RICS

July 2005 – ongoing

$51,476 + GST

The Regional Indigenous Cultural Strategy was commissioned in 2005 to look at Indigenous programs in the region and how further development and support could be coordinated regionally in a strategic manner.

In July 2005 Outback Arts commissioned Participatory Corporate Development Pty Ltd (trading as Jalay) to develop a Regional Indigenous Cultural Strategy (RICS).  The strategy was designed to identify priorities in the region and to develop an approach around which the need for a Regional Indigenous Cultural Development Officer (or similar) would be demonstrated and reinforced. The Jaylay group included consultants Richard Kelloway (Team Leader), Joe Craigie, Alison Page, Toby McGilvray, Andrew Parker, Bea Ballangarry, and Margaret Bruggisser. The Strategy was formally launched at the 2005 Annual General Meeting in Warren in March 2006.

In summary the RICS was designed to:

- Provide the governing principles upon which the Outback Arts will act upon Indigenous Arts and Cultural issues.

- Provide a more focused direction for Outback Arts to address Indigenous Arts and Cultural issues at a regional level.

- Assist communities to implement Community Working Party Action Plans - with a view to maintaining, preserving and creating new arts and cultural activity at a local level.

- Build capacity in the region to provide skills to communities so they can implement their own arts activities.

- Give a voice to Aboriginal Arts and Cultural practices at a Local, State and Federal level through identified partners.

- Represent a best practice model for possible modification/duplication across the state.

The total cost of the RICS strategy project was $51,476.

Regional Indigenous Cultural Development Officer (RICDO) Program

$75,000 Arts NSW

At present due to the allocated funding the Regional Indigenous Cultural Officer position is part time operating one day per week in each of the 6 Shires with a local person in the position or the position serviced by Outback Arts Staff. Our ultimate goal is to increase the hours of the Murdi Paaki Regional Indigenous Officers to full time in each Shire. Outback Arts also sees there is need for more than one Regional Indigenous Officer due to the high Indigenous population throughout the Outback Arts region.

In the recent years Outback Arts has set some excellent foundations for the position to work with which  are;

- The RICS Strategy, a guide to work with outlining the issues within the indigenous region and how to go about addressing these issues. The RICS offers some workable strategies in dealing with the needs of the indigenous communities in the Outback Arts region.

- The recently developed indigenous arts and cultural website; Our Living Arts and Culture. An excellent portal to showcase, increase the profile and market our regions indigenous artists.

- The splitting of the position into 6 part time positions with a position operating in each Shire. To have a permanent 'face' in each Shire has built trust and confidence in the position from the indigenous communities in the Outback Arts region.

- The current project Marks and Country that offers to each community an opportunity to connect with their indigenous heritages 'markings' that are specific to their region. With access to this  information they are able to develop new works that relate to their region and bring credibility to their work. The project will be a major tool in  establishing an identity for their specific indigenous group. The project has been an excellent tool for youth to reconnect with their heritage.

Cobar RICDO - Anita Burcher

Warren RICDO - Peter Browne

Coonamble RICDO - Jamie Lea Hodges

Bourke RICDO - Bruce Turnbull

Lightning Ridge - Karin Thurston

Walgett RICDO - Sue Lawrence