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Australia's Culture and Recreation Portal Newsletter - Monthly roundup
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June begins with Reconciliation Week and the 40th Anniversary of the 1967 Referendum. The referendum altered the Australian Constitution (s. 127 and s. 51 xxvi) so that Aborigines could be included in the census count and so that the Commonwealth could make laws with respect to Aborigines as a race. Its intent was to end discrimination against Indigenous Australians. Its effects highlighted the unique position and nature of Australia's Indigenous peoples. This 'shock of the ancient'* challenged concepts of home, identity, country and place.
Exhibitions on the referendum include the University of Queensland Library's 'The 1967 Referendum: The Struggle for a New Deal for Indigenous Australians' and 'Celebrating Diversity Week 2007: 1967 Referendum Anniversary', as well as 'Celebrating the 40th anniversary' at the Western Australian Museum and online exhibitions through the National Museum of Australia and Reconciliation Australia.
'Ancient patterns and new directions' is the theme of The Dreaming, near Woodford, Queensland (8 - 11 June). A blend of arts, crafts, food, ceremony and performance inculcates an appreciation of an ancient culture. Indigenous knowledge about ancient landscapes is found in the simulated world of Virtual Warrane, where digital imagery offers a reconstruction of Sydney Cove before European settlement and Indigenous perspectives on home, identity, country and place.
Bangarra Dance Theatre's double bill True Stories, in Brisbane (7 - 16 June), explores the relationship of Indigenous people to country - land and sea. The dance celebrates rain, wind, the hunt, desire and pleasure to create lasting imagery of identity. The Barunga Cultural and Sports Festival via Katherine, Northern Territory (9 - 11 June), showcases 'the shock of the ancient' through contemporary Indigenous culture, creativity and achievements in sport, music and dance as well as traditional practice.
Ancient Indigenous cultural knowledge and perspectives on landscapes, country and place are merged with the built environments by Merrima Design, a team of Indigenous architects located in Brisbane, Sydney and Coffs Harbour. A mosaic of ancient desert landscapes features in the Tattersall's Finke Desert Race in Alice Springs (8 - 11 June), which pits 'man and machine' against dirt and dust.
'Raised by Wolves', in Perth (until 17 June), explores various alternative and non-traditional family structures and the emotional and social consequences of the nuclear family. It brings together historical and contemporary as well as Indigenous works on paper, sculpture, paintings, film and installation.
The cultural diversity of Australia is showcased in Sydney at the Sydney Film Festival (8 - 24 June) and the Triumphant Refugees Short Film Festival (23 June). Australian character and creativity is the nub of the Miles Franklin Literary Award in Sydney (21 June), which celebrates novels of literary merit that contribute to the richness of Australian cultural life.
Coincident with the 40th Anniversary, the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra and the National Gallery of Victoria have received funding to tour two exhibitions: the 'National Indigenous Art Triennial' and 'Gordon Bennett' respectively. These events reconcile the 'shock of the ancient' and the contemporary art movement, and the concomitant challenges to identity and place.
*Marcia Langton (2000)
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Check out our new Australian Stories:
Australian Indigenous cultural heritage: http://www.culture.gov.au/articles/indigenous/
Australian Indigenous ceremony: http://www.culture.gov.au/articles/indigenous/ceremony/
The Dreaming: http://www.culture.gov.au/articles/indigenous/dreamtime/
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Featured event
The 1967 Referendum: The Struggle for a New Deal for Indigenous Australians - Brisbane
May - June
To acknowledge the 40th anniversary of the 1967 Referendum, the University of Queensland Library is hosting two exhibitions: The 1967 Referendum: The Struggle for a New Deal for Indigenous Australians and Celebrating Diversity Week 2007: 1967 Referendum Anniversary. Law Library, Forgan Smith Building.
http://www.library.uq.edu.au/fryer/1967_referendum/
http://www.library.uq.edu.au/law/#exhibitions
http://www.uq.edu.au/facilities/index.html?page=9115&pid=0
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Snippets from our regularly updated News pages
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/
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Announcements
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/announcements.htm
Funding for contemporary art exhibitions touring
30 May
Australian Government funding of $522,500 has been provided under the Contemporary Touring Initiative to develop and tour new exhibitions from Australian collections. The National Gallery of Australia in Canberra will receive $290,270 to develop and tour The National Indigenous Art Triennial exhibition. The National Gallery of Victoria will receive $232,230 to develop and tour the exhibition Gordon Bennett.
http://www.minister.dcita.gov.au/brandis/media/media_releases/2007/4507
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Design and architecture
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/design.htm
Merrima Design
Merrima Design is an association of Indigenous designers working together on projects engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander contexts in Australia. The group is led by Dillon Kombumerri (Yugembir), Kevin O'Brien (Kaurareg/Meriam Mer) and Alison Page (Wodi Wodi). Michael Mossman (Gungganyji) is a recent addition to the group. Some of Merrima's projects include the NAISDA dance studios under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Cape York Institute in Cairns and Queensland Museum's Cultures Centre Dandiri Maiwar.
http://www.merrimadesign.com/
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Digital media and film
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/digitalmedia.htm
2007 Sydney Film Festival - Sydney
8 - 24 June
The 2007 Sydney Film Festival has recently launched their new website, giving the public the first chance to see the identity that has been created for this year's event. State Theatre, Greater Union George Street and Dendy Opera Quays.
http://www.sydneyfilmfestival.org
http://www.statetheatre.com.au/
http://www.greaterunion.com.au/
http://www.dendy.com.au/
Triumphant Refugees Short Film Festival - Sydney
23 June
Australia's inaugural refugee film festival, the Triumphant Refugees Short Film Festival takes place as part of 2007 National Refugee Week. Filmmakers, especially refugee filmmakers, are invited to submit short films (up to 7 minutes) that focus on the triumphs of refugees in coming to Australia and creating a life here, or educating people about the experiences of refugees. Francis Greenway Centre, Liverpool.
http://www.triumphant.org.au/filmfestival.html
http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/newsevents/index.html
http://www.liverpool.nsw.gov.au/hallhire.htm#francis
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Festivals and conferences
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/festivalsandconferences.htm
Barunga Cultural and Sports Festival - Barunga, Northern Territory
9 - 11 June
The Festival showcases contemporary Indigenous musicians and a sports program that runs throughout the weekend which attracts participants from remote communities throughout the Territory. Traditional dance, bush tucker and spear throwing are all regular elements of the festival. Visitors can camp in the community during the alcohol-free festival and interact with residents who will share their stories and culture. Barunga Community Centre.
http://www.travelnt.com/en/search/product-detail.aspx?product_id=9001192
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History and identity
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/museums.htm
The 1967 Referendum: The Struggle for a New Deal for Indigenous Australians - Brisbane
May - June
To acknowledge the 40th anniversary of the 1967 Referendum, the University of Queensland Library is hosting two exhibitions: The 1967 Referendum: The Struggle for a New Deal for Indigenous Australians and Celebrating Diversity Week 2007: 1967 Referendum Anniversary. Law Library, Forgan Smith Building.
http://www.library.uq.edu.au/fryer/1967_referendum/
http://www.library.uq.edu.au/law/#exhibitions
http://www.uq.edu.au/facilities/index.html?page=9115&pid=0
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Indigenous arts
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/indigenousarts.htm
Stepping and Weaving, Ancient Patterns and New Directions: The Dreaming - Woodford, Queensland
8 - 11 June
The Dreaming will host representatives of 65 nations and 75 clan groups across Australia and guests from 12 international Indigenous nations. Featured Australian artists include Anangu Dancers of Uluru, Christine Anu, Troy Cassar-Daley, Gurrumul Yunipingu, Pigram Brothers, Milkayngu Mununggurr, Ruby Hunter and Archie Roach, and the Yolngu Women Weavers. There will be concerts, with art galleries, stalls, street theatre and ceremony, as well as nine theatre productions, eight dance companies and over 30 films. Workshops range from TSI dance and hip-hop to basket weaving. Via Woodford.
http://www.thedreamingfestival.com/
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Language and literature
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/languageandliterature.htm
Miles Franklin Literary Award - Sydney
21 June
The Miles Franklin Literary Award celebrates Australian character and creativity and nurtures the continuing life of literature based on Australia. It is awarded for the novel of the year which is of the highest literary merit and which presents Australian life in any of its phases. Since it was first awarded in 1957 to Patrick White for his novel Voss, the Award has encouraged authors and delivered an immense contribution to the richness of Australian cultural life. State Library of New South Wales.
http://www.trust.com.au/Content.aspx?topicID=129
http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/
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Performance
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/performance.htm
Bangarra Dance Theatre, True Stories: A Double Bill - Brisbane
7 - 16 June
True Stories is a double bill program, X300 and Emeret Lu. X300 - In the 1950s a series of atomic explosions were conducted on Maralinga Tjarutja traditional lands. The code name of the test site was X300. Frances Rings's new work explores a landscape assumed vacant and cleared of occupation but which in reality became a contaminated desert which poisoned the people. Emeret Lu ('Very old things') - The passion and energy of the traditional people of the Torres Straits fuel this new work by choreographer Elma Kris. The dances 'celebrating rain, wind, the hunt, desire and pleasure mingle with the charm of the spiritual to create a work of lasting imagery' and an experience of a little-known culture. Playhouse, Queensland Performing Arts Centre.
http://www.theartscentre.net.au/whats-on_detail.aspx?view=1908
http://www.qpac.com.au/home/
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Sport and recreation
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/sportandrecreation.htm
Tattersall's Finke Desert Race - Alice Springs, Northern Territory
8 - 11 June
The Tattersall's Finke Desert Race is an off-road, multi-terrain two-day race through desert country from Alice Springs to the small Aputula (Finke) Community. The race crosses the Finke River, believed to be the oldest river in the world. The race is held each year on the Queen's Birthday long weekend (second weekend in June). The program includes events for bikes, quads, cars and buggies.
http://www.finkedesertrace.com.au/
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Visual arts and crafts
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/visualarts.htm
Raised by Wolves - Perth
10 February - 17 June
The exhibition explores various alternative/non-traditional family structures as well as the emotional and social consequences of the nuclear family itself. It brings together historical, contemporary and Indigenous works on paper, sculpture, paintings, film and installation. Art Gallery of Western Australia.
http://www.artgallery.wa.gov.au/exhibitions/RaisedbyWolves.asp
http://www.artgallery.wa.gov.au/
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Websites - new
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/websites.htm
Virtual Warrane
Virtual Warrane, a computer simulation that allows users to explore Sydney Cove prior to white settlement in 1788, is part of a broader initiative to protect, preserve and promote Aboriginal knowledge. It has been developed by Indigenous multimedia company Cyberdreaming in association with the Australasian Cooperative Research Centre for Interaction Design. One application envisaged for the toolkit is to be used to capture knowledge about lands used for farming or mining, and aid the native title negotiation process between commercial enterprises and traditional owners.
http://www.virtualwarrane.com.au/
http://www.cyberdreaming.com.au/
http://www.interactiondesign.com.au/
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