Cultural Awards 2011 Projects

Flavours of Auburn - Auburn Council

2011-03-21T11:11:10+11:00

In October 2010, Auburn City Council and the Auburn Small Community Organisation Network (ASCON) hosted a unique celebration of food, music and dance, supported by the Sydney International Food Festival.

The Flavours of Auburn was an international food sampling event consisting of a diverse variety of cultural groups preparing traditional dishes from all around the world. The ASCON group has representation from many small and emerging cultural groups within the local area and this event offered the chance to taste a variety of foods from cultures that you won’t necessarily find easily in restaurants throughout Sydney.

Some of the nations represented through traditional dishes include Afghanistan, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Somalia and India. With cultural performances from Africa, India, Burma (Myanmar), and the Philippines the event was a fun and entertaining day that celebrated the cultural diversity of the Auburn area.

Our Women Our Stories - Gilgandra Shire Council

2011-03-21T10:43:15+11:00

This oral history project targeted 22 women in the Gilgandra community from Aboriginal and multicultural backgrounds and told their stories through local Wiradjuri artist, Gail Naden. The outcome of the project was a photographic and oral history exhibition.

A Life Viet: Artist Dinh Luc - Port Macquarie Hastings Council

2011-03-18T09:21:55+11:00

15,584 visitors enjoyed the A Life Viet touring exhibition held at the Glasshouse Regional Gallery Port Macquarie from December 2010 to February 2011. This educational and cultural exchange project was developed to enable Port Macquarie community and visitors to participate in a unique cultural experience outside the usual cultural realms of our region. Master printer and Hanoi based artist Dinh Luc was invited to develop 36 art works based on the ancient method of woodblock printing with subjects depicting traditional village life. The Glasshouse flew Dinh Luc out from Hanoi to participate in the exhibition and to deliver a week long education program. Activities included:-Art demonstrations by Dinh Luc, traditional dance performances by Huong Long Hoang, language translation and cultural awareness training by TAFE international students .

Taking Care - Marrickville Council

2011-03-17T15:10:52+11:00

The photo-essay book Taking Care, sixteen women making a difference in the Marrickville community was the outcome of a community based collaboration between Marrickville Council, Marrickville writer Julia Richardson, photographer Bruce Daly, and Marrickville childcare workers. Commissioned by Marrickville Council in 2010 the Year of Women in Local Government, Taking Care shares the personal stories of 16 Aboriginal and migrant women working in child care in Marrickville. It provides insight into who is caring for Marrickville’s children, and how their cultural backgrounds directly inform the values and traditions imparted to the children. As a collection of stories, Taking Care highlights the wonderful of diversity of cultures, teaching styles and stories that Marrickville children are experiencing and, as a result, synthesizing into highly nuanced understandings of contemporary Australian culture in inner-city Sydney.

John O'Brien Writing Competition for School Students - Narrandera Shire Council

2011-03-15T23:07:38+11:00

The John O'Brien Writing Competition for School Students is an annual writing competition developed to promote literacy and to help foster the art and habit of writing. The competition is run in conjunction with Narrandera Shire's signature John O’Brien Festival.

Saturday morning with the kids is not just about sport. - Leeton Shire Council

2011-03-15T17:16:34+11:00

Leeton Shire Library is a fun place to be on Saturday mornings. With half an hour of stories and songs every week to entertain children aged 1-7 along with their parents and carers. Working mums and dads can now share the storytime experience with their children every week by coming to our new Saturday Book Chair. While many families visit the library on Saturday mornings, being able to participate in a storytime activity is a new experience for many working parents. "I did not think my child would sit still for so long and get to involved" one parent commented recently. "Sport is important to us but this a 'slow time' for us to relax and learn without competition."

25 Years of the Bondi Wave Youth Music Project - Waverley Council

2011-03-15T16:41:42+11:00

The Bondi Wave is an annual, youth music project originally developed to provide young, unemployed, aspiring musicians with the opportunities to develop their skills and networks. In later years, due to ongoing demand, participation was extended to school aged musicians.

Held at the at the Bondi Pavilion for over 25 years, the Bondi Wave is an example of an innovative, evolving, enduring and exemplary local government project that has developed in collaboration with State and Federal arts funding bodies, employment and educational organisations, the music industry and the local community.

‘The Wave’ offers a practical introduction to the music industry, covering song-writing, performing, and recording, through seminars, specialist workshops, and a course for emerging youth bands. It culminates in a showcase concert, where each youth band performs original music, and the recording of a professional CD. A team of experienced and professional musicians and songwriters facilitate the program.

Gosford Mosaic Mural Project - Reflecting the Past, Creating the Future - Gosford City Council

2011-03-15T15:36:14+11:00

In partnership with GBID and Beyond Empathy, the Mosaic Mural Project was conceived to develop a sense of place in the Gosford City Centre by culturally responding to social conditions; to increase awareness among communities of the importance and value the role creativity plays in building the strengths of the community. Consequently act as a deterrent to the graffiti appearing on the wall adjoining the Baker and Mann St laneway.

A series of 6 mosaic mural artworks were created and the core groups for the workshops included:

Members of the Gosford 50+ Leisure and Learning Centre;
Staff and students from the Frank Baxter Juvenile Justice Detention Centre;
Staff and Students from Youth Connections, the Haven Education Centre and ‘transitions to work’ students from Job Centre Australia; and Community members.

Warami Ngallawah Mittigar - The Village Green Public Art Development - Blacktown City Council

2011-03-15T15:25:43+11:00

The Blacktown Village Green Integrated Public Art is part of an urban planning development within the heart of Blacktown CBD, which expresses Aboriginal concepts throughout the designs. The site was launched in September 2010. The art works on this site celebrate the local Aboriginal history of Darug community and comprise an entry statement with handmade tiles on two retaining walls, on one side, inviting the community into the space with the words “Warami Ngallawah Mittigar” (...come in my friend, sit down, in Darug language).

Other public art works on this site are a mosaic water feature, and bronze sculptural elements typical of wetland existing in Blacktown surrounded by a sandblasted wall. This area creates a playful, fun and interactive space for the users. These artworks are inspired by the poem “Breath of Blacktown” written for the site by Darug Writer and Song Writer Jacinta Tobin.

DigiMacq: The Spirit of Macquarie in Parramatta - Parramatta City Council

2011-03-15T15:10:17+11:00

DigiMacq (Digital + Macquarie = DigiMacq) is a forerunner in an open museum scenario and available as a free download from the AppStore. Incorporating interactivity, storytelling, mapping and directions, high quality production standards are used to animate 19th Century images and narrative through the voice characterisations of Governor Macquarie and his contemporaries. DigiMacq engages visitors in an immersive Macquarie era experience while visiting the sites and strolling the streets of today’s Parramatta. Marker signs at key sites provide the secret codes to unlock the next path on a journey of discovery. Future proofing was foremost in the development and delivery of this App providing a platform to readily produce more applications. As Parramatta City Council moves forward with with WiFi, locative technology will offer DigiMacq and other applications to residents, visitors and workers as they move about Parramatta.

Managing Street Art and Graffiti Vandalism in the May Lane Neighbourhood - Marrickville Council

2011-03-15T13:31:01+11:00

Managing Street Art in May Lane Neighbourhood has been a collaborative community engagement project aimed at ensuring the May Lane Street Art project remains a unique cultural attraction supported by the local community. The highly regarded May Lane Art Project is a privately curated outdoor gallery space along the side of a building in May Lane, St Peters. While many residents support the program and feel it contributes to the revitalisation of the area, some residents have had concerns about the impact of the program on the surrounding neighbourhood. These concerns included health, safety, access, and illegal tagging. Marrickville Council has worked with arts, business and community stakeholders to understand these issues and facilitate the development of an action plan to attempt to manage street art in this local neighbourhood.

Artist Week 2010 - Wollongong City Council

2011-03-15T12:18:32+11:00

A planned week of events as a prequel to the Viva la Gong Festival, to stimulate the senses and create dialogue around Culture and the Arts. Artists, designers, innovators, creative thinkers, performers and cultural commentators explored emerging issues in cultural development. Alongside the dialogue, the city centre became energised through popup and laneway exhibitions and a video installation by Joanne Saad. Exquisite musical performances including the Australian premier of the Cantata Santa Maria de Iquique and an aerial performance by Circus Wow. Young people 12 to 24 had the opportunity to create zines, explore ideas on art and culture through an interactive forum and take part in circus and art workshops through “CREATE” week. Young children were involved in community cultural development program with artists exploring the theme of land and sea to create wearable art for the Viva La Gong Parade.

Lover Carer exhibition - Auburn Council

2011-03-15T11:34:47+11:00

During her residency in the Auburn Arts Studio, artist Jacqueline Olivetti curated an exhibition of work by artists who are also carers. The studio is set in the beautiful Auburn Botanic Gardens which is a destination for many community group outings and carers seeking to enjoy the therapeutic aspects of the gardens. The ‘Lover Carer’ exhibition was shown in the Peacock Gallery (also located in the gardens precinct) and was visited by many visitors, carers and carers groups from the community. The public program associated with the exhibition and residency included two workshops "Clean Hands" and "Dirty Hands" which included the designing and printing of tea towels with images associated with the act of caring. It also included “Sound-vent”a sound composition workshop where the group collectively created a soundscape/musical piece, involving voices, words and ideas related to lovers and carers.

Scattered Bones - Bathurst Regional Council

2011-03-15T11:23:16+11:00

Thousands of school students across NSW have visited the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum (AFMM) in Bathurst from connected classrooms using video conference technology. The Scattered Bones program is a series of dinosaur themed writing workshops delivered to regionally isolated schools across NSW (including School of the Air). It is a fun and interactive combination of palaeontology and creative narrative writing hosted by Paul Stafford, author and literacy constant, and the AFMM enabling isolated schools to meet and work together writing stories inspired by the spectacular Somerville Collection.

As a partnership between the AFMM, the Department of Education and Training and Paul Stafford, the innovative workshop formula specifically targets the development of literacy skills in remote and regional NSW. By utilising the video conferencing, students across the state have been given access to the wonders of the AFMM along with a high quality science & literacy module.

Woollahra Local Writers’ Word Festival - Woollahra Municipal Council

2011-03-15T09:36:03+11:00

Woollahra Local Writers' Word Festival is an annual festival which showcases the work of new and upcoming local authors. Small-press or self-published authors of fiction, non-fiction and poetry, living in the Woollahra Municipality or neighbouring municipalities are invited to be part of the event.

Short listed writers have the opportunity to present their work publicly, sell their works and be interviewed by well known literary ambassador, Irina Dunn. Winners in each of the three categories, fiction, non fiction and poetry receive a prize of $500, in celebration of the written word.

The Festival also provides the opportunity for both the community and emerging writers to learn more about the craft of writing and the publishing industry. Council received many compliments about the day and support for its continuation.

Lake Walk and Gym Equipment - Forbes Shire Council

2011-03-15T08:57:24+11:00

Lake Forbes is the centrepiece of Forbes featuring parkland and a 4.8 km Council constructed and maintained walk/cycle way circling Lake Forbes. This area is an important asset, contributing a number of benefits and uses for the community and visitors alike including passive and active recreation, wildlife habitat, historical values, tourism, related economic benefits, and most importantly cultural development. The Lake Walk and Gym Equipment project has been completed during 2010 with the installation of Australian standard compliant, outdoor, public use, gym equipment enhancing and complimenting the walk and cycleway surrounding Lake Forbes.

The Clothing Exchange - Swapping instead of Shopping - Council of the City of Sydney

2011-03-14T08:48:43+11:00

Inspired by the City’s aim to promote sustainability in new and interesting ways, The Clothing Exchange invited the community to bring along old or unused clothes and accessories, and swap the items for others - a sustainable way to revamp their wardrobe at Surry Hills Library.

Participants donated items in exchange for buttons – the legal tender of the day. The Library’s function room transformed into a shop, with items on display around the room for easy browsing. Once the “swap shop” opened, participants selected their 'new' items, which they were able to purchase with their button currency.

The event was a great success, showcasing the diversity of programs offered in the City’s Library and promoting Library membership to new audiences.

Art & About Sydney - Council of the City of Sydney

2011-03-14T08:37:04+11:00

Art & About Sydney transforms the city each October, with an accessible and engaging public art program that lives within and throughout the city’s streets, public spaces and venues.

Art & About Sydney commissions, curates, partners and showcases a diverse program of artists, art works and events that invite participants to experience the city in ways they never have before. The program provides a platform of expression and the exploration of the city’s identity through the commissioning of new work, the installation of work in unusual and non-traditional spaces, and for the most part, it is free and accessible to all.

The City of Sydney collaborates and partners with an extensive range of artists, curators and arts, cultural and community organisations to enable a month-long artistic program that transforms common everyday places and spaces into vibrant, creative hubs, with artworks literally woven into the fabric of our everyday lives.

Bankstown Arts Centre - Bankstown City Council

2011-03-13T16:57:54+11:00

The Bankstown Arts Centre is a new cultural facility in Western Sydney, and was opened on 17th February 2011 by Premier Keneally. It is a place where artists and communities will collaborate to explore ideas and learn, create and experience contemporary community based art.
The Centre is a multidisciplinary arts venue which provides office and studio accommodation for the Bankstown Arts Society, Bankstown District Lapidary Club, Bankstown Theatrical Society, Bankstown Youth Development Service and Urban Theatre Projects.
The centre has been designed as an inviting and accessible venue with a range of flexible spaces including a 120 seat theatre, five multipurpose studio spaces,which can be used for art classes, small scale exhibitions, meetings and artist residencies, as well as three performing art spaces.
The Arts Centre will connect in both its programming and built form to the Bankstown CBD and its communities, to develop a vibrant and engaging cultural destination.

Auburn Centre for Community - A place of welcome and connection - Auburn Council

2011-03-11T17:18:36+11:00

Auburn City Council recognises that access to community cultural facilities is crucial to fostering community cohesion. The Auburn Centre for Community is the first large scale multifunctional community facility in the suburb of Auburn and houses a range of spaces which promote education/training support; art production, cultural and lifelong learning activities; sport/ recreational programs; and opportunities for community events/performance.

The project involved the conversion of the former Auburn Bowling Club site into a new cultural asset for the community. Construction of the new facility took place in 2010. Unique features of this project included sustainability design elements, commissioning a public art component, and preservation of the local history of the site through the development of a permanent memorabilia exhibit and production of a documentary on the adaptive re-use of the site.

This project was an initiative of Council and was supported by the Federal Government’s Regional & Local Infrastructure Program.