Our purposeConnecting 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

The Kailani Dancers at DanceSite 2015. Image by Benjamin Bayliss

Our visionArts and culture inspire communities

Mary Anne Butler in Highway of Lost Hearts. Image by Brett Boardman

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.

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.

2 Artback NT Capacity Statement

Homie from Tiny Toones, a b*boy group in Cambodia, Darwin Festival 2014. Image by Amy Hetherington

Linda Joy, Lost City – Kings Canyon, 2014, ink and wash on Stonehenge, 50 x 76cm

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

Serina Pech. Image by Amy Hetherington

We activate creative participation...3Artback NT Capacity Statement

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 cross-cultural 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 multi-

art 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.

Mara man, Barnabas Timothy, at DanceSite 2015. Image by Benjamin Bayliss

Artback NT’s outcome areas

4 Artback NT Capacity Statement

Wagilak dance group from Ngukurr 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.

5Artback NT Capacity Statement

Batchelor ( )4

MandorahDarwin ( )63

Alice Springs ( )49

Elliot (2)

Jabiru (8)

Mataranka (4)

Nhulunbuy (1 )2Palmerston ( )6

Pine Creek (5)

Ali Curung (2)

Epenarra

Ampilatwatja

Apatula (Finke) ( )3

Bagot

Gunbalanya (Oenpelli) (4)Maningrida ( )5

Yirrkala (3)

Yuendumu (3)

Ramingining (2)Galiwin’ku (Elcho Island) (2)

Mutitjulu

Tennant Creek ( )22

Papunya

Nguiu ( )5

Beswick ( )4

Croker Island

Harts Range

Warruwi (Goulburn Island)

Milingimbi

Docker River

Ngaruwanajirri

Numbulwar

Borroloola ( )14

Daguragu (2)

GapuwiyakGarrthalalaGulkula

Santa Teresa

Haasts BluffNtaria ( ) (3)Hermannsburg

Kintore

Milikapiti

Pirlangimpi

Utju (Areyonga)

Brunette Downs

Katherine (2 )8

Lajamanu ( )3

BendigoArarat

Morwell

Ballarat (2)

Brisbane ( )7

Gulargambone

Hawkesbury

Stanthorpe

Taree

MurwillumbahKyogle

Moree

Wagga Wagga

Tamworth ( )3Gladstone

Griffith

Parkes

LismoreTexas

Mildura (2)

Halls Gap

Dubbo

Bathurst (2)

Cessnock (2)Lake Macquarie

Maitland

Cowra

Benalla

Wodonga

Geelong (2)Drysdale

Grafton

Goulburn

HorshamBega

Canberra (1 )7

Sydney ( )12Chatswood (2)

Derby (4)

Burnie

King Island

Adelaide (1 )4

Ernabella (Pukatja)

Wudinna

Loxton

Kapunda

Goolwa

Jamestown

Roxby Downs (2)

Streaky Bay

Port Lincoln ( )3

Port Pirie (2)

Port Augusta (2)

Whyalla

Naracoorte

Murray Bridge

Millicent

Mount Gambier (2)

Maitland

Bordertown

Berri

Ceduna

Wyndham (3)Kununurra ( )9

Halls Creek ( )3

Woodford ( )3

Winton

Warwick

Sunshine Coast

Beaudesert

Cooloola

Chinchilla Caloundra

Emerald

Atherton

Noosa

Longreach

Bundaberg

Cairns ( )9

Hervey Bay

Townsville (5)

Ipswich (2)Toowoomba (3)

Mackay (2)

Broome ( )12

Beagle Bay

Karratha (2)

Carnarvon (3)

Fremantle (2)

Geraldton (2)

Perth ( )10

Bunbury (2)

Albany

Barrow Creek

Mundubbera

Aurukun

Blackdown

Gympie

Gladstone

Hobart (4)

Renmark

Melbourne ( )23

MorangWerribee

Shepparton

Belyuen

Alyangula

AnguruguUmbakumba

Alpurrurulam(Lake Nash) Mt Isa (2)

BarungaBinjarri

Kalano

Bulman

Jilkminggan

Imanpa

Yarralin

TimberCreek (2)

Kalkarindji (2)

Yulara (4)

Amata

Narrogin

Argyle

Utopia

Titjikala

Ti Tree

Mudginberri

Bees Creek

Daly River (2)

Adelaide River

PeppimenartiWadeye (Port Keats)

Minyerri

Laramba

Kybrook Farm

Ngukurr (3)

Nauiyu (3)Cooinda

TanamiPort Hedland (4) Balgo

Bidyadanga

Wingellina

Blackstone

Warburton

Turkey Creek

Merredin

Mandurah (2)

Fitzroy Crossing ( )5

Lombadina Djarandjin

Kalgoorlie

Doomadgee

Byron Bay (2)

Mapoon

Thursday Island

Wujal Wujal

Ayr

Burketown

Coen

Cooktown

Humpty Doo (2)

Amoonguna

Daly Waters

Ross River (3)

Laura

Colac

HamiltonTraralgon

Warrnambool

McLaren Vale

Clare

Coober Pedy

Lameroo

Tanunda

Warmun

BingaraBarraba

Gunnedah

Tenterfield

NewcastleOrange

Penrith

Quirindi

Wollongong

Surfer’s Paradise

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.)

Artback NT’s artistic rationaleReach 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.

Artback NT Touring Venue by location (639) 1996 - 2014

Behind the scenes of sound designer and harpist, Kris Keogh, at the performance of Beautiful Noise at Darwin Festival 2015. Image by Paul Thompson

6 Artback NT Capacity Statement

Sandtracks participants. Image by Vanessa Hutchins

We provide communities and artists with new ways to share their stories...

7Artback NT Capacity Statement

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

Facebook “f ” Logo CMYK / .eps Facebook “f ” Logo CMYK / .eps

/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

Where appropriate, people have been named in the images used throughout.

Artback NT acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country to which we travel and on which we work.