Southern Grampians Shire Council is searching for a distinctive piece of First Nations art to feature in its inaugural Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), which is currently in development.
Council’s First Nations Community Engagement Officer, Staycee Charles is calling for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander visual artists from across the shire to submit an Expression of Interest before November 1.
“Council would like to use a chosen piece of visual art in our official Reconciliation Action Plan and across council’s other communications platforms relating to local first nations content,” said Staycee.
“The painting should tell the story of reconciliation in the Southern Grampian region. The artist may wish to portray their work as an observation, or perhaps from a personal experience. The RAP will become a milestone document and the selected piece of artwork will be deeply respected.”
First Nations artists interested in submitting an EOI should be over 16 years of age. The proposed artwork should be a painting that can be digitalised. It should not have been used in the public domain before for similar purposes and council would require exclusive use.
Council’s Reflect RAP has been in development for several months to identify tangible ways that council can contribute to the national reconciliation movement.
CEO Tony Doyle said the Reflect RAP would outline a set of goals and guidelines for implementation internally within the organisation and externally across the community.
“As part of the RAP development process, the First Nations Officers have been engaging internally with council staff, as well as with key stakeholders like Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation, Eastern Maar, Gundtjimirring and Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation,” said Mr Doyle.
“They have also been attending workshops and seminars targeted at providing local governments with the support and information required to prepare a comprehensive RAP that can deliver outcomes that progresses reconciliation.
“I’m really pleased with how this significant document is progressing and we look forward to presenting it to the community upon completion,” he said.
For further information about the artwork Expression of Interest, please email firstnations@sthgrampians.vic.gov.au or call Staycee on 0407 901 359.