While Chair of the Environment, Community and Cultural Development Committee I activity secured funding in the budget process to ensure that the Indigenous Arts Grants Program was maintained as a strong and sustained aspect of the City of Melbourne's cultural development program. I am in the process of compiling details of amounts proved each year and will post them on this site when they are available.
The following February 9 2000 MCC media release describes the Indigenous Arts Funding when I was Chair in 2000: award and Melbourne's achievement.
Indigenous Arts Funding
The City of Melbourne has awarded Indigenous arts practitioners over $108,000 in funding as part of its 2000 Indigenous Arts Grants program. Artists and arts organisations to receive funding for visual, music, community arts, theatre/performance an dance include:
Christian Bumbarra Thompson If We Get to Venus $7,000
An exhibition reflecting on colonialism and an investigation into the current state of Australia's Aboriginal identity and its ascension. The show will consist of several sculptural works that speak of reconciliation and the rebuilding of traditional kinship structures
Gayle Maddigan Millennium Dreaming $25,713
A black and white photographic exhibition of profile portraits celebrating the life force and dynamics of Koorie culture in Melbourne - individuals who are actively involved in dance, theatre, sport, song and academia. Songlines Music Aboriginal Corporation Songlines Music Festival $20 000 This is a culmination of the Songlines Artist Development Program, a program that assists emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to develop ideas, skills and networking support structures in the music industry.
Sista Girl Productions artist run workshops $10,000
This project involves the commissioning of 5 Indigenous artists to run workshops in their specialty areas with Koorie youth. The project encourages active and creative participation in the city's artistic and cultural life while the young people reflect, explore, learn and play. The workshops will culminate in the presentation of work created at the annual NAIDOC March 2000 through the City of Melbourne.
IIbijerri Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Theatre Co-operative research and development $35,500
Funding has been provided to Ilbijerri for research and development including the development of a new theatre production, culminating in the presentation of a public reading of the work in progress.
Stories and Songs of the People Stories and Songs of the People project $10,000
This project features the sharing of Indigenous art cross culturally. Along with a number of prominent Australian Aboriginal artists, Native American artists and the greater community will also participate in lectures, workshops and present works in various art forms. Chair of the Environment, Community and Cultural Development Committee, Cr. David Risstrom, said that the Indigenous Arts Grants category was established last year to support the development, presentation, and promotion of arts and cultural activities from indigenous artists and arts organisations.
"As well as supporting some fantastic projects, the City of Melbourne's contribution brings us one step closer in the reconciliation process by giving Indigenous artists the opportunity to entertain, enlighten and educate the community" he said.
City of Melbourne's 2000 Arts Grants Program offered more than $2.4 million through five funding categories. Other categories already announced last year include support for Artists/Arts Organisations, Community Festivals, Partnerships and International Projects.
