sustainability is a conference that addresses contemporary Indigenous craft and design practice. It draws on the outcomes of the first Selling Yarns conference held in Darwin in 2006 that looked specifically at contemporary Indigenous textile practice. The conference will highlight the work of Indigenous makers from the south-eastern region of Australia and parallel the directions in practice of urban Indigenous makers with that of artists in remote communities.

Indigenous Filmmakers Scholarship - New South Wales

Entries ongoing

This Scholarship offers Indigenous people in NSW the opportunity to enrol in Metro Screen training courses to the value of $1,000 each. To apply for the Scholarship, complete an application form (PDF) identifying the course of study and reasons for selecting the course. Scholarships are awarded on a first come, first served basis. Courses are listed on the Metro Screen website.

Announcements

SBS commits to Indigenous language content

26 September 2008

SBS announced it will commence national consultations with Indigenous communities to get inspiration and formulate ideas for a long-term Indigenous content strategy for SBS television, radio and online based content around Indigenous languages. This will culminate in a series of initiatives across all platforms including an ambitious television series centred around the promotion, protection and preservation of Indigenous languages envisaged to start production in 2009.

First-timer takes Indigenous literary gong

17 September 2008

A Darwin first-time author has won the nation's highest-paid Indigenous writer's prize with a satirical look at life in the missions. Marie Munkara's book Every Secret Thing was awarded the $15,000 David Unaipon prize in Queensland last night.

Rare Indigenous language lists online at State Library New South Wales

9 September 2008

Rare Indigenous language lists are now available via the State Library of New South Wales' unique Indigenous Australians online collection. While many of the 250 Indigenous languages spoken in Australia have been lost over time, the Library has traced fragments of these languages in first-hand accounts written by British naval officers, surveyors and missionaries. This project is supported by the Rio Tinto Aboriginal Fund. State Library of New South Wales (NSW) unique Indigenous Australians online collection.

12 Canoes goes live

8 September 2008

From the big screen to the web, the Yolngu people of Ramingining now have a place on the Internet following the launch of the 12 Canoes website today. The 12 Canoes site gives the world access to an immersive and engaging view to celebrate the culture, art and history of one of world's the oldest existing people - the Yolngu - whose homeland is the town of Ramingining and the Arafura Swamp of north-central Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. Inside Film 8 Sept 2008.

Christine Christopherson selected for prestigious international art residency

August 2008

Iwaidja artist Christine Christopherson has been selected as the second Australian ever to be offered an artist residency at the Joseph and Anni Albers Foundation studio in Connecticut, USA - supported by the Australia Council for the Arts. Lydia Miller, Executive Director of the Australia Council's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Division, said Christopherson joins a select group of artists who have worked at the estate of the late Bauhaus School artists - Joseph and Anni Albers. 'This residency is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Christine to work in one of the world's leading residential art studios and develop her practice,' she said. A visual artist from Darwin whose past works have been inspired by her staunch opposition to mining in Kakadu National Park, Christopherson's works are currently on display in Culture Warriors - Australia's first National Indigenous Art Triennial.

Indigenous funding program review

August 2008

The Australia Council for the Arts' Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board is conducting a review of its key organisations funding program, Making Solid Ground. Input from people and organisations with an interest in support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists is being sought. Two papers have been released to date: a discussion paper, to invite conversation about how best to invest in infrastructure support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts, and an issues paper, to help guide input about the issues that matter to future support for Indigenous arts in this country. These are the first step in a nationwide consultation process for the review.

$37.5 Million in Indigenous Arts And Cultural Support

14 August 2008

Arts Minister Peter Garrett and Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin announced more than $37 million in funding for Indigenous arts, cultural, languages and broadcasting programs across Australia in 2008-09. Visiting the Kurruru Youth Performing Arts Centre in Port Adelaide Mr Garrett said the funding, through four Government programs, would support the activities of almost 250 organisations providing invaluable support, services and programs to Indigenous Australians.

Australian Government response to Senate Indigenous art enquiry

12 August 2008

Arts Minister Peter Garrett has tabled the Australian Government's response to the 29 broad recommendations outlined in the Senate Inquiry Report Indigenous Art: Securing the future. "The Rudd Government recognises that a vibrant and sustainable Indigenous art sector is critical for artists and their communities. The growing Indigenous art market makes a significant contribution to our economy, and Indigenous art practice is an important driver of cultural understanding. The Rudd Government has already committed additional funding of $7.6 million over four years to the National Arts and Crafts Industry Support (NACIS) program to boost support for Aboriginal Art Centres. Additionally, we have allocated $1.5 million in the 2008/09 Budget for the implementation of a resale royalty scheme which will ensure artists have an ongoing economic interest in their work."

New Australian Institute for Indigenous Learning and Skills Development

19 July 2008

The Australian Government will contribute $6.75 million toward the establishment of the Australian Institute for Indigenous Learning and Skills Development.The institute will form part of the redeveloped Punt Road Oval, the original home of the Richmond Football Club, which will be completed in 2010. Media release.

$3 million boost to Indigenous heritage protection

July 2008

Celebrating NAIDOC week, Heritage Minister, Peter Garrett has announced more than $3 million in support from the Commonwealth Government's Indigenous Heritage Program for 49 Indigenous projects across Australia. Mr Garrett said the program was aimed at helping community groups and individuals identify, conserve and promote the heritage values of places important to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Key online resources

• Aboriginal Art Directory
• The Black Book - Indigenous Portal
• Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
• Message Club - Indigenous online space for children
• Message Stick - ABC online
• Vibe (the Deadlys)
• Centre for Appropriate Technology
• Reconciliation Australia
• Virtual Warrane - computer simulation
• The Institute for Aboriginal Development
• IAD Press - National Indigenous Publishing
• Indigenous Community News Network
• Indigenous language map

Indigenous peoples

• Eora: Aboriginal Sydney, 1770-1850
• Garma
• Indigenous Australians - online exhibitions at the Mitchell Library
• Mission Voices - Koorie
• Narungga people, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia
• Nyoongar people - Murdoch University
• Wallumedegal - Aboriginal History of Ryde
• A brief Aboriginal History of Ryde
• Bundle (also known as Bon-del, Bundal, Bundell or Burreach)

Arts and culture

• Twelve Canoes
• Ananguku Arts - Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia
• ANKAAA - Northern Territory Top End and Kimberley Indigenous art centres
• Desart - Indigenous art centres in Central Australia
• Dust Echoes
• iDIDJ Australia
• Koori Heritage Trust - Victoria
• Ngaanyatjarra Regional Arts
• Queensland Indigenous Arts Marketing and Export Agency (QIAMEA)
• Roebourne Art Group
• Indigenous Torres Strait Islander Art
• Tiwi Art
• UMI Arts- Far North and West Queensland
• Us Mob
• Warlukurlangu Artists' Aboriginal Association

Media and broadcasting

• Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA)
• Imparja Television
• Waru - hosted by PY Media in APY Lands