ART NEWS 09
TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 29 JUNE 2023
Moa Arts to benefit from First Nations commissioning fund
Moa Arts will run one of 10 projects supported by the Queensland Government’s First Nations Commissioning Fund, aimed at developing and showcasing new work by First Nations artists and companies in Queensland. Local MP Cynthia Lui said far north Queensland was a “deep reservoir” of cultural heritage. “First Nations communities across the region maintain strong arts practice traditions,” she said. “It’s wonderful to announce that Ngalmun Lagau Minaral TSI Corp has been awarded $168,800 through this round of the First Nations Commission Fund. “This grant will support Moa Arts to to deliver Step Up, a series of high impact, one-on-one printmaking workshops leading to Australian art fairs, American and European exhibitions. “This is a great boost that
Local MP Cynthia Lui & Minister for the Arts, Leeanne Enoch. Pic supplied. will support local artists to showcase their culture, share their stories, and grow their national and international audiences. “Creative organisations like Moa Arts bring people together as one community and provide outlets for cultural and creative expression. Art is culture and culture is life. “It’s important to practice this as a community.”
Minister for the Arts, Leeanne Enoch said art, culture and storytelling were central to the important work of truth-telling and healing. “The First Nations Commissioning Fund works to deliver against the key priorities of our 10-year arts roadmap, Creative Together 2020-2030, elevating First Nations arts, sharing our stories and celebrating our storytellers, and growing a
CIAF fashion set to go
strong and sustainable arts and cultural sector,” she said. “Funding is supporting the development and showcasing of new arts and cultural work of the talented First Nations arts practitioners in Queensland, celebrating their unique stories and strengthening the role of arts and culture in truth-telling and healing processes. “Support for industry placements is working to
expand the scale and capacity of the state’s creative workforce and boosting employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and arts workers as we look towards the opportunities for First Nations arts leading in to the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.” The First Nations Commissioning Fund aimed at elevating the art works, experiences, music, dance, theatre and visual arts of First Nations artists and organisations in Queensland. Five industry placements for First Nations artists and arts workers were also supported to grow skills in curation, event management, marketing, production and presentation, and five projects have been supported to commission new music by local First Nations composers and musicians. Beneficiaries of the latest funding round included:
• Yumpla Nerkep Foundation trading as Straight from the Strait – $10,000 for new music commissioning (plus $90,000 towards an industry placement over two years) to deliver the premiere season of Straight from the Strait, a First Nations musical-theatre work which will incorporate traditional and contemporary music, languages and choreography. • Jessie Lloyd – $50,000 to deliver Aunties Recording Project which will record the stories and songs of Indigenous women across Queensland who over the age of 50 years. • Ngalmun Lagau Minaral TSI Corp, trading as Moa Arts – $95,800 (plus $73,000 for an industry placement over two years) to deliver Step Up, a series of high impact, one-on-one printmaking workshops leading to Australian art fairs, American and European exhibitions.
Ailan Life
Each month our proud sponsor CEQ will pick their favourite Ailan Life entry and the winner will receive a $150 GIFT CARD to use at any of your local CEQ stores!
Pic: Veronica Sagredo (Blueclick Photography), Model: Gillyba Ambrum. Choreographers: Jaydn (left) and Mykelle Bingarape (Gimuy Walubara Yidinji and Gunggari Country mob with family ties to Torres Strait Islands). Curator: Lynelle Flinders (Dharrba Warra, Starke River). Fashion: Halter neck jumpsuit in silk dupion featuring screen printed seagrass print by artist Michelle Yeatman, Yarrabah Arts Centre. Seamstress: Elizabeth Oui. Earrings: Philomena Yeatman, Yarrabah Arts Centre Three Torres Strait designers – Emily Beckley, Robert Pau and Hans Ahwang – will feature in this year’s Cairns Indigenous Art Fair’s milestone fashion showcase Woven. Celebrating 10 years in 2023, Woven will highlight contemporary Indigenous wearable art, elaborate adornments (head dress neck & body adornments) and accessories from the collections of 15 designers to be exhibited by models in a creative and culturally rich choreographed performance by Miriki Performing Arts alumni, Mykelle and Jaydn Bingarape. Since the inaugural Ufla Upla
Textile Conference and performance in 2013, CIAF has built a legacy for Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to pioneer and participate in Australia’s vibrant and burgeoning Indigenous fashion movement. CIAF’s three ticketed fashion performances will be enjoyed by festival goers in the atmospheric round of Tank 3, Tanks Arts Centre on Thursday 13 July and Friday 14 July 2023. Tickets are now on sale at CIAF’s ticketing hub, www.ciaf.com.au
Each week we will publish a pic showing the Ailan way of life in the Torres Strait and the NPA – the kids swimming, a BBQ at the beach, fishing, scenic shot, etc – from local photographers and readers across our region. Just email us your pic of Ailan Life along with your name, phone number and a 25-word description to ads@torres.news
This week Rozahlia Dorante submitted her photo taken at Rosehill on Thursday Island. “There can’t possibly be anything more beautiful than sunsets in the Straits,” Rozahlia said.
Rozahlia is now in the draw to win this month’s $150 gift card! Good luck! Multiple entries may be submitted, but every entry (or entrant) may not
be published. All pics submitted will be considered in the draw for the monthly gift voucher. Winners of the CEQ Ailan Life competition are determined by CEQ. Entries to the Ailan Life photo competition may be used by the CEQ marketing/promotions team as background images for store promotions such as posters, digital noticeboard specials, counter-facing displays (POS) screens, and/or on their website and social media. Entries may also be used in-store to promote the ‘Ailan Life’ competition.
