Celebrating First Nations arts and culture in regional Western Australia

Regional Arts WA

First Nations arts and culture projects will receive an investment of up to $15,000 each through the Regional Arts Resilience Grants program, funded through the State Government’s Regional Arts and Culture Investment Program (RACIP) and delivered by Regional Arts WA.

Artwork by Bianca Crake. Photo by Sarah Duguid.

The delivery of these projects will provide immediate support to regional communities throughout WA in their recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, re-engaging people through arts and culture activities.

FIFO – the play. Production premiere in Broome at Goolarri Media’s Gimme Venue – A co-production between Goolarri Media and Yirra Yaakin to develop and premiere the production of the contemporary new Indigenous play ‘FIFO – Fit in or F…k Off!’ by Melody Dia and directed by Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company’s Artistic Director, Eva Grace Mullaley.
The Memory of Forgetting (previously known as ‘Scones with Nanna’) – Gwendolyn Knox will complete story boarding, script development of at least 3 drafts of a script for a theatre work titled ‘The Memory of Forgetting’.
‘Guddir Guddir’ at Shinju Matsuri – Marrugeku launched its pivot to COVID-19 recovery with a presentation of its new multichannel 15 minute dance video installation, “Gudirr Gudirr.’ At Shinju Matsuri Festival in Broome.
Contemporary Aboriginal designs to be reproduced on clothing and accessories range – Kimberley artist, Bianca Crake, will be supported to convert her artworks onto printed fabrics and launch her own fashion range.

Kimberley artist Bianca Crake will be supported to launch her own fashion range, the Jaru Girl Fashion collection, as part of her creative recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The project facilitates involvement from a wide range of local community members: Local photographer Sarah Duguid will conduct a photo shoot featuring young First Nations models on country. The models and hairdresser will also be sourced from the East Kimberley, and Bianca plans to invite the Wyndham and Kununurra communities to witness the collection’s debut fashion show.

Bianca says this project will enhance her own professional skills and development as an emerging Aboriginal artist; “Jaru is my identity, I feel it is very important that I stay strong to my identity as an Aboriginal woman.”

“This project has been my dream for many years and now it is coming true thanks to [the Regional Arts Resilience Grants].”

The Regional Arts Resilience Grants program is now open until 26 November, or until funding is exhausted. The grants offer up to $15,000 to support creative development, community engagement and capacity building activities which will sustain creative practises in the wake of COVID-19.

You can find more information about the Regional Arts Resilience Grant here, or a full list of successful recipients announced thus far here.

The RACIP is administered by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.