Jeremy Smith, our director of community, emerging & experimental arts, introduces the recipient of the Australia Council Kirk Robson Award for Community Arts and Cultural Development, Fablice Manirakiza.
Patricia Adjei, our arts practice director of First Nations Arts & Culture, introduces the recipient of the Australia Council Ros Bower Award for Community Arts and Cultural Development, Rhoda Roberts.
Graham Akhurst is on a path of self- leadership, empowered by the transformational skills and techniques learnt through the Australia Council’s Future Leaders Program. Brisbane born Graham is now on his way to Manhattan New York, to share the stories of his people through his literary craft.
More Australians than ever are engaging with First Nations arts, expressions of the world’s oldest living culture and storytelling that stretches back for millennia.
'We know that art can reshape our perspective and transform lives in unexpected ways. The arts build social cohesion. They give us narratives to navigate our world.'
Tony Grybowski, Former Chief Executive Officer, Australia Council for the Arts
Community arts and cultural development encompasses collaborations between professional artists and communities based on a community’s desire to achieve artistic and social outcomes.
The Australia Council supports community arts and cultural development artists, practitioners, organisations, projects and programs through a range of grants and initiatives.
Our support is focused on priority areas including regional Australia, disability, young people, cultural diversity, emerging communities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and remote communities, as well as specific critical social and cultural issues requiring focused attention.
Community arts and cultural development is distinct from other arts practice as it is the creative processes and relationships developed with community to make the art that defines it, not the art form or genre.
Christian (Bong) Ramilo is a self-described cultural activist who uses music, photography, theatre, poetry, and other ways of working with various groups of people to drive social change.
He was born in the Philippines and was active politically and artistically against the Marcos dictatorship. He migrated hurriedly to Australia in 1986 because of his political-artistic activities. He now lives and works in Darwin, where social and political issues continue to motivate his creative work.
Ros Bower Award is given to artists with a proven record of high achievement in community arts and cultural development, driven by the principles of equality, respect, and diversity. It is named in honour of Ros Bower, a journalist, television producer, community arts pioneer and founding Director of Council’s first Community Arts Board.
Past winners of the Ros Bower award include Steve Mayer-Miller (2017), Lily Shearer, Lockie McDonald, Steve Payne and Alissar Chidiac.
Edwin Kemp Attrill is a South Australian theatre maker and community arts practitioner who works with people with disabilities, prisoners, LGBTIQ communities, young people, refugees and migrants.
He is the founder and Artistic Director of ActNow Theatre and the former Artistic Director of the University of Adelaide Theatre Guild. Edwin’s work focuses on interactive theatre and participatory storytelling, exploring social issues and themes.
Kirk Robson Award recognises outstanding leadership from young people working in community arts and cultural development, particularly in reconciliation and social justice. It was established to honour Kirk Robson who tragically died in a car accident in 2005. He received the Council’s Young and Emerging Artists Initiative and was the Artistic Director of The Torch Project.
Past winners of the Kirk Robson award include Ali Kadhim, Nathan Stoneham, Shakthi Shakthidharan, Jade Lillie and Alexandra Kelly.
One of Australia’s most celebrated and internationally profiled contemporary artists, Angelica Mesiti works across video, performance and installation. Mesiti has developed a practice characterised by large-scale video and sound works.
The Australia Council has a long and proud history of partnering with philanthropic foundations, corporations and individual donors to co-invest in the arts. Together we have realised unforgettable creative experiences, and supported the talents of extraordinary artists.
Akolkol Dastan Gesa Group Image. Between May 2017 and April 2018, Akolkol Dastan Gesa engaged 40 young people between the ages of 12 and 29 to work with a team of professional artists to create a music video called SAME DRUM.
International residencies provide a unique opportunity for artists to immerse themselves in a new arts context, market, community and culture. The experience enables artists to articulate their practice within a global context and build knowledge, networks and partnerships.
The 2016-17 Australia Council for the Arts Annual Report was tabled on 23 October 2017. The report outlines key achievements and outcomes during the second full year of activity under its Strategic Plan.
The Australia Council for the Arts has released new research which examines the economic conditions faced by practising professional artists in Australia and their increasing value to society and the future of work.
Since its inception in 1973, the Australia Council for the Arts has been a world leader in having dedicated and unbroken funding to support community arts and cultural development practice.
This survey is the third in a landmark series by the Australia Council for the Arts, following editions in 2009 and 2013. It measures Australians’ engagement with the arts in 2016.
