Cultural Awards 2010 Winners

Accessible Arts

Kogarah City Council Mayor Clr Nick Varvaris launching Movement in Space project during International Day of People with a Disability 2009

Movement in Space

Kogarah City Council is committed to promoting a society in which people with a disability fully experience and participate in the arts and cultural life. In 2009, Kogarah City Council in partnership with St George School (providing education for students with severe physical & multiple disabilities) and artist Sonja Karl initiated an Accessible Arts project aimed at providing an avenue for all…

People's Choice

Burralgang Aboriginal Dance Group

Wiradjuri Language and Culture in Orange

Aboriginal cultural identity is essential to the holistic health and wellbeing of the Aboriginal community and therefore for our community in general. For many decades aspects of Aboriginal culture have been discouraged, suppressed and/or banned outright. More recently as broader Australia has increased their understanding about Aboriginal history, the Aboriginal people have been able to lead the…

Brendan Hartnett Award

Roz Newton Roz Newton

Joint Winners Angela Pasqua and Roz Newton

Angela Pasqua has worked in Local Government for over twenty years. Roz Newton has been thirty years at the helm of the Waverley Council Bondi Pavilion Cultural Centre.

Division C Winners — Population over 60,000

Aboriginal Cultural Development

The Five Lands Walk 2009 Land Art was designed by local Aboriginal artist Kevin Duncan and Filipino artist Alfredo Roces. The work was created by the artists and members of the community on The Skillion, Terrigal, in the lead up to the Five Lands Walk. The artists explain their work and collaboration; "Working on the traditional concept of the bird as a messenger with the fish as bearer of this message, I have expressed the sari-manok’s message to the 5 lands walk and the people of Gosford inside the fish motif. The black, red and white hearts symbolise the diverse peoples of Mankind and of course,—love. It is a call for a fraternal spirit among all peoples of this world, for love and good will to all races on this one earth....It is a great honour and privilege to work with Aboriginal artist Kevin Duncan (with his image of Gurrea ,the rainbow serpent) while also representing the Filipino community with this sari manok artwork". Alfredo Roces (2009). "Gurrea the Rainbow Serpent in Aboriginal legend represents the creation of Mother Earth. Bayami the Creator had awoken Gurrea from the depths of Mother Earth. Gurrea travelled across the land creating the mountains, the rivers, the waterholes and the oceans. Gurrea's essence is the water - meaning purity. Her feminine spirit nurtures and represents birth and re-birth. Alfredo Roces Sari Manok and his traditional Filipino interpretation of the mythical bird being a messenger of the Gods inspired my traditional Aboriginal interpretation of Gurrea, the Rainbow Serpent. She too is regarded as a mythical creature and messenger in Aboriginal Lore and Creation. There are many connections between the Indigenous Filipino deity and Aboriginal deity in the spirit world as Bathala and Bayami - both Gods - being responsible for the interaction with the Sari Manok and Gurrea in the creation of man and woman. The red represents the blood of the Earth, the yellow represents the sun (the giver of life) and the white is the spirit". Kevin Duncan (2009).

5 Lands Walk 2009

The Five Lands Walk was developed by Gosford City Council with community organisations and local Aboriginal people in 2006. The winter season was chosen to coincide with the northern migration of the humpback whales, a totem of the local Darkinjung tribe. The Five Lands Walk is an annual cultural, physical and spiritual journey comprising a 9km walk through five coastal villages. Along the walk…

Aboriginal Cultural Development

Portrait of the three Aboriginal men featured in the collection. Peter Budge, Charlie Murray and Neil Morcom

Black & White: Selctions from the Thomas Dick Collection

The Thomas Dick collection of images was a collaborative effort between the photogrpher (Dick) & a group of Birapi Aboriginal people during 1910 - 1920. These staged photgraphs show the same Aboriginal families staging traditional activities within the local landscape of the Port Macquarie-Hastings area. The exhibition & catalogue of the collection was produced in partnership with…

Cultural Infrastructure

Exterior view of Maitland Regional Art Gallery (MRAG). The redevelopments enable MRAG to exhibit multiple exhibitions at once and include a diverse range of spaces, such as a void hanging space and a major exhibition space with mobile walls, offering a multitude of alternatives to present to the public as they wander and wonder through steel, wood, glass, marble, concrete and brick, all magnificently arranged in a unique presentation of old and new; bright and bold; cutting edge and history.

Maitland Regional Art Gallery Building Redevelopment, new exhibition spaces, retail outlet, cafe and dedicated childrens' space, The Art Factory.

Maitland Regional Art Gallery (MRAG) moved to its current location, the historic, Walter Liberty Vernon designed, Maitland Technical College in 2003, and in 2008 closed its 'small' doors for 14 months to accommodate extensive renovations. At a total cost of $5.6 million (funded by Maitland City Council, Arts NSW, philanthropic foundations and private sponsors) the new MRAG opened its large and…

Cultural Infrastructure

The Peacock Gallery's inaugural exhibition Moving Calligraphy...Visual Story Telling was produced by Auburn Community Development Network and evolved via a community cultural development process involving the Auburn Arabic Calligraphy Group, Chinese Calligraphy Group and local Indigenous artists.

Peacock Gallery and Auburn Arts Studio

The Peacock Gallery & Auburn Arts Studio is the first arts specific facility in Auburn and houses one arts and craft studio, gallery space and an outdoor workshop area. This new space accommodates a wide range of contemporary and traditional visual arts and crafts practice and supports artists and arts groups via its Residency and Exhibition Programs. A range of arts programs open to the…

Integrated Cultural Policy Implementation

Magnetic Places...communities making creative spaces: official launch invitation showcasing seven dynamic projects. "many cultures one space" (Magnetic Places participant).

Magnetic Places: communities making creative spaces

Magnetic Places is a pilot initiative of Penrith City Council's Neighbourhood Renewal Program demonstrating innovation in creative community engagement in synergy with an integrated approach to cultural policy implementation. Magnetic Places is a leader in collaborative placemaking. It has empowered communities to create spaces through partnerships and collaborations with professional artists,…

Library and Information Services

Image of local community children participating in Ramadan Eid-card making.

Arncliffe Library celebrates the Muslim Culture!

Arncliffe Library,(Rockdale City Council Libraries) has made a substantial effort to enhance it's relationship with those of a multi-cultural background in the Arncliffe region, in particular the Muslim community. This has included the 2009 Cancer Council's Biggest Morning Tea, celebrated with the women from the Al-Zahara Muslim Women's Association, together with other Library visitors. Encouraged…

Programs Projects and Partnerships

The Riot Act, 2009, performance still

Campbelltown Arts Centre - The Riot Act

The Riot Act - a new Australian theatre work devised and directed by Karen Therese and produced and presented by Campbelltown Arts Centre. The Riot Act that investigated forces and opinions that shaped communities experiencing social unrest. Originally inspired by newspaper headlines that followed three highly publicised riots in NSW in Bidwell, Redfern and Macquarie Fields, The Riot Act was a…

Programs Projects and Partnerships

Spring Creek: Members of the Darkinjung Land Council led local artisan groups and residents in exploration of the cultural significance of creek to inform the development of the open space open design and integrated sculptural works.

Suburban/Ecology + Knowledge/Sensory Sites: Wyong Shire Council 2009 Public Art Program

The Wyong Shire Council 2009 Public Art Program involved three distinct site specific projects using arts processes with community engagement, accessibility, landscape design, engineering, and interpretation. The program uses open space development to drive links and collaborations between different communities, environmental systems, the built environment, cultural knowledge and arts…

Programs Projects and Partnerships

Parramtta Female Factory courtesy of Ralph Hawkins

Women Transported - Life in Australia's Convict Female Factories

An exhibition, with publications, education and public programs and touring component to 10 venues over 4 states. The project provided insight into the lives of over 9,000 women from factories spanning most of the convict transportation period. This exhibition explores life in Australia's Convict Female Factories through people and places from a contemporary perspective. Little is known of their…

Division A Winners — Population less than 20,000

Aboriginal Cultural Development

Pictured at the unveilling are Parkes Shire Council's Mayor, Cr Ken Keith, Peak Hill Wiradjuri Elder Mrs Rita Keed and Wiradjuri Elder and Linguist Mr Stan Grant AM in front of the "Welcome to part of Wiradjuri Country" signage located along the Newell Highway north of Peak Hill.

Welcome to part of Wiradjuri Country Signage Project

Parkes Shire Council embraced the theme for NAIDOC Celebrations “Honouring our Elders, Nurturing our Youth". As part of the NAIDOC Celebrations in Parkes Shire, a "Welcome to part of Wiradjuri Country" sign was unveiled at Peak Hill by Elders Rita Keed, Stan Grant AM, and the Parkes Shire Council Mayor, Councillor Ken Keith. School children from across Parkes Shire, Council and RTA…

Cultural Infrastructure

Inside the historic Royal Theatre

Upgrade of the Quirindi Royal Theatre

The Royal Theatre in Quirindi has considerable social and heritage value in that it is only one of three remaining indoor/outdoor cinemas in NSW. The first films were shown in 1930 and it has been operating intermittently until 2006 when the owner closed it. The loss of the cinema in 2006 had affected the community which has gone through an extended period of drought - there needed to be a social…

Programs Projects and Partnerships

Rehersal for "Brundibar"

"Brundibar"-Children's Educational Workshop

Morundah Bush Entertainment Committee, and Victorian Opera, ran a three day educational workshop involving 75 local children rehearsing the opera Brundibar, and then performing it to a paying audience. School aged singers and instrumentalists were involved, and some local teachers. The project was at no cost to participating children. It was music directed by Richard Gill, OAM, Music Director,…

Division B Winners — Population between 20,000 and 60,000

Aboriginal Cultural Development

Blue Hands

Mawang

Mawang was a three month festival of events involving a partnership between the community and Council ‘s Cultural facilities - Wagga Wagga Library, Civic Theatre, Museum of the Riverina and Wagga Wagga Art and National Glass Gallery. Mawang means ‘altogether’ in the Wiradjuri language and this festival of events was committed to striving for inclusive-ness, the development and showcasing of…

Cultural Infrastructure

New enlarged stage area in the auditorium of the Orange Regional Conservatorium

Orange Regional Conservatorium Redevelopment

Conversion of an old church to modern auditorium and teaching studios. Refurbishment of performance space, audio facilities, extra classrooms and car parking to meet the needs of growing teaching and performance development of the Orange Regional Conservatorium of Music (ORC). The ‘Con’s’ growth to over 800 students with facilities over three sites in the city was to be consolidated under this…

Programs Projects and Partnerships

Cook Park has long been one of the finest Victorian parks in NSW and is perhaps the best loved heritage place in Orange. Cook Park is listed on the State Heritage Register. Cook Park has some of the finest expalles of mature exotic species in the State, including Elms, Oaks, Poplars, Williows, Pines, Cypress and Redwoods.

Survey of Signficant Landscape Features

Survey of Significant Landscape features is a detailed investigation including site inspections, a review of historic data as well as stakeholder and community consultation that led to the development of a list of over 400 Significant Landscape Features. The website identifies, locates and provides an illustrated Statement of Significance for each precinct, place, object, element, view and vista,…