Susan Kennedy and Cheryl Howell at entrance to New Mapoon Art Centre, photograph by Agnes Marks

The first Backing Indigenous Arts (BIA) project to receive funding and be completed was the New Mapoon Professional Development Residency in Far North Queensland.

Cheryl Howell, is a well-known Cairns artist, who has worked extensively with Indigenous communities, including eight years as the Arts Development Officer in Yarrabah.

Cheryl spent three weeks in December 2007 visiting New Mapoon and the smaller communities within the Northern Peninsular Region (NPA), including Umagico, Injinoo, Seisia and Bamaga.

Initially, the aim of the trip was skills development but Cheryl also emphasised business skills development, ensuring artists at the New Mapoon Art Centre had an understanding of sourcing supplies, setting up an office within the Art Centre and dealing with commissions and selling works.

She completed a skills audit of the artists which highlighted painting and jewellery making as the most prominent skills within the communities. Her visit was the first professional development workshop run in this region.

"There is a rich, untapped arts and craft culture which is yet to be recognised," said Cheryl.

"The next step is to build on the enthusiasm here, channel it and work with artists on understanding the whole story behind creating a painting which is of a professional standard for galleries and buyers."

New Mapoon was successful in securing further BIA funding and Cheryl returned to the region in May with potter Debbie Eldemire and wood carver Kel Williams to work with up to 20 local artists.

Arts Co-ordinator at New Mapoon Arts Centre Agnes Mark told the Torres News: "Since they've come along it has been inspiring for us as we haven't had anything like this before. The future looks bright for us now."

The artists will return to New Mapoon for three weeks every six weeks.

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