State Government helps indigenous artists with program support

Aboriginal Art Directory | 10.07.09

The Liberal-National Government has provided a $30,000 grant to help remote indigenous communities develop their art as a sustainable means of income.

Premier Colin Barnett today confirmed the funding when he visited FORM Contemporary Craft and Design in Port Hedland, as part of his two-day tour of the region, which also includes Karratha.

The funding will be used for FORM’s ‘Let’s Get Started!’ program, involving a series of painting workshops which support, nurture and develop first time, mid-career and established indigenous artists.

The grant has been issued via the Liberal-National Government’s Pilbara Regional Grants Scheme through the Royalties for Regions program.

“The Liberal-National Government has made a strong commitment to improving regional Western Australia and part of that is helping organisations and individuals develop and grow,” Mr Barnett said.

“There is a growing market for high-quality Aboriginal art and WA is well placed with some very talented people to sit at the forefront of that development.

“Western Australia has more than 280 individual indigenous communities and the sad reality is not all of them are sustainable.

“I congratulate FORM for developing a program that aims to keep the unique cultural and social identity of these communities alive while maintaining a sustainable means of income.”

URL: http://www.australia.to/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12235:news-from-western-australia&catid=148:australian-regional-news&Itemid=271

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