Our commitment to cultivate and celebrate First Nations knowledge through dance and arts education for all Australians echoed within classrooms and workshops in 2017. We continued to deliver a significant portfolio of immersive, positive and enriching outreach and engagement programs to participants across regional and remote Australia in collaboration with organisations such as Musica Viva, The Song Room and through talent identification programs like Garabara Ngurra. Thanks to the ongoing dedication of the NAISDA team, our achievements were recognised at our nation’s highest levels in 2017. We were delighted and honoured to receive significant awards for both staff and the organisation which included NAISDA’s 2017 Finalist Award in the Telstra Business Awards, along with accolades at both the 2017 Helpmann Awards and Australian Dance Awards. I equally want to recognise the NAISDA Foundation and its invaluable role and ongoing work to sustain and secure NAISDA’s future. All accolades are timely reminders that NAISDA’s achievements, impact and Social Return would not be possible without the commitment and investment of so many people. I take this opportunity to sincerely thank all funders, investors, donors and partners for their substantive and critical support along the NAISDA journey.
Finally, I pay tribute to the NAISDA family. To our boards for their energy, guidance and vision. We were delighted to welcome three new Directors to NAISDA Ltd Board in 2017 – Dr Deborah Cheetham AO, Dean Parkin and Mayrah Sonter, who each brought a wealth of experience and vision to our work. My heartfelt thanks, as ever, goes to NAISDA’s current, new and departing staff. I would like to conclude with the words and exceptional contribution made to NAISDA by one departing staff member – the inimitable Mr Raymond D. Blanco. When one Developing Artist commented to him that “the place won’t be the same without you”, he astutely responded “Well I hope not. Change and evolution have been a strong part of the continuum that has secured NAISDA’s place in the Australian Dance Industry’s history.” Well-said and thank-you Raymond.
K I M WA L K ER C EO, NAISDA DANCE COL L EGE
ANNUAL REPORT 2017
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