We were thrilled to have the NSW Minister for the Arts The Hon. Don Harwin, MLC visit NAISDA Dance College to announce that NAISDA has successfully secured $117,164 in funding in the first round of the NSW Government’s $100m Regional Cultural Fund (RCF).
The grant will contribute toward plans to develop a flagship, international precinct for Indigenous creative learning adjacent to NAISDA’s Central Coast campus called Naya Wa Yugali, meaning ‘We dance’ in Darkinjung language.
The new precinct will serve as both a learning hub and gathering place for the development of Australian and international contemporary Indigenous dance.
Thank you to Chearie Lee, a Jawun secondee, for capturing some footage from the day and sharing it with NAISDA.
Kim Walker, CEO of NAISDA said, “We are delighted to receive this significant funding which will enable us to take our next important steps towards realising our vision for Naya Wa Yugali.”
“We are working towards changing the future of Indigenous Creative Learning in Australia and Naya Wa Yugal is the next exciting chapter in NAISDA’s over-40 year history,” continued Kim.
This project is one of 68 projects from 12 regions across NSW, sharing in close to $50m in the first round of grants.
The RCF is part of the NSW Government’s $1.3 billion Regional Growth Fund which aims to improve the economic outcomes and the standard of living and wellbeing of people who call regional NSW home.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro said it is great to see such a vast array of exciting projects as part of round one of the arts-specific fund.
“Having grown up and raised a family in a regional area, I know our regional towns and cities can have so much to offer in the arts and culture space,” Mr Barilaro said.
RCF funds will go towards projects including the construction of exhibition spaces, the refurbishment of libraries and museums and smaller, grass-roots community projects.
Arts Minister Don Harwin said the fund was established to ensure regional NSW received its fair share of arts and cultural infrastructure, no matter where you live.
“Arts and culture is at the heart of every regional community and this first round of funding is evidence that the NSW Government’s commitment to driving growth in arts, screen, culture and heritage in regional NSW is making a difference,” Mr Harwin said.
CEO of NAISDA Kim Walker added, “Given the very competitive field of applicants from cultural and artistic organisations across the state, we are extremely proud that our project was successful and that Naya Wa Yugali has been recognised as being part of the state’s commitment towards delivering bold and exciting cultural infrastructure across NSW.”
Naya Wa Yugali will extend NAISDA’s commitment to broaden and increase NAISDA’s learning and career outcomes for young First Nation people; increase opportunities for national and international cultural research, discourse, study and performance and provide an exceptional repository of Indigenous cultural learning and knowledge for all Australians.
Above all, it is our commitment to our youth as we share and celebrate our world’s oldest living cultures through dance and ensure we support and nurture our future First Nation artists, leaders and creative innovators.
Pictured in group shot above:
Back row: Daniel Mateo, Debra Schleger, NAISDA COO, Kate Kelleher, Chair Barang Regional Alliance, Kim Walker NAISDA CEO, Minister for the Arts, The Hon. Don Harwin, Nihal Gupta, NAISDA Foundation Chair, Chris Crick, Associate Director, Root Partnerships, Chris Hostein, Deputy Mayor, Central Coast Council, Janine Collins, Acting NSW and ACT State Manager, Creative Partnerships, Jan Wells, NAISDA Head of Fundraising Front Row: Jannali Johnston, Janaya Lamb (standing), Jesse Murray, Darcy Maguire, Adelaide Cowan, James Boyd, Dean Davis, Lacey Bilger