The Federal Government has recognised the significant work and national impact of NAISDA, the leading creative arts education and training organisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people based on the Central Coast.
This week, Minister for Indigenous Australians, The Hon. Linda Burney MP, and Federal Member for Robertson, Dr. Gordon Reid MP, visited NAISDA to congratulate its staff and students.
The college recently secured a $13 million funding boost over four years, as part of the Albanese Government’s commitment to the eight national arts training organisations to address historical underfunding in the sector.
Valued at $122.3 billion, the creative and cultural industries are vital to Australia’s economy.
Minister Burney highlighted NAISDA’s longstanding impact in delivering skills, employment and a creative workforce:
“NAISDA has been a huge asset for First Nations arts, culture, training, and education for almost 50 years.
“NAISDA’s creative excellence and cultural connection are vital to sustainable and self-determined career pathways for young First Nations peoples into the arts.
I congratulate NAISDA students and graduates who continue to share their stories and talent on local, national and global stages.”
The Minister for the Arts, The Hon. Tony Burke MP added:
“In Revive, our national cultural policy, we said it would be First Nations first, that there would be strong cultural infrastructure and the role of the artist would be central.
NAISDA delivers all three and I’m so pleased we’ve been able to get its funding to levels it always should have been at.”
The Central Coast is home to one of Australia’s fastest-growing Aboriginal populations. As a member of Barang Regional Alliance, NAISDA collaborates with government to support and empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Dr. Gordon Reid emphasised the local significance of NAISDA, saying:
“Having an organisation like NAISDA based in our region is a tremendous asset to the Central Coast.
NAISDA’s work enriches our community and showcases the incredible talent of our First Nations young people. This commitment of uplift funding means NAISDA continues to thrive and respond to what our arts sector and communities need.”
NAISDA CEO Kim Walker extended his gratitude to the Federal Government for recognising NAISDA’s role as a unique, world-first First Nations creative arts education organisation.
“We’ve been proudly dancing, living and learning on Darkinjung Land since 2007. This uplift means we can increase capacity, be future focused and connected to our First Nations communities across the country. Online applications to study at NAISDA next year will open 3 June and we encourage all deadly dancers out there to apply to train with us in 2025.”
NAISDA opportunities for community to share and engage with students’ creative and cultural expression include its onsite Graduation Ceremony on June 26, the Mid-year Show on July 4-5 inspired by this year’s NAIDOC theme ‘Keep the Fire Burning!
Blak, Loud and Proud’, and the NAISDA End of Year Show November 22-23 at Carriageworks, Sydney.
