ANNUAL REPORT Woomera Aboriginal Corporation - 1 -

Transcription

1 ANNUAL REPORT 2008 Woomera Aboriginal Corporation - 1 -

2 our funding partners festival community partners Gununamanda PCYC CDEP Mornington Island State School Ozminerals Carpentaria Fuels Yuenamanada Mornington Island Post Office Photos by Wayne Quillian and Brett Evans - 2 -

3 Woomera Aboriginal Corporation Annual Report 2008 contents Chairman s Report 4 Chief Executive Officer s Report 5 Financial Statements Directors Report 6 Income Statement 7 Balance Sheet 8 Notes to the Financial Statements 9 Statement by Members of the Corporation 15 Independent Auditor s Report 16 Profit and Loss Statement 19 Mornington Island Arts Centre 20 Mornington Island Dancers 22 Board, management and staff 23 Woomera Aboriginal Corporation P O GUNUNA QLD 4871 T : (07) F : (07) W : (this will change in 2009) - 3 -

4 chairman s report As Chairman, it is my privilege to announce the financial results and achievements to the community of Woomera Aboriginal Corporation. Since 1974 the chair of this corporation has been reporting on the activities of Woomera, but this is the last time that any chair of this corporation will report on Woomera, because next year we will report on Mirndiyan Gununa Aboriginal Corporation. Earlier this year your committee decided to change the name of the company. There has always been much confusion about the name Woomera: it is not a local name and many people thought we were from South Australia. We decided to re-name the corporation Mirndiyan Gununa, which means many people (Gununa) dreaming (Mirndiyan). It is a symbol of the future. This vision of this corporation is here to maintain, develop and promote the cultures of the Lardil and Kaidilt people and provide assistance to other Gulf cultures and communities to do the same, through a professionally managed and well financed Aboriginal Corporation. But how do we do this? We dance. We paint. We make artefacts. We do cultural things. We invest in the community. We invest in language. We invest in education. We are concerned about community health, education and the future of our culture. But it is no good to simple sit back and let it be. We as a community have to take responsibility and actively take part in our culture to keep it safe for our children. If we do not, it will waste thousands and thousands of years of our heritage. The year 2008 was a difficult year for the Board as we were working with two managers, but now we have a manager with managerial and arts management experience who is helping us achieve our goals. My thanks to all our supporters past and present, the members of the Board, CEO Trevor Keeling, Arts Centre Manager Brett Evans and all the staff of Mirndiyan Gununa. CHAIRMAN - 4 -

5 ceo s report This report is about the 2008 activities, but it is written with no first-hand knowledge of the events of Looking objectively at the activities of the year, it can only be described as a mixture of fortunate and unfortunate hugely and successfully fortunate with regard to the Mornington Island Aboriginal Arts Centre (MIAAC) but unfortunate with regard to the Mornington Island Dancers (MID). Traditionally the activities of the MID was the central point of the operations of Woomera Aboriginal Corporation indeed this was why the corporation came into existence in the first place. However, with the departure of two general managers during 2008 resulted in significant setbacks for the artistic program involving the Mornington Island Dancers. However, the activities and results in the MIAAC now rated by the Australian Art Collector magazine as one of the top five indigenous arts centres in Australia saw the Arts Centre become the saviour of Woomera financially and artistically something which we as a community should be very proud. During 2008 it was evident that the company inevitably lost some direction and purpose. However, if it was not for the sterling efforts of Arts Centre Manager and deputy general manager, Brett Evans, I doubt whether the corporation would be as buoyant as it is today. Brett prefers to play a background role in the daily life of the corporation, but has a commitment to the corporation that is way above the call of duty and I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Brett s unceasing commitment to and belief in the culture and art of this community. But the downturn in activity should not be seen as indicative or reflective of the international economic downturn or as an excuse. We have had some difficulties which have been overcome and we look forward to an amazing future as the keeper and preserver of traditional culture in the Gulf region. Our members, the community, our funding partners and everyone connected with us can take heart and be encouraged about our future. Our past record is one to proud of and so will our future. Trevor Keeling CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER - 5 -

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20 mornington island arts (mia) In 2007 the Queensland Indigenous Arts Marketing and Export Agency (QIAMEA) supported MIA with $ to produce a high quality publication to help introduce and promote MIA and its artists to an international audience with the launch of the book in the United Arab Emirates at the Sharjah Art Museum in an exhibition titled Together in March The publication has been a great success and help spread a positive message about MIA and its artists. In Australia the book was officially launched at GoMA at the Queensland Art Gallery. It was during 2008 that we earned recognition, esteem and standing in the Fine Art Market, and this has helped us to understand the importance of promotion and marketing, professional behaviour and forging strong relationships with highly professional and ethical commercial galleries. While it is sometimes hard to put an exact figure on the benefits in our case but in four years art sales have increased from $16,000 in 2004 to $810,000 in The works by Sally Gabori have captured the imagination of contemporary art collectors all over the world, but it is impossible to put a price on the beneficial effect and attention that this has brought to our other senior and emerging artists. The publicity gained from this attention has been immeasurable, and along with the marketing, official documentation and authenticity certificates, and artistic development are part of the service that we offer as we nurture our artists on the pathway to excellence. Our partnership with Alcaston Gallery made the Melbourne Art Fair a main priority for our senior artist Sally Gabori for the year. A special series of works were painted and collected over the first part of 2008 allowing the Gallery to curate a very special The Sally Gabori painting acquired by the Musee de Quai Bradley i n Paris, France selection of artworks to promote our senior artist.

21 In conjunction with this QIAMEA funded Alcaston Gallery to produce a high quality catalogue featuring Sally Gabori and Emily Evans our two top artists to promote our involvement in the Melbourne Art Fair and Arco in Madrid Spain. Over the weekend the Art Fair operated we had sales of $ and in the next two months sales totaled $ Sales for the year were $ resulting from the sale of 325 paintings. We cannot over-emphasize the importance of high quality promotional material that promotes not only our artists but the commercial galleries that represent us. But fine art is not all we do. We are now developing a number of artists in ceramics and printmaking. These works have sold well and provide fresh inspiration for our artists. Diversification into ceramics: Above : Stingray by Emily Evans. Left: Pot by Karen Chong. major acquisitions paris, france Musee de Quai Bradley: Sally Gabori utrecht, Netherlands Aboriginal Art Museum: Sally Gabori brisbane, queensland Queensland Art Gallery: Sally Gabori melbourne, victoria National Gallery of Victoria: Sally Gabori paintings sold Michael Reid, Sydney 57 Melbourne, Tapestry launch 8 Alcaston Gallery, Sydney 114 Melbourne Art Fair 44 Sharjah, United Arab Emirates 43 Darwin & New Zealand 10 Other sales 49 TOTAL SALES

22 mornington island dancers The Mornington Island Dancers gave the following performances during 2008:- 6 performances to support 3 art exhibitions in Adelaide, Melbourne and Darwin 12 local performances on Mornington Island 7 performances during tour to Alice Springs Took part in four Festivals: Dreaming, Art at the Heart, WOMAD and Borroloola. ACTIVITY NUMBER PARTICIPANTS Dance nights dancers/staff 800 audience School days students Culture camps 6 80 people Film nights people Song camps

23 board, management and staff the board Richard Roughsey (appointed and Chair from 26 June 2008) Edgar Wilson (Chair until 26 June 2008) Mary Wilson Cecil Goodman Julianna Jacobs appointed 26 June 2008 John-Graham Moodoonuthy Graham Toby Dorita Escott retired 26 June 2008 Lawrence Burke Catherine Hills Selwyn Toby the staff General Manager/CEO David Lloyd (until 30 June 2008) Jeremy Geia (from 12 August until 31 January 2009) Trevor Keeling (from 31 January 2009) Arts Centre Manager Brett Evans Community Culture Renee Wilson (until January 2009) Arts Centre Worker Nancy Wilson Arts Professional Development Inge Cooper (art) Debbie Eldemire (pottery)

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