The Kailani Dancers at DanceSite 2015. Image by Benjamin Bayliss Our vision Arts and culture inspire communities Our purpose Connecting people and place through arts development and touring Our values y We conduct our business with integrity and respect y We are committed to creative excellence and capacity building y We embrace the diverse environment of the Northern Territory y We believe that investment in arts and culture is fundamental to a rich life and the wellbeing of communities
Artback NT is the go to organisation that brings together Northern Territory artists with presenters seeking authentic arts and cultural experiences for their audiences and communities. We are the gateway to sharing the rich cultures, stories and art of the Territory with Australia and the rest of the world. Covering a landscape of over 1.3 million square kilometres, Artback NT ignites sparks in a creative Northern Territory. We develop, produce, curate and present ambitious, professional and energetic work to and from some of Australia s most remote locations. Artback NT s annual multi-art form program (visual arts; dance and theatre; music; Indigenous traditional dance) recognises the importance of identity, connection to culture, and the intrinsic value of arts and culture to community health and wellbeing. Deep connections with communities inform our approach to arts and cultural development. We provide the building blocks that encourage and facilitate the transition from early beginnings in a small remote Indigenous community in Arnhem Land, to achieving an acclaimed reputation internationally. We activate creative participation, revealing an entire new world for regional, remote and very remote communities who are often left off the touring map. Over the past 21 years, Artback NT has delivered arts experiences to 329 different locations throughout the Territory including 99 Indigenous communities and to 639 locations nationally. From the Tiwi Island footy club to the National Gallery of Australia, we reach into every corner of this country. We provide communities and artists with new ways to share their stories, build respect for their work and, in turn, generate lasting positive community impact. We are the conduit for local, national and international audiences who are seeking work that provides access into the talent and passion of an Australia that ventures far beyond the highway. 2 Artback NT Capacity Statement Mary Anne Butler in Highway of Lost Hearts. Image by Brett Boardman
Work from Punuku Tjukurpa, an exhibition from the Maruku Archive in Mutitjulu, NT. Image courtesy Canberra Museum and Gallery Marina Strocchi, Full Bloom, 2001, Gouache on paper, 867 x 1045 x 35mm Linda Joy, Lost City Kings Canyon, 2014, ink and wash on Stonehenge, 50 x 76cm Homie from Tiny Toones, a b*boy group in Cambodia, Darwin Festival 2014. Image by Amy Hetherington Serina Pech. Image by Amy Hetherington We activate creative participation... Artback NT Capacity Statement 3
Artback NT s outcome areas 1. Territory artists and the arts industry flourish Artback NT identifies, develops and builds excellence in the Territory. We make it possible for remote artists to shape Australia s national identity and build the capacity of artists to have local, national and international connections and impact. Our programs cultivate genuine collaborations with artists, curators, producers and communities to develop and tour work which promotes the Territory s unique artistic achievements. We foster pathways for artists, from developing new work to presenting and touring. Through supporting skills development and knowledge transference to younger generations, we empower artists to generate and control their own creative and economic activity. 2. Territory communities and audiences are stimulated by authentic arts and cultural experiences Artback NT seeks to embed arts and culture in everyday life so that such experiences become something communities demand and eagerly respond to. The Territory s diverse cultural, artistic and geographic differences provide rich spaces for crosscultural exchange and activity. 33% per cent of the population is Indigenous, representing an estimated 86 language groups. Almost 25% of the population was born overseas. Artback NT s multiart form approach is culturally and economically appropriate to this environment. Our authentic engagement with communities throughout the Territory fosters meaningful relationships that develop and deliver rich arts and cultural experiences which, in turn, deepen audience engagement. As our brand builds across art forms, we further connect people and place through arts development and touring. 4 Artback NT Capacity Statement Mara man, Barnabas Timothy, at DanceSite 2015. Image by Benjamin Bayliss
3. Territory arts and artists are renowned nationally and internationally Artback NT enables audiences to experience the diverse stories, captivating pictures, compelling rhythms and vibrant energy of regional and remote Australia. We bring the best the Territory has in art, culture and stories to the world, identifying strategic mechanisms to showcase this work. We invite ambassadors and Australian and Asian presenters to regularly come to the Territory to critique the work and spread the word nationally and internationally. Our focus on supporting the development of high-quality artistic outcomes contributes to building awareness and audiences nationally and internationally. 4. Artback NT is a strong and adventurous organisation Critical to Artback NT s success is the development of new income streams and diversified funding sources. Sponsorship, philanthropic opportunities and developing additional funding sources, partnerships and collaborations will underpin our artistic activities. An entrepreneurial approach is needed to exist in a constantly changing local and global context, enabling us to move forward in a sustainable manner. We cultivate genuine collaborations with artists, curators, producers and communities to develop and tour work that promotes the Territory s artistic excellence, activates community conversation and encourages entrance into an imaginative, accessible world. We are committed to providing and facilitating opportunities that help bring our vision to life for the next generation. Wagilak dance group from Ngukurr at DanceSite 2015. Image by Benjamin Bayliss Artback NT Capacity Statement 5
Artback NT s artistic rationale Artback NT Touring Venue by location (639) 1996-2014 Reach regional, remote and very remote audiences within the Northern Territory with high quality arts experiences Profile NT artists nationally and internationally through touring visual, performing arts, music and Indigenous dance Create opportunities for collaborations and exchanges through engagement with the broader arts sector, peers, colleagues, mentors and audiences Artback NT builds relationships with Indigenous and non-indigenous artists in communities throughout the Territory and offers networking opportunities, skills development and support to ensure the profile and reach of Territory artists is broad and recognised locally, nationally and internationally. Carnarvon (3) Fremantle (2) Bunbury (2) Geraldton (2) Perth ( 10 ) Port Hedland (4) Karratha (2) Mandurah (2) Narrogin Argyle Albany Merredin Mudginberri Ngaruwanajirri Croker Island Darwin ( 63) Pirlangimpi Warruwi (Goulburn Island) Mandorah Gunbalanya (Oenpelli) (4) Thursday Island Belyuen Milikapiti Maningrida ( 5 ) Galiwin ku (Elcho Island) (2) Palmerston ( 6) Milingimbi Ramingining (2) Bees Creek Nguiu ( 5) Nhulunbuy (12 ) Mapoon Humpty Doo (2) Yirrkala (3) Bagot Batchelor ( 4) Jabiru (8) Gulkula Adelaide River Cooinda Garrthalala Nauiyu (3) Bulman Kybrook Farm Gapuwiyak Aurukun Daly River (2) Pine Creek (5) Alyangula Wadeye (Port Keats) Kalano Beswick ( 4) Umbakumba Coen Peppimenarti Angurugu Katherine (28) Ngukurr (3) Binjarri Minyerri Numbulwar Wyndham (3) Timber Barunga Jilkminggan Laura Kununurra ( 9) Creek (2) Mataranka (4) Cooktown Borroloola ( 14) Yarralin Wujal Wujal Turkey Creek Daly Waters Cairns ( 9) Beagle Bay Derby (4) Warmun Daguragu (2) Atherton Broome ( 12) Fitzroy Crossing ( 5) Kalkarindji (2) Elliot (2) Burketown Doomadgee Bidyadanga Halls Creek ( 3) Lajamanu ( 3) Brunette Downs Lombadina Djarandjin Townsville (5) Tennant Creek ( 22) Ayr Balgo Tanami Alpurrurulam Epenarra (Lake Nash) Mt Isa (2) Kalgoorlie Warburton Barrow Creek Ali Curung (2) Yuendumu (3) Ti Tree Ampilatwatja Utopia Kintore Laramba Papunya Harts Range Haasts Bluff Alice Springs ( 49) Ntaria ( Hermannsburg ) (3) Ross River (3) Utju (Areyonga) Santa Teresa Amoonguna Docker River Titjikala Mutitjulu Imanpa Blackstone Yulara (4) Apatula (Finke) ( 3 ) Amata Wingellina Ernabella (Pukatja) Ceduna Streaky Bay Port Lincoln ( 3) Map of Australia showing scope of Artback NT delivery across all six states and two territories of Australia from 1996-2014. Numbers in brackets indicate number of venues in that location. (NB: 1994-1995 location information is not available.) Coober Pedy Wudinna Roxby Downs (2) Longreach Winton Gulargambone Taree Port Augusta (2) Dubbo Maitland Whyalla Cessnock (2) Parkes Newcastle Jamestown Orange Lake Macquarie Port Pirie (2) Bathurst (2) Hawkesbury Clare Cowra Chatswood (2) Kapunda Renmark Penrith Sydney ( 12 ) Maitland Griffith Tanunda Berri Mildura (2) Wollongong Adelaide (14) Loxton Goulburn McLaren Vale Wagga Wagga Murray Bridge Canberra (17) Goolwa Lameroo Bordertown Horsham Shepparton Wodonga Bendigo Ararat Benalla Bega Naracoorte Halls Gap Werribee Millicent Hamilton Morang Mount Gambier (2) Ballarat (2) Traralgon Warrnambool Colac Morwell Geelong (2) Melbourne ( 23) Drysdale King Island Mackay (2) Emerald Blackdown Gladstone Bundaberg Mundubbera Hervey Bay Gympie Cooloola Noosa Sunshine Coast Chinchilla Woodford ( 3) Caloundra Ipswich (2) Brisbane ( 7) Toowoomba (3) Beaudesert Warwick Surfer s Paradise Stanthorpe Murwillumbah Texas Kyogle Byron Bay (2) Lismore Moree Tenterfield Grafton Bingara Barraba Gunnedah Gladstone Tamworth ( 3) Quirindi Behind the scenes of sound designer and harpist, Kris Keogh, at the performance of Beautiful Noise at Darwin Festival 2015. Image by Paul Thompson Burnie Hobart (4) 6 Artback NT Capacity Statement
We provide communities and artists with new ways to share their stories... Sandtracks participants. Image by Vanessa Hutchins Artback NT Capacity Statement 7
Artback NT acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country to which we travel and on which we work. Where appropriate, people have been named in the images used throughout. Darwin Office: 56 Woods St [ GPO Box 535 ] Darwin NT 0801 Phone: +61 8 8941 1444 Fax: +61 8 8941 1344 Alice Springs Office: Cnr Bath St and Stott Tce [ PO Box 4582 ] Alice Springs NT 0871 Phone: +61 8 8953 5941 Fax: +61 8 8952 6595 Borroloola Office: C/o Waralungku Arts Centre Robinson Road Borroloola NT 0854 Phone: +61 405 926 209 Fax: +61 8 8972 8986 /artback.nt @ArtbackNT artback_nt Website artbacknt.com.au Tjintu Desert Band. From left, Jeffrey Tjangala Zimran, Joseph Zimran, Arron Sharp, Terry Marshall and Keiren Malta. Image by Ian Dunn