Alison William's ' Black Cowrie - Old Medicine'.
Aboriginal arts and cultural expression is a vital part of contemporary Aboriginal society and is an important element of the social fabric of Aboriginal people and communities throughout Australia.
NSW has the largest Aboriginal population in Australia and a unique contemporary Aboriginal arts and cultural sector. The sector has an important role in maintaining, enhancing and transmitting culture as Aboriginal artists seek to develop their own practice and find inspiration through their culture.
Arts NSW’s support for the Aboriginal arts and cultural sector
Arts NSW’s 2011 Arts Funding Program has allocated over $1.2 million for more than 30 Aboriginal arts and cultural projects and programs. Specific programs and projects include:
- program funding to the Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place at Armidale
- capital funding to Muru Mittagar Ltd for a museum and traditional knowledge centre
- support for a Community Engagement Officer’s position within the Saltwater Freshwater Alliance, working with Aboriginal communities on the Mid North Coast to deliver cultural workshops, arts projects and the annual Saltwater Freshwater Festival
- support for mentorships, arts laboratories and incubators such as a creative development and production of six indigenous emerging artists to create a new work at PACT Centre for Emerging Artists
- support to Goulburn Regional Art Gallery to engage high-profile NSW Aboriginal artists to conduct one-day art and culture workshops with Aboriginal inmates of the Goulburn Correctional Centre, culminating in an exhibition at Goulburn Regional Art Gallery
- support to Arts Out West for the creation and presentation of the Central West Aboriginal Arts event, showcasing the work of Aboriginal artists, dancers and filmmakers from across the Central West region.
Bangarra Dance Theatre receives funding from Arts NSW’s Major Performing Arts Fund.
Western Sydney is one of the largest population centres of Aboriginal people in Australia. Strategic funding in Western Sydney complements the existing development of the Aboriginal visual arts and craft sector in this region.
ConnectEd Arts provides a range of programs throughout the state including: arts camps for Aboriginal students, performing arts touring programs, travel and ticket subsidies provided to performing arts centres and galleries to assist schools to attend performances and a range of outreach workshop programs.
NSW Aboriginal Arts and Cultural Strategy 2010
The NSW Aboriginal Arts and Cultural Strategy was released in October 2010.
The strategy comprises four directions:
- Artists – increased participation of NSW Aboriginal people in arts and cultural activity
- Visibility – recognition and appreciation of NSW Aboriginal arts and cultural practice
- Community – Aboriginal arts and culture to assist in Closing the Gap
- Jobs – Aboriginal jobs and enterprises within the creative industries.
Read about the Strategy’s directions and the projects funded by Arts NSW under the Strategy in 2011 here
Download the NSW Aboriginal Arts and Cultural Strategy
