PRESS STATEMENT No. 83
3 May, 1973
ABORIGINAL ARTS BOARD
Aboriginals have been given full responsibility for
developing their own programs in the arts under a new Government
policy to revitalise cultural activities through the Australian
Council for the Arts. Artists and craftsmen from remote centres,
towns and cities have been appointed to the Aboriginal Arts Boar6
of the Council. The Board's Chairman, as previously announced,
is the Aboriginal author and artist, Mr Dick Roughsey, of
Mornington Island.
The members of the board are:-
Mr Raphael Apuatimi
Mr Albert Barunga
Mr Harold Blair
Mr Ken Colbung
Mrs. Kitty Dick
Mr Chicka Dixon
Mrs. Ruby Hammond Skilled traditional dancer from Bathurst
Island. Actively involved in dance groups
in the Northern Territory.
Leading Aboriginal councillor at Mowanjum
in Western Australia and member of many
Aboriginal committees.
Noted tenor engaged as a music teacher
with the Victorian Education Department.
Sponsor of the. Harold Blair Holiday Scheme
for Aboriginal children from outback areas.
Co-ordinator of Aboriginal Cultural EIterpi
Society, Perth. Active in fostering the
arts in the Aboriginal urban communities.
A leader in ceremonial life among the womer
of Weipa in north Queensland.
Waterside worker of Sydney and manager of
Aboriginal pop groups performing in Clubs.
Central figure in Black Political Movement.
Leader of Aboriginal delegation to China.
Foundation member of the South Australi-an
Aboriginal Art Co-operative and actively
engaged in community development projec-, s.
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Mr Tim Leura Jabaidjari
Mr Eric Koo'oila
Mr Albert Lennon
Mr Mick Miller
Mr Wandjuk Marika
Mrs. Vi Stanton
Mr Terrence Widders Outstanding traditional artist of the
Pintubi/ Walbiri School at Papunya in
Central Australia.
Authority on ceremonial life at Aurukun
in Queensland. Guide to anthropologists
Ursula McConnel and Donald Thomson.
A leading member of the Pitjantjatjara
group of north-west South Australia.
School teacher of Cairns. Member of
Association for Cultural Education of
Childre'n of the Peninsula. Has great
knowledge of north Queensland where he
is well known.
Tribal leader at Yirrkala in Arnhem Land.
Known for his deep understanding of
traditional life.
Part-Aboriginal deeply involved in giving
encouragement in arts and craft activities
to Northern Territory Aboriginal women.
Vice-President of Northern Territory
Aboriginal Development Foundation.
Armidale Teachers College. Involved in
country programme for the revival of
interest in traditions. Trainee film maker.
The decision to place control for the arts in the hands of
Aboriginals is intended to stimulate indigenous Australian arts
and lead to the preservation of many art forms almost lost since
the settlement of Australia by Europeans.
The Board will investigate ways of involving Aboriginals
in a wide range of cultural activities in the visual arts,
performing arts, film making and literature. Projects aimed
at the preservation of Aboriginal Art, crafts, dance and music
will be sponsored in communities throughout central and northern
Australia. Assistance will be given also to establish community museums
where cultural property can be housed safely and where the younger
generation can be taught an appreciation of their own heritage
in accordance with traditional custom.
Inter-community visits will be supported to assist local
groups to share the music and dance which have been handed down
to them over many thousands of years..
Craftsmen will have new opportunities to use their traditional
skills to develop independent enterprises. Workshops will be
arranged for those wishing to experiment with new art forms such
as weaving, leatherwork, pottery and batik.
The Board will study a form of quality control and a system
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of orderly marketing for arts and crafts.
An intensive program is underway for Aboriginal theatre
in urban communities. Support will be offered to extend this
to the country where increasing numbers of Aboriginals are becoming
interested in theatre as a form of expression.
Sponsorship will be available also to Aboriginal authors and
film makers. Subsidies will be provided for publications so that
Aboriginals can express to the wider community something of the
richness of their culture.
The new board will sponsor the first National Seminar on
Aboriginal Arts to be held in Australia. This is planned from
21 to 25 May at the Australian National University in Canberra.
About 200 people have been invited. They will be predominantly
Aboriginals. The recommendations of the seminar will largely
influence the board in its future policy planning for the
stimulation and revitalisation of Aboriginal arts throughout
the country.