Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts
The Australia Council supports Indigenous arts in all our sections and primarily the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board.
In 2006-07, we provided more than $8.7 million for Indigenous arts overall and $4.7 million through the board. This support takes the form of grants, residencies, an award for individual artists, financial and operational support to arts organisations, market and audience development initiatives and strategic initiatives to build capacity across the sector.
Confirmation of identity
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board gives priority to projects with Indigenous personnel in key positions. Many grants require evidence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander control and participation in decision-making. An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander is defined as someone who is of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, who identifies as such, and is accepted as such in the communities where he or she lives or comes from. Formal confirmation of identity is required from an applicant or key personnel involved in a project in the form of a letter or certificate from an organisation registered under the Aboriginal Councils and Associations Act 1976, or since July 2007, registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006, or an Indigenous land council or relevant legislation.
Cultural protocols
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board funding recipients should adhere to the Australia Council’s Indigenous protocol guides.
Grants
New work
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board
Applications close: 15 July and 15 November 2008
New work grants help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and organisations create new artworks for public presentation. Indigenous artists and organisations, and
non-Indigenous arts organisations are welcome to apply.
Presentation and promotion
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board
Applications close: 15 July and 15 November 2008
Presentation and promotion grants support the exhibiting, publishing, recording, presenting and promoting of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and their works. Indigenous
artists and organisations, and non-Indigenous arts organisations are welcome to apply.
Skills and arts development
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board
Applications close: 15 July and 15 November 2008
Skills and arts development grants help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and arts organisations develop their ideas and skills. They can support mentorship programs, arts workshops, professional development programs, conferences, seminars or planning and development programs. Indigenous individuals, groups or organisations, or non-Indigenous arts organisations that employ Indigenous artists/artsworkers are welcome to apply.
Residency – Albers Foundation
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board
Applications close: 9 May 2008
A two- or three-month residency at the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation residence studios in Connecticut, USA will be available for an Indigenous artist from October 2008.
Residency – Cité Internationale des Arts
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board
Applications close: 15 November 2008
A three-month residency at the Australia Council’s studio at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris will be available from June 2009, enabling an Aboriginal and/or Torres
Strait Islander artist or artsworker to undertake a period of professional development.
Fellowships
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board
Applications closed
Two-year fellowship grants provide recognised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists with financial support to develop a major creative project or program. Fellowships will be offered again in 2009, following a review of the category.
Red Ochre award
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board
Nominations close: 15 November 2008
Amount: $50,000
The Red Ochre award honours an eminent Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander artist who has made an outstanding lifelong contribution to the recognition of Indigenous arts in Australia and around the world. Individuals, arts organisations and community organisations can nominate an eminent Indigenous artist for the award.
Program – Indigenous arts workers
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board
Applications close: 15 July 2008
One-year program – Indigenous arts workers grants provide funding for an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander arts organisation to employ an Indigenous arts worker. The grant
may support part of an Indigenous arts worker’s salary for up to three years (100 per cent in the first year, 75 per cent in the second and 50 per cent in the third) or up to half the total cost of a program of activity associated with their employment.
Key organisations – leaders
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board
Applications close: 31 July 2008
Key organisations – leaders grants are for outstanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts organisations that demonstrate a leadership role in advancing Indigenous arts.
Proposals must be discussed with key organisations staff before submission. Expressions of interest are required by 31 March 2008.
Key organisations – partnership
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board
Applications close: 31 July 2008
Key organisations – partnership grants are for organisations to develop partnerships with an artistic outcome with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. Organisations
must demonstrate confirmed cross-sector partners and address priority areas: Indigenous intellectual property rights, Indigenous artist employment, international market development and intergenerational and young people.
Initiatives
Artists in work
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board
Partners: Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts, Ausdance NT, Contact Inc, Gadigal information Services, Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
The artists in work initiative enables a series of traineeships, cadetships, secondments and general placements that aim to develop a sustainable Indigenous workforce in the arts.
Honoring black voices
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board
Partner: Macquarie University
The Honoring black voices initiative supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers and publishers to develop their skills and new audiences. The Macquarie PEN Anthology of
Australian Aboriginal Literature will be published in 2008.
Celebrations
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board
The celebrations initiative supports major Indigenous arts festivals across Australia to build their capacity and sustainability.
Festival of Pacific Arts 2008
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board
Partners: state and territory arts agencies
The Festival of Pacific Arts (FOPA) brings together Pacific peoples every four years to share and exchange traditional and contemporary culture. The 10th FOPA will be held between 20 July and 2 August 2008 in American Samoa. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and arts organisations are being supported to attend the festival. Visit www.
festival-pacific-arts.org/ for more information.
Music bound
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board
Partners: WA Music Industry Association, Abmusic, Australasian Performing Right Association, Songlines, Terrasphere
Music bound aims to build the infrastructure and support for sustained access, employment and engagement by Indigenous arts workers in the mainstream music industry.
Other side of the coin
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board
The other side of the coin initiative helps Indigenous artists better understand their rights in the marketplace and advises consumers about how to help protect Indigenous cultural and intellectual property.
Showcasing the best
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board
Partners: National Gallery of Australia, Dreaming Festival, Melbourne Workers Theatre
The showcasing the best initiative sources new opportunities for developing and touring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts internationally.
Treading the pathways
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board, dance board
Partner: Ausdance National
The treading the pathways initiative assists mid-career Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dance artists by developing the national infrastructure for Indigenous dance. It focuses on building national networks, professional development and career opportunities. Visit The Australian Dance Council - Ausdance for more information.