Port Augusta City Council has been selected by Country Arts South Australia (SA) to establish a new Creative Communities Partnership Position.
This partnership will see establishment of a new fulltime Aboriginal Arts and Cultural Facilitator to focus on developing the current gallery and adjacent facilities at the Port Augusta Cultural Centre (Yarta Purtli) into a Regional Aboriginal Cultural Hub and build the capacity of Aboriginal communities to engage culturally and develop their arts practice.
The program supports a partnership for three years, during which time alternative sources of funding are explored to sustain the roles beyond the initial period.
The program allows different regional communities to benefit from having an arts and cultural officer on the ground.
Chief Executive Officer Country Arts SA, Steve Saffell, said, “The Creative Communities Partnership Program is one of our flagship programs and we are very encouraged by the level of interest state-wide.
“It was particularly difficult for the panel this year, but the proposal from City of Port Augusta to support First Nations outcomes and empowerment clearly defined it from the others.”
Chief Executive Officer Port Augusta City Council, John Banks, said, “We are incredibly proud to have been selected for this partnership with Country Arts SA.
“We feel Port Augusta is well-placed geographically and culturally for a role that will help to build a community that fosters Aboriginal culture, with Yarta Purtli positioned as a hub that includes a gallery, arts incubator, workshop spaces and marketplace – dedicated to Aboriginal culture.
“The Facilitator will bring together regional stakeholders to raise the profile of Aboriginal culture, support established and emerging Aboriginal artists develop sustainable careers and encourage collaboration across arts, education, business, health
and tourism.”
