Arts News
Arts Policy – Community Consultation for Living Arts Policy - Discussion Paper
Arts NT would like to thank everyone for their comments provided at the community consultations and the submissions sent.
The Department of Natural Resources, Environment, The Arts and Sport (NRETAS) will finalise a new draft arts policy for consideration and determine strategies for developing a new arts funding framework. Arts NT will collate the feedback given and publish a summary of responses on the Arts NT website under Living Arts Policy - Discussion Paper.
More background information on the development of an arts policy for the Northern Territory, including previous responses made by the arts community, is available at Arts Lives - Feedback from previous community consultation in 2009
Available Arts Grants for 2010
The following categories are open all year round:
- The Quick Response Scheme offers up to $1,500 per grant to a max of $2,000 per financial year to access arts and cultural opportunities as they arise, in a flexible and responsive manner.
- Community Grants offer up to $5,000 to support community based arts activities with a strong focus on community involvement in all stages of the project.
- The Community Festivals Fund supports established and emerging regional and remote community festivals to develop and present artistic programs and cultural maintenance initiatives in community arts celebrations by offering up to $20,000 per year for up to three years.
- The Regional Arts Fund Rapid Response Scheme supports art projects that cannot be applied to within the project rounds due to their time critical nature with up to $1,500.
To find out more or discuss an application we recommend you contact our Arts Brokers at our offices in Darwin and Alice Springs:
- Top End applicants can contact the Darwin Office on:
T: 8999 8981 or Freecall 1800 678 237 or E: arts.office@nt.gov.au - Central Australia applicants can contact the Alice Springs Office on:
T: 8951 1154 or E: arts.office@nt.gov.au
General Arts News
2010 Darwin Festival Begins Tonight
NT Government – 12 August
One of the highlights of the Top End’s social calendar has arrived with tonight’s opening of this year’s Darwin Festival. Arts Minister Gerry McCarthy said tonight’s free Santos opening concert at the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens amphitheatre kicks off 18 days and nights of top entertainment.
“The performing and visual arts are an integral part of the Territory’s social fabric and that’s why this Government has committed over $800,000 to support the 2010 Darwin Festival,” Mr McCarthy said. www.newsroom.nt.gov.au/
Telstra Art Award Exhibition Opens this Friday
NT Government – 10 August
The highlight of the national Indigenous art calendar is almost upon us with the 27th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award opening celebration set to take place at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) in Darwin this Friday,13 August 2010.
The opening celebration not only announces the much anticipated winner of the $40,000 Telstra Art Award and five category winners, it also offers the public the first opportunity to view this year’s final selection of 96 Indigenous art works and features a great line up of entertainment. www.nt.gov.au
New Arts Space to Open at the Chan Building
NT Government – 3 August
The Territory Government announced plans to open a new exhibition space dedicated to the presentation of contemporary art in Darwin. Arts Minister Gerry McCarthy said the ground floor of the Chan Building, opposite Parliament House, will become the ”Chan Contemporary Art Space” for contemporary art exhibitions. “We have a thriving arts industry in the Territory and we are delivering a new space so we can put the work of our talented artists on show to our locals and visitors,” Mr McCarthy said. “I am delighted to announce that the 2010 Togart Contemporary Art Award will be the prestigious opening exhibition in this new space.”
Following Togart, a series of other exhibitions will be facilitated by the Territory Government.
Arts NT will be seeking Expressions of Interest from the arts sector in the coming months for future exhibitions. The Togart Art Award will open on 2 September and run for five weeks. http://newsroom.nt.gov.au
Galiwinku artist shortlisted in 2010 Telstra Art Award
NT Government – 3 August
Mavis Warrngilna Ganambarr, from Galiwinku Community, Arnhem Land is one of 96 artists announced as a finalist in this year’s 27th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award, 28 of which hail from Arnhem Land. www.nt.gov.au
Local Kiwirrkura artist shortlisted in 2010 Telstra Art Award
NT Government – 30 July
Yukultji Napangati, from the Kiwirrkura community in Western Australia is one of only 96 artists announced as a finalist in this year’s 27th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award for her untitled painting. www.nt.gov.au
Living Arts Policy On The Discussion Table
NT Government – 29 July 2010
Arts and Museums Minister Gerry McCarthy encouraged Territorians to attend community forums to discuss the Territory’s future arts policy. “The arts play a vital role in the Territory’s sense of identity as well as being an important part of the tourist industry and the Territory’s economy,” Mr McCarthy said. “That’s why the Territory Government wants Territorians to provide input so the future arts policy reflects community input, ideas and attitudes.
“We also want to align arts policy and programs with this Government’s priorities by improving service delivery, promoting greater equity in access to opportunities in arts that also lead to education, wellbeing and health outcomes and encourage creativity, innovation and knowledge. http://newsroom.nt.gov.au/
Central Desert Region artist shortlisted in 2010 Telstra Art Award
NT Government – 19 July 2010
Tiger Palpatja from Nyapari community, located 100kms south of Uluru is one of only 96 artists announced as a finalist in this year’s 27th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award for his painting, Piltati Tjukurpa, which depicts the creation story for Piltati, the country where Tiger lived as a boy. www.nt.gov.au
Ancestors represented in Arnhem Land artists New Media work
NT Government – 19 July 2010
Arnhem Land artist, Nawurapu Wunungmurra is one of only 96 artists announced as a finalist in this year’s 27th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award for his new media work, Mokuy. Nawurapu, the eldest son of the late Yangarriny Wunungmurra (1997 Telstra Art Award winner) first entered the Telstra Art Award in 1995 and has been a finalist in six Telstra Art Award exhibitions over the last 15 years. Nawurapu’s entry features a series of suspended, delicate, three dimensional mokuy (spirits) with an accompanying projected image, conceptually connecting the old with the new. Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Art Centre Coordinator Andrew Blake said following Nawurapu’s mokuy figures’ first public exposure at the Darwin Raft Artspace in 2008, they were invited to be shown at the 3rd Moscow Biennale, 2009.
www.nt.gov.au
Larrakia artist Gary Lee shortlisted in 2010 Telstra Art Award
NT Government – 15 July 2010
Larrakia artist, writer, anthropologist and curator, Gary Lee is one of only 96 artists announced as a finalist in this year’s 27th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award for his new media work, Robert, 20.
Gary is currently a PhD Indigenous Research Fellow at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies in Canberra but originally hails from Darwin, Northern Territory where the Lee family are a well-known local Darwin family. www.nt.gov.au
Indigenous broadcasting and media sector review
DEWHA - 8 July 2010
The Gillard Government announced details of the review of the Government’s investment in the Indigenous broadcasting and media sector. The Minister for the Arts, Peter Garrett, said the Indigenous broadcasting and media sector provides an important voice to Indigenous Australians.
The review will provide the Government with important information to assist in making informed decisions about the free-to-air carriage of Indigenous television and radio content on new digital broadcasting platforms, including the Government-funded Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) service. The terms of reference for the independent review have been developed in consultation with the Indigenous broadcasting and media sector. The review is expected to be completed by 31 December 2010.
For more information on the review visit www.environment.gov.au
A fair go for Indigenous Artists in Australia
DEWHA - 15 July 2010
The Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts, Peter Garrett has welcomed the opening of applications for the Indigenous Australian Art Commercial Code of Conduct. The Code will be administered by Indigenous Art Code Limited, a public company established to manage the Code for the Indigenous visual arts industry. Galleries, art centres and dealers who wish to become a signatory of the Code need to sign up as a member of the company.
Indigenous artists and organisations or individuals who are not commercial dealers but want to express their support for the objectives of the Code can also apply to become an Artist Member or Code Supporter Member of the company.
For more information on the Code, Indigenous Art Code Limited and access to application forms visit www.indigenousartcode.org
Arts cubed: join the digital challenge
Australia Council for the Arts - 27 July 2010
The What makes me website (www.whatmakesme.com.au), launched by the Australia Council for the Arts, invites all Australians to share their own stories about what the arts add to their everyday lives. The website introduces the personal stories of twelve ordinary and extraordinary Australians and the difference art makes to them. The subjects of these intriguing films range from famous names like Lote Tuquiri, Kylie Kwong and Mick Mundine through to office workers, amateur burlesque performers and stay at home parents.
Visitors to What makes me are invited to share their own stories by marking the sides of a virtual cube with their favourite arts experiences. As everyone’s art cubes are combined, the Australia Council is hoping to build Australia’s largest collaborative digital art work – a mosaic of cubes to celebrate Australia’s collective appreciation of arts and artists. Visitors can make their cube by drawing on photos, music and videos from YouTube, Google Images, Google book, Soundcloud and Flickr.
Recent Australia Council research, More than bums on seats: Australian participation in the arts, revealed that more than nine out of ten Australians had engaged in at least one artform over the last year – and that the internet is an increasingly popular tool for people wanting information about the arts or creatively participating in them. www.australiacouncil.gov.au
New Report: Arts and business: partnerships that work
Australia Council for the Arts - 8 July 2010
A joint research project of the Australia Council for the Arts and the Australia Business Arts Foundation (AbaF) provides a 2010 update on arts partnerships and the corporate processes behind arts-business relationships. This qualitative study conducted by Repucom International for the Australia Council and AbaF examines the perceptions and preferences of partnership decision-makers at 36 businesses around Australia. It includes both businesses that currently support the arts and businesses that support other sectors.
The research explores key areas of interest for arts organisations looking to develop smart new relationships and to deepen existing ones as we move into the new decade, including:
- the strategic importance of arts partnerships for the corporate sector
- the corporate sector’s motivations for partnering with the arts
- key influences and decisions that shape strategies associated with arts sponsorships
- decisions and activities that convey some of the best practice lessons learnt
- examples that highlight the benefits of business-arts partnerships for the corporate sector
- the primary reasons for major corporate brands not currently investing in the arts sponsorship industry.
Download the report here:
ABC’s Stateline NT reports about ‘Head full of love’
ABC – 9 July 2010
The Alice Springs Beanie Festival has inspired a new theatre production written by Alana Valentine which portrays a typical Territory story as it delves into the relationship between black and white Australia and kidney disease. The play will be performed on stage at the Darwin festival and the Alice Springs Desert Festival. To see the interview follow the link: www.abc.net.au/news/video/2010/07/09/2949866.htm?site=darwin
ABC’s News reports on ‘Indigenous musicians tackle social issues’
ABC - 12 July 2010
B2M, a group of six Indigenous men are using music to connect with the youth in their community and reassert traditional Tiwi protocols on the islands north of Darwin. After their concert collaboration with interstate artist Countbounce at the Darwin Festival on Wednesday 18th August, B2M have been selected to perform at the Australian Pavilion as part of the Northern Territory’s program of events during NT Week at the Shanghai World Expo 2010. To see the interview follow the link: www.abc.net.au/news/video/2010/07/11/2950537.htm?site=darwin
ABC’s Stateline NT reports about ‘New conductor’
ABC – 23 July 2010
Conductor and Artistic Director Leif Sundstrup talks about his plans for the Darwin Symphony Orchestra. Some of the ideas Leif offers are "...a rock series where we do funk, rock 'n roll, heavy metal - anything we can think of, and people, if they wanna hear what a whole violin section sounds under distorted guitar pedal is much more wicked than a guitar"
In 2010 the Darwin Symphony Orchestra received $210,000 in funding through Arts NT’s arts organisations funding program. To see the interview follow the link: www.abc.net.au/news/video/2010/07/23/2962919.htm?site=darwin
Quick News
- Territory artist Anna Reynolds has been awarded for being the 2010 Northern Territory winner of the Qantas Foundation Encouragement of Australian Contemporary Art Award wwwsv01.qantas.com.au
- Almost 40 art centres from the Northern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia are participating in the 2010 Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair from 12-14 August in the Darwin Convention Centre at the Darwin Waterfront www.darwinaboriginalartfair.com.au
- JB Seed Fund has announced a partnership with Skinnyfish Music for a new funding initiative entitled the "Skinnyfish Indigenous Community Music Initiative." to support Top End Indigenous community bands, by generating paid performance opportunities and encouraging positive outcomes in community life through music as recently in Barunga Sports and Cultural Festival and Merrepen Arts Festival - www.skinnyfishmusic.com.au and http://thejbseed.com
- 33 artists have been shortlisted for the Togart Contemporary Art Award one of Australia’s richest and most prestigious contemporary art awards, which will open 2 September at the new Chan Contemporary Art Space. www.24hrart.org.au
- Anne Hanning was making waves on international catwalks with her distinctive swimwear inspired by her Aboriginal heritage in Sydney. Anne was also supported through $1,500 in funding through a Quick Response Grant. www.ntnews.com.au
- Warren H. Williams and Ali Mills have been nominated for this years' Deadly Awards http://musicnt.com.au
- Finalists for the 2010 Indigenous Music Awards have been announced. The Northern Territory Government supports the 2010 Indigenous Music Awards with $100,000 in funding for Music NT to hold this event. http://musicnt.com.au
- Is there an Australian culture in a Facebook world? - www.smh.com.au
For further news and opportunities, please open the latest Arts NT Ebulletin
