The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board of the Australia Council for the Arts is calling for expressions of interest from artists and industry experts to join us in discussion about the future of our Indigenous arts industry strategies to set the direction for where we should head in the upcoming years.

Your voice will let us plan the best results for the Indigenous arts industry and your expertise will guide and assist us in implementing projects to achieve those results.

The national Indigenous arts industry reference groups that we are establishing will support the following Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board strategies:

• Artists in Work – aimed at boosting Indigenous employment in the arts through traineeships, scholarships, employer incentives and general positions in the arts sector
• The Other Side of the Coin – aimed at protecting Indigenous cultural and intellectual property in the arts
• Showcasing the Best -aimed at internationally profiling high quality art, and creating international opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and their artistic practice
• Celebrations – aimed at supporting Indigenous festival events and programming by recognising the artistic, cultural and economic benefits of festival activity for Indigenous people in all States and Territories.

It is proposed that the national Indigenous arts industry reference groups will meet every six months to guide our project teams in delivery their respective initiatives.

The purpose of the industry reference groups (IRG) is to provide industry expertise across all artform practice, infrastructure and programs relating to the Australia Council’s above-mentioned strategies.

Media enquiries:

Victoria Milner

Tel 0410 322 431