Indigenous Arts centre plan moves forward

By PETER ROWE

The WA State government’s ‘Creative WA – a 10-year vision to grow’ has allocated $15m for targeted support towards Aboriginal Art centre infrastructure.

More than $54 million in government funding has been committed for key priorities over the next three years with Aboriginal art, cultural practice and languages at the heart of the plan.

“Aboriginal cultural practice, languages and Country are inseparable from one another, and arts policies and programs must reflect this,” the plan states.

“We recognise that First Nations creative, cultural and arts practice takes many forms.

“Contemporary and traditional, crossing all art forms and curatorial practices – and occurs in a variety of spaces including theatres, museums, galleries, historic sites, research centres, Aboriginal art, cultural and language centres.”

Working in partnership with Aboriginal communities, the planning for the flagship Aboriginal Cultural Centre is under way.

To be opened in 2030, the Aboriginal Cultural Centre will be located on the traditional lands of the Whadjuk Noongar people in Boorloo (Perth).

The Aboriginal-led project will be developed through meeting with and listening to Aboriginal people and communities, cultural knowledge holders, and language, art and cultural centres across the state in order to work together to connect the many cultural campfires across Western Australia.

The centre will create jobs and pathways for Aboriginal artists, cultural workers, arts workers and creatives.

Tune full plan can be found here: https://www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/department/publications/publication/creative-wa-a-10-year-vision-to-grow-and-sustain-our-creative-ecosystem#First_Nations_peoples