Policy Joins Dots On Indigenous Culture

A new Indigenous culture repatriation policy has been launched by the Minister for the Arts, Simon Crean.
Mr Crean said the policy included a streamlined funding process and recognised the value and importance of preserving, revitalising and strengthening Indigenous culture.
He said a $28.3 million competitive funding round had opened for the preservation and strengthening of Indigenous culture, languages and visual arts.
“This funding round sees the creation of a single set of streamlined funding guidelines for Indigenous culture, languages and visual arts projects,” Mr Crean said.
“It will make it easier for artists and organisations to access these funds which currently support nearly three hundred Indigenous projects throughout Australia.”
He said that in the latest round, the names of the funding streams had changed to reflect better the purpose of the funding.
“The Maintenance of Indigenous Languages and Records (MILR) program is now called Indigenous Languages Support (ILS) and the National Arts and Crafts Industry Support (NACIS) program is now called Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support (IVAIS),” Mr Crean said.
“Indigenous Culture Support (ICS) will retain its current name.”
He said the repatriation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ancestral remains and secret sacred objects provided an opportunity to right the wrongs of the past and to build positive relationships between the collecting institutions and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“The streamlined funding and consolidation of the domestic and international repatriation programs will generate a stronger recognition of Indigenous culture, languages and visual arts both here and internationally,” he said.
Mr Crean said the latest round of funding opened on 29 October and would run to 3 February 2012.
More information, including details on how to apply, can be accessed at this PS News link.