Arts backbone
Association of the Northern, Kimberley and Arnhem Aboriginal Artists
Arts backbone; E-Journals; PublicationNT; Arts backbone
2014-08-01
Darwin
This publication contains many links to external sites. These external sites may no longer be active.; Made available via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT).
English
Association of The Northern, Kimberley and Arnhem Aboriginal Artists; Arnhem, Northern and Kimberley Artists Aboriginal Corporation; Art, Australian; Aboriginal Australians; Aboriginal Artists; Periodicals
Association of the Northern, Kimberley and Arnhem Aboriginal Artists
Darwin
Arts backbone
volume 14 issue 1, August 2014
application/pdf
Copyright
Association of the Northern, Kimberley and Arnhem Aboriginal Artists
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/253922
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/534657
will lead the Indigenous Art Centre sector into the future. Art works used in workshops at museums and galleries often include objects made by important family members of AWEP participants, and promote rich learning experiences for the institutions staff as well as the visiting arts workers who share precious knowledge of stories and cultural contexts. Deborah Wurrkidj from Babbara Designs, Maningrida, reflects: Ive been working at Babbara Designs for a long time working hard, making designs and printing the fabric. Now its time for me to speak up to tell others about what I do, how important it is and how I can teach others about art and culture. Kieren McTaggart from Merrepen Arts in Daly River reflects: Im a young person working at our Art Centre, doing my artwork and helping the other artists get things done. My family told me I needed to step up go out into the world and learn more, and bring those things back here. At first I didnt want to do that, but now Im feeling proud and can see its something I need to do. As part of the program, ANKAAA staff visit participants Art Centres. Site visits allow arts workers to showcase their work on site at their Art Centres in Indigenous communities. They also provide the space to follow up on group training blocks with hands-on training and mentoring tailored to meet the professional and personal development needs of individual arts workers and also to meet with Art Centre managers. An important part of the nine-month program are presentations prepared and delivered by arts workers about their Art Centres and their work in them. In 2014 these were delivered at the Australian National Gallery of Australia and the University of Melbourne and will be a highlight at the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair in August. The program continues to receive excellent feedback and encouragement from participants and industry partners across Australia. As Mally Pindan, Mowanjum Art Centre, sums up: I learnt so much I find it hard to describe! The program is currently funded by the Department of Culture and the Arts, WA, the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation, the Department of Business, NT, INPEX Ichthys Pty and the Ministry for the Arts. For further information on the program please contact ANKAAA and be sure to join the arts workers at the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair in August. ANKAAA Arts Worker Extension Program 2014 Building on a growing Indigenous network ANKAAAs Arts Worker Extension Program (AWEP) is the only intensive professional development program with a focus on building skills and career pathways for Northern Australian Aboriginal arts workers. Each year, four intensive professional development modules are delivered to nine high potential participants from the ANKAAA membership. The first two take place in Darwin. They are followed by a twoweek interstate trip with workshops, visits and short internships at leading cultural institutions across Australia. The final module takes place at the annual Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair in August. AWEP is designed to increase arts workers professional skills, knowledge and industry networks to further their careers in Northern Indigenous Art Centres. There is also an alumni component the AWEP Graduate Program offering ongoing professional development and networking opportunities to increase long-term sustainability and keep the network of graduates alive and strong. ANKAAA is very fortunate to have the strong and continued support of major art institutions across Australia and their professional staff. This year once again participants travelled to Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne over two weeks and met many professionals at major institutions who generously donated their time and expertise. Arts workers gained valuable knowledge in conservation, archiving, preservation and curating through tasks, demonstrations and hands on workshops. Franchesca Cubillo, Senior Advisor of Indigenous art at The National Gallery of Australia, which has hosted the Canberra program for four years now, reflects on the programs benefits: I strongly believe in and support ANKAAAs Arts Worker Extension Program. The professional development opportunities, both short term and longterm, that this program enables cannot be undervalued. The gallery, in particular the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art department, has watched with excitement and quiet confidence in the growing collective of confident, knowledgeable, and empowered arts ambassadors who Top left: The AWEP participants at Parliament House, Canberra. (L-R) Rachael Morris, DJ Marika, Deborah Wurrkidj, Selina Gallagher, Jimmy Mungatopi, Serena Pinday, Evangeline Cameron, Mally Pindan, Rhoda Hammer, Kieren McTaggart Top: Rhoda videoing Rachael during the Filmmaking workshop at ABC Open, Darwin, with iPads on loan from NT Libraries Middle: Samantha Hamilton, Centre for Cultural Material Conservation at Melbourne University with Deborah preparing for a conservation workshop Above: Jimmy and DJ at the conservation workshop, CCMC, Melbourne University All photos ANKAAA Above: AWEP participants with (centre) Jonathon Saunders, Resource Support Officer, ANKAAA and (left) Franchesca Cubillo, Senior Advisor Indigenous art at The National Gallery of Australia Above: Kieren and Jonathon Saunders, Resource Support Officer, ANKAAA during an AWEP site visit at Merrepen Arts, Culture and Language Aboriginal Corporation, Daly River, NT Opposite right: Rhoda presenting at The National Gallery of Australia, Canberra 16 Arts BackBone ankaaa pRoJecTS Volume 14: Issue 1, August 2014 Volume 14: Issue 1, August 2014 ankaaa pRoJecTS Arts BackBone 17