Arts News
RAA national consultation survey
Regional Arts Australia (RAA) invites you to complete this survey as part of a national consultation to inform RAA's future directions aimed at strengthening regional communities through arts and culture. This is to show the breadth, scope, diversity and importance of the arts to regional Australians. For more information about RAA's National Consultation 2009 visit www.regionalarts.com.au
Anyone who completes the survey will go in the draw to win overnight accommodation for two people in a one bedroom apartment at a Medina Apartment Hotel (www.medina.com.au) of choice in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Wollongong or Darwin (valid until 30 November 2009).
Expressions of interest invited for Artists in Residence Education Initiative
Closing 19 June
Arts NT (NRETAS) in partnership with the Department of Education and Training (DET) and the Australia Council for the Arts is offering new project funding for initiatives that build partnerships between arts organisations and schools, including pre-schools and tertiary institutions. The aim is to build and strengthen relationships between selected arts organisations, DET and schools across the NT. Grants of up to $20,000 are available for the Artists in Residence Education Initiative in 2009. For more information download the Expression of Interest brief (232 Kb)
Regional Arts Fund open
Closing 22 June
Applications are now open to the Regional Arts Fund (RAF), an Australian Government initiative managed and delivered in the Northern Territory by Arts NT through the Arts Grants Program. The Regional Art Fund categories include:
- Accessing Arts to support initiatives that aim to improve arts access for disadvantaged community members;
- New Ideas to offer new applicants an entry point across all art forms;
- Remote Arts Partners to support arts activities in remote locations that encourage long term, sustainable relationships between artists and communities;
- New Arts Communities to support community based arts proposals in any art form from first time applicants
- Artist/s to Artist/s Support to offer structured relationships between artists/arts workers for professional development.
Another category available through the Regional Arts Fund is the Rapid Response Scheme, which offers up to $1,500 to support arts projects that cannot be applied to within the project rounds due to their time critical nature. Applications to the Rapid Response Scheme can be made any time. Follow this link for the Regional Arts Fund Guidelines.
Resale royalty response tabled in parliament
The Government's response to an inquiry into the Resale Royalty Right for Visual Artists Bill 2008 was tabled in Parliament. "The resale royalty scheme is one of the Government's key election commitments and will give artists the right to earn ongoing income from their work - long after the initial sale," said Arts Minister Peter Garrett. "Artists will receive five per cent of the sale price when their artworks are resold through the art market. This is an important right for artists as the value of their works can often increase - sometimes substantially - over time and it is only fair that they and their descendants should share in the growing appreciation of their work. "Similar programs are operating in over 50 other countries around the world. Mr Garrett said the Government has accepted a number of the recommendations of the review by the Standing Committee on Climate Change, Water, Environment and the Arts. www.environment.gov.au
Entries short-listed for 26th Telstra Art Awards
A final field of 93 high calibre artworks has been short-listed from more than 300 entries for this year’s Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award. With artists submitting entries from across Australia, the pre-selection process was a challenge with an extremely high standard of entries being received. The pre-selection panel comprised of well known and respected names in the Indigenous art world including Steven Gilchrist from the National Gallery of Victoria, Lola Greeno from Arts Tasmania, Dr Sarah Scott from the Australian National University, Carly Lane from the Art Gallery of Western Australia and Franchesca Cubillo from the Museum and Art Gallery Northern Territory (MAGNT). www.nt.gov.au
Indigenous awards celebrate contributions to culture
Yolgnu painter and rights campaigner Gawirrin Gumana AO will be honoured with the most prestigious career achievement prize in Indigenous arts at the Australia Council for the Arts’ 2009 National Indigenous Arts Awards. The $50,000 Red Ochre Award, to be presented by award-winning film director Baz Luhrmann, recognises Gawirrin Gumana’s distinguished contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts at home and abroad. The Australia Council’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board Chair, Dr Mark Bin Bakar, paid tribute to Mr Gumana’s impressive career, which has seamlessly combined artistic excellence with his spiritual and political concerns. ‘The Red Ochre Award celebrates the achievements of those who have fought to keep Indigenous culture strong. There can be no more worthy recipient than Gawirrin, who has been creating art in non-ceremonial contexts for more than 60 years, longer than any other living artist,’ he said. www.australiacouncil.gov.au
Congratulations to Samson and Delilah director
Arts Minister Peter Garrett congratulated Samson and Delilah director Warwick Thornton for his success in winning the coveted Camera d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. "The Indigenous department of Screen Australia - and previously the Australian Film Commission - has been supporting Indigenous film-makers since the early 1990s and this is the first feature film to be supported by these programs under the new agency. "With significant Government investment in this film, it is therefore especially pleasing to see the success Samson and Delilah has achieved at Cannes today," Mr Garrett said. "Samson and Delilah is no stranger to critical acclaim, including having received the Audience Award at this year's Adelaide Film Festival, but this international success is fantastic recognition of this extremely moving and powerful film, much of which is in language." www.environment.gov.au
Free advice and rebates for businesses on eco-efficiency through ecoBiz NT
ecoBiz NT is an eco-efficiency program that helps businesses, including tourism and accommodation providers achieve cost savings through improved environmental performance. ecoBiz NT is a free advice program and Government rebate scheme and more information can be gained by visiting www.ecobiznt.nt.gov.au
IFACCA D’Art report no.37: Global financial crisis and recession: Impact on the arts
Arts councils and ministries of culture have a key role in working to minimise the negative impacts of the downturn on the arts and in helping artists and arts organisations navigate such uncertain times. They also have a key role in advising on and coordinating the arts and cultural aspects of the much-publicised central government responses to the downturn. The aim of the report is to consolidate the collective expertise of IFACCA members as quickly as possible in order to help members respond to the downturn in a timely and informed way. www.ifacca.org
Quick News
- The Parliament of Australia has published a paper to give an overview of Commonwealth arts policy and administration from the begin of the Federation to the present www.aph.gov.au
- Happy Yess would like to welcome David Garnham as new Manager www.happyyess.com
- Responses to the Draft Territory 2030 strategey can still be forwarded until mid June. www.territory2030.nt.gov.au
- IAD Press writers Ali Cobby Eckermann, Alexis Wright and Margaret Kemarre Turner are travelling to the Dreaming Festival and participate at ‘Wordsmiths in a Language’
- Darwin City Council invites artists and arts workers to take part in a online survey towards a new council internet site www.darwin.nt.gov.au/websurvey
