Michelle O’Byrne, MP
Minister for Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts
Thursday, 15 May 2008
First-time Funding for Aboriginal Arts in Tasmania
The Minister for Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts, Michelle O’Byrne, today announced funding of almost $50,000 in grants to Aboriginal artists and organisations working in Aboriginal arts in Tasmania.
The ground-breaking grants represent the first time funding has been provided specifically to support Aboriginal arts in Tasmania.
I am delighted to be able to announce these grants, which aim to promote, teach and stimulate Aboriginal art forms and traditions, Ms O’Byrne said.
The grants have supported a number of traditional and contemporary Aboriginal arts projects, ranging from traditional weaving and shell necklace making though to contemporary installation work.
In addition to support for individual artists such as writer Patsy Cameron and visual artists Bernice Condie, Dulcie Greeno, Fiona Maher, Lorna Riley and Jessica West there are exciting group applications.
One group will create new works in weaving, which will be exhibited by the National Gallery of Australia and Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery under the title tayenebe.
Is Theatre Ltd will provide professional development for a group of Aboriginal performing artists, and Workskills Employment Services will support Dewayne Everett-Smith to deliver performing arts workshops for young people.
This special grants round was created in response to the An Island Inspired consultation process and takes the total of State Government arts grants for 2008 to almost $3 million, Ms O’Byrne said.
