Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board
Name	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board
Type	Arts funding body
Formed	1973
Jurisdiction	Australia
Parent agency	Australia Council for the Arts
Headquarters	Sydney

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board is a statutory body within the Australia Council for the Arts established to support and promote Indigenous Australian arts practice. It operates across urban and remote regions including Darwin, Alice Springs, Melbourne, and Brisbane, engaging with artists from communities such as the Tiwi Islands, Arnhem Land, Torres Strait Islands, and the Western Desert. The Board interfaces with institutions like the National Gallery of Australia, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Art Gallery of New South Wales, and festivals including Tropfest, Vivid Sydney, and the Melbourne International Arts Festival.

History

The Board was created in the context of cultural policy debates alongside bodies such as the Australia Council for the Arts and initiatives like the Aboriginal Tent Embassy and the Whitlam ministry reforms. Early interactions involved collaborations with artists such as Albert Namatjira, Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri, Daisy Bates-related collections, and institutions including the National Aboriginal Conference and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. Its evolution paralleled national inquiries exemplified by the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists discussions on cultural heritage and legislative shifts like the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 and the Native Title Act 1993. Significant exhibitions at venues such as the National Gallery of Victoria, Art Gallery of South Australia, and touring partnerships with the British Museum and Smithsonian Institution reflected growing international engagement. The Board’s history is intertwined with leaders and advocates including Ruby Langford Ginibi, Oodgeroo Noonuccal, Mick Dodson, Patrick Dodson, and curators connected to Ken Wyatt-era policy dialogues.

Mandate and Functions

The Board’s mandate aligns with the Australia Council’s strategic priorities and engages with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts across forms represented by practitioners like Bennelong, Djalu Gurruwiwi, Rolf Harris-era controversies notwithstanding. Functions include awarding grants similar to those managed by the Sidney Myer Fund, commissioning works for venues such as the Sydney Opera House and the State Library of New South Wales, supporting touring through partnerships with Country Arts SA and Regional Arts Victoria, and advocating for cultural protocols referenced by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It liaises with peak bodies including the National Association for the Visual Arts and the Musicians' Union of Australia while contributing to policy discussions involving the Australian Parliament and its committees like the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition.

Governance and Membership

Governance structures reflect statutory arrangements under the Australia Council Act 1975 with board appointments made through ministerial processes involving portfolios such as those held by Penny Wong and predecessors. Membership has included artists, elders, and administrators comparable to figures like Banjo Paterson-era cultural icons and contemporary leaders similar to Trent Dalton in cultural advocacy contexts. The Board coordinates with advisory groups including representatives from the National Indigenous Australians Agency, Aboriginal Legal Service, and community-controlled organizations such as Redfern Legal Centre and Tangentyere Council. It also interacts with tertiary institutions like Australian National University, University of Sydney, and University of Melbourne on research and cultural training partnerships.

Funding and Programs

The Board administers competitive grant streams analogous to the Australia Council’s Fellowships and programmatic initiatives comparable to the Artist in Residence schemes at the National Film and Sound Archive and the National Library of Australia. Funding supports media projects with partners such as Screen Australia and SBS Television, visual arts residencies at the Campbelltown Arts Centre, performing arts projects at venues like Belvoir St Theatre and Bangarra Dance Theatre, and literary fellowships that have supported writers akin to Kim Scott and Sam Watson. It provides support for cultural infrastructure in remote communities with organizations such as the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Women's Council and collaborates with philanthropic funders like the Ian Potter Foundation and the Beswick Fund.

Impact and Cultural Significance

The Board’s impact is evident in increased national recognition for artists who have exhibited at the Venice Biennale, Documenta and won awards such as the Archibald Prize, Turner Prize-related visibility and the Miles Franklin Award for Indigenous authors. It has contributed to the careers of musicians who perform at Woody Guthrie-style folk events and contemporaries who appear on stages like the Sydney Opera House and festivals including Woodford Folk Festival and Splendour in the Grass. Its programs have influenced curatorial practices at the National Portrait Gallery and the Powerhouse Museum, informed repatriation work with the British Museum and the Australian Museum, and supported language revival projects linked to Yolngu Matha, Pitjantjatjara, and Kala Lagaw Ya speakers.

Notable Initiatives and Grants

Notable initiatives include commissioning major works for the Sydney Festival, supporting dance productions at Bangarra Dance Theatre, funding film projects that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and Cannes Film Festival, and backing visual arts tours through partnerships with the Art Gallery of Western Australia and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. Grants have supported recipients comparable to celebrated artists such as Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Gordon Bennett, Darren Siwes, and writers who have been finalists for the Stella Prize and the Miles Franklin Award. The Board’s programs have enabled collaborations with international institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Tate Modern, and funded community-led cultural centres such as those in Maningrida, Kalkaringi, Kowanyama, and Mparntwe/Alice Springs.

Category:Arts organisations based in Australia