The Australia Council’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board is calling on senior artists and other elders in Indigenous communities to identify young people and emerging artists who need to be skilled up. Sums of money up to $20,000 are available in a new initiative called Chosen if they can make a case for younger people undertaking apprenticeships or residencies with senior bosses, leaders and practitioners in cultural expression.
The goal is to have the best experts as mentors bring up the select, promising, early career artists, building the artists promise for the future.
Potential applicants are encouraged to discuss their application with a relevant Australia Council team member by calling 1800 226 912 or emailing keepingculturestrong@australiacouncil.gov.au.
But they have to do this before December 12th; decisions will be made in March 2013, and projects, residencies or apprenticeships can start from 1 April 2013.
Of course, in the light of actor Jack Charles’ intemperate complaint that he alone should not have to provide evidence of his Aboriginality, there is the standard qualification that:
Individuals must provide:
A copy of a letter/certificate confirming their Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander identity provided by an organisation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 or other relevant legislation. This must be on letterhead and signed by an authorised Indigenous person who is either chair, director, CEO or an elder in the organisation or stamped with a common seal or
A copy of a letter/certificate confirming their Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander identity provided by an Indigenous land council. This must be on letterhead and signed by an authorised Indigenous person who is either chair, director, CEO or an elder in the organisation or stamped with a common seal.
It does seem justified that anyone seeking funds that are specifically offered to Indigenous artists should be indisputably Indigenous themselves.
