The State Government is investing $10.73 million to strengthen Indigenous arts in Far North Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

Backing Indigenous Arts $10.73 million over four years will fund:

• Indigenous Art Centre network and hubs – $4.42 million
• Weipa Hub – $250,000 over two years
• Building Skills and Opportunities – $3.43 million
• Cairns Printmaking Centre – $1.63 million
• Cairns Indigenous Art Marketplace – $1 million

Background

Some of Australia's best contemporary art comes from Far North Queensland and the Torres Strait. Artists such as Arone Meeks, Rosella Namok and Dennis Nona are drawing our gaze northwards. Their work, inspired by culture and country, is creating a fascinating window into Far North Queensland, the place and its people.

Many more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists are destined for success. This is why the Queensland Government has developed Backing Indigenous Arts. The four-year program (2007-2010) will invest $10.73 million into the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts industry.

This program is about building a more sustainable industry for our Far North Queensland artistis. We want more of these talented artists to create careers in the arts. We want to see new and emerging artists developing their skills through training and industry partnerships. We want to showcase their work and expose them to new audiences, here and overseas.

Backing Indigenous Arts will tap into all art forms and encourage artists to tell their own stories with traditional techniques and new technologies.

Far North Queensland artists have their own identities and the right to shape their own future. Through its many initiatives and partnerships, Backing Indigenous Arts will help boost this industry and create pathways to take this unique art to the rest of the world.

Photo gallery and DVD

View photos from celebration event in May 2008

DVD

Media coverage

8 May 2008 – Courier-Mail story on Backing Indigenous Arts (View story) (PDF 121KB)

21 May – Koori Mail story, reprinted courtesy of Koori Mail (View story) (PDF 294KB)

Ministerial statements

5 May 2008 – Far North Queensland Indigenous artists set for success. View statement

3 October 2007 – Premier announces details of funding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and culture of Far North Queensland. View statement

Brochures

See Backing Indigenous Arts brochures:

• Brochure – Part 1 (PDF 462KB)
• Brochure – Part 2 (PDF 285KB)
• Brochure – Part 3 (PDF 568KB)
• Brochure – Part 4 (PDF 224KB)
• 2007 Information Sheet (PDF 639KB)

More information

• See Arts Queensland's Indigenous Strategy for further information about Indigenous initiatives.
• For more about Queensland's Indigenous arts, visit Queensland Indigenous Arts Marketing and Export Agency .
• Schools, artists, training and art organisations can apply for Indigenous project funding of up to $25,000 under the Queensland Government's Lighthouse Grants. Guidelines and application forms