February 2012

Aboriginal artists wanted for 2012 Good HeART exhibition

Posted: February 29th, 2012

Filed under: Aboriginal Art, Geraldton, Mid West, OPR

Following on from four years of showcasing traditional and contemporary works by mid-west Aboriginal artists to regional and metropolitan audiences, Good HeART is back again for 2012.

An initiative of Oakajee Port and Rail, the exhibition attracts artists from communities all over the region, including Wiluna, Mullewa, Northampton, Meekatharra, Mt Magnet, Cue, Yalgoo and Morawa.

A preview of the show will be held in Geraldton from 21 May to 2 June, and the main exhibition will be staged in Perth’s CBD from 18-22 June. All proceeds from sales go directly to the artists.

Works, including ceramics, woodwork, canvas, artefacts and textiles, must be submitted for consideration by 4 May 2012.

Free business workshops in Geraldton and Carnarvon

Posted: February 27th, 2012

Filed under: Carnarvon, Geraldton, Indigenous Business Australia

Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) is offering free Into Business workshops this week in Carnarvon and Geraldton to assist Aboriginal people to fully investigate and research their business ideas before taking the leap into business ownership.

The workshops are run in three parts, with part A: Your business idea, goals and expectations, running on Tuesday, 28 February in Carnarvon and Wednesday, 29 February in Geraldton.

For more information and to register for the workshops, call 9229 1408 or 1800 107 107, or visit IBA’s website.

Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) is a commercially focused organisation that promotes and encourages self-management, self-sufficiency and economic independence for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. They aim to identify and pursue opportunities that enable Indigenous Australians to create wealth, accumulate assets and achieve their financial aspirations.

Indigenous Arts Funding: applications now open

Posted: February 16th, 2012

Filed under: community grants, Department of Culture and the Arts, Indigenous Arts

The WA Department of Culture and the Arts (DCA) awards a wide range of grants to artists, artsworkers, groups and organisations, including targeted Indigenous Arts Funding grants.

The DCA is now accepting applications for two different categories in their Indigenous Arts Grant Program:

Development (click here for more): This category is open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, groups or organisations working in all eligible art forms for projects that involved the exploration of new ideas, the development of new skills, the creation of new work or the recreation or reinterpretation of traditional or customary practices or cultural expression.

Distribution and Marketing (click here for more): This category is open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, groups or organisations working in all eligible art forms and facilitates the distribution of an existing WA arts activity, event or product to new audiences locally, interstate, and/or internationally.

Applications close on 23 March, 2012. To find out more information, visit http://www.dca.wa.gov.au/funding/ or call 1800 199 090.

New website tells the story of the Stolen Generations

Posted: February 14th, 2012

Filed under: apology, Stolen Generations

Yesterday, on the fourth anniversary of  former Prime Minister Rudd’s national apology to the Stolen Generations, a new website was launched to share the personal stories of members of the Stolen Generations.

The ‘Stolen Generations’ Testimonies’ project is an initiative to record on film the personal testimonies of Australia’s Stolen Generations Survivors and share them online.

According to the Project’s website, “The Stolen Generations’ Testimonies Foundation hopes the online museum will become a national treasure and a unique and sacred keeping place for Stolen Generations’ Survivors’ Testimonies. By allowing Australians to listen to the Survivors’ stories with open hearts and without judgement, the foundation hopes more people will be engaged in the healing process.”

So far more than 30 people have shared their personal histories for the Project. You can watch them online at www.stolengenerationstestimonies.com

Free information workshops on carbon farming

Posted: February 10th, 2012

Filed under: Binnu, carbon farming, climate change, Geraldton, Morawa, Mullewa, NACC

The Northern Agricultural Catchment Council (NACC) and Australian Carbon Traders are teaming up to offer free workshops on the Federal Government’s Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) in various regional towns.

The CFI offers land managers opportunities to earn money from activities that store carbon in the soil or reduce certain harmful emissions.

The workshops are a great opportunity to learn about carbon farming, what it is, how it works, and how it might affect you.

Workshops will be held in Morawa and Mullewa on February 15, and in Geraldton and Binnu on February 16. For more information on the workshops go to the NACC website nacc.com.au.

To learn more about the Federal Government’s Carbon Farming Initiative visit the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency website.

City of Geraldton Community Grants

Posted: February 7th, 2012

Filed under: community grants, Geraldton

This week is the last chance to put in applications for the City of Greater Geraldton’s Recurrent Community Grants Program for 2012.

The aim of the program is to provide assistance to local community groups and organisations that make positive contributions to the quality of life within the Greater Geraldton region.

Applications for Recurrent Community Grants may be submitted in the following categories:

• Cultural Grant – Opportunities for Creativity
• Economy Grant – Opportunities for Prosperity
• Environmental Grant – Opportunities for Sustainability
• Social Grant – Opportunities for Lifestyle

This is a great opportunity for Geraldton not-for-profit organisations to gain some financial support for their projects that benefit the community.

Applications close 10 February 2012. For more information and to download an application kit, visit the City of Greater Geraldton’s website.

Get ready for NAIDOC 2012

Posted: February 2nd, 2012

Filed under: NAIDOC

The NAIDOC Committee recently announced the theme for the 2012 celebrations is, “Spirit of the Tent Embassy: 40 years on.”

NAIDOC Week, from 1–8 July 2012, is an opportunity for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians to join together to recognise the valuable contribution Indigenous people make to Australia’s national identity.

Indigenous Australians are encouraged to nominate fellow community members to receive National NAIDOC Awards and submit entries, based on this year’s theme, to the National NAIDOC Poster Competition. The winning entry, which receives a $5000 cash prize, will feature on the 2012 National NAIDOC poster and be displayed across Australia in workplaces, schools and community organisations. Entries for the 2012 National NAIDOC Poster Competition close on Friday 30 March.

Communities and individuals can also acknowledge the contributions and talents of artists and other outstanding Indigenous individuals by nominating them for a National NAIDOC Award. There are ten award categories including the prestigious Person of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Awards. Winners will be honoured during NAIDOC Week at the premier NAIDOC event, the National NAIDOC Awards Ceremony and Ball to be held in Hobart on Friday 6 July 2012. Nominations for the 2012 National NAIDOC Awards close on Friday 27 April.

For entry forms and more information, visit www.naidoc.org.au or talk to your nearest Indigenous Coordination Centre on 1800 079 098.