This document discusses cultural policy and social policy in remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory. It argues that cultural strength and social resilience are interconnected, and that social policy is essentially arts policy. It presents several case studies of cultural programs in remote communities that used multi-media platforms like music, film, and arts to engage youth and address issues like binge drinking. The document advocates connecting cultural policy and the Indigenous Advancement Strategy through prioritizing investment in the arts to foster innovation, participation, and intercultural dialogue as a way to strengthen social cohesion and cultural heritage.

1. Are we
(who is) making a
difference?
Cultural change in at risk communities

2. Who I am
• Edwina Marks – Ex Ceo Barkly Regional Council

3. Change - Catalyst or cataclysm?
• Catalyst ˈkat(ə)lɪst/ noun - a substance that increases the rate of a chemical
reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change; a person
or thing that precipitates an event.
• Cataclysm ˈkatəˌklɪz(ə)m/ noun - a large-scale and violent event in the
natural world; a sudden violent political or social upheaval.

4. Cultural Policy since the NTER
• Case study - culturally sustainable development in very remote NT
• Social policy is arts policy
• cultural strength and social resilience are interchangeable
• Social determinants still in deficit
• Aid giving versus capacity building
• What is Indigenous Advancement?

5. Cultural policy vs social policy
Cultural Policy
• 1994 Creative Nation
• 2001 UN Declaration on Cultural
Diversity
• 2007 Senate Inquiry into Indigenous
Visual Arts and Craft sector
• 2013 Creative Australia
Social Policy
• 2007 the Children are Sacred report
• 2008 the NTER
• 2008 NationalApology to Stolen
Generations
• 2012 – end of the NTER
• 2014/5 Indigenous Advancement
Strategy
• 2016 International Sustainability
Development Goals

6. Connecting the seven cultural
conventions
• Beyond the Millenium Goals
• The gaps in international indicators 2016 – social cohesion and harmony
• Indigenous advancement and cultural strength are interchangeable concepts
• The importance of intercultural dialogue
• Engagement and participation for youth as the next generation essential to
Indigenous Advancement
• The IAS and a national cultural policy are connected – participation in the
arts is a kpi for sustainability

7. The Barkly
The Barkly is located in Central Australia. Image Courtesy of Desert Pea Media and Sean Spencer, Barkly Regional Council

8. Desert Pea Media and multi media
In October 2012 Desert Pea Media/BRC Alpurrurulam Program creating and recording songs and film clips for a DVD / CD compilation.
It's titled "Binge Thinking not drinking" -features 9 film clips and 12 songs that have created over the duration of the program. Image
Courtesy of Desert Pea Media and Sean Spencer, Barkly Regional Council

9. Binge Drinking not thinking
In October 2012 Desert Pea Media/BRC Alpurrurulam Program creating and recording songs and film clips for a DVD / CD compilation. It's titled "Binge Thinking not drinking" -
features 9 film clips and 12 songs that have created over the duration of the program. Image Courtesy of Desert Pea Media, Sean Spencer, Barkly Regional Council
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6IsvrCEa0Q Courtesy of Desert Pea Media and Sean Spencer Barkly Regional Council

10. Girls stay healthly
Alpurrurulam 2012 Image Courtesy of Desert Pea Media and Sean Spencer, Barkly Regional Council

11. Traditional nutrition and life skills
Image Courtesy of Desert Pea Media and Sean Spencer, Barkly Regional Council

12. Two Wayz May 2013
Two Wayz May 2013 program https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DfHD50NU8Y Desert Sevenz and E Town Boyz
Image Courtesy of Desert Pea Media and Sean Spencer, Barkly Regional Council

13. Desert Sevenz hip hop 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pimmqCoTqnM&list=PLIa5q10UabaQEipv_PWGRnH_q5iYTqrNr&index=3
Image Courtesy of Desert Pea Media and Sean Spencer, Barkly Regional Council

14. Partnerships, people and placehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfROAJc_S-8
This was the second production by Desert Pea Media/BRC in May 2013 'Fly Back Home' was the second production created in Ampilatwatja. Image Courtesy of Desert Pea Media and Sean Spencer, Barkly Regional Council

15. Intercultural dialogue and
advancement
• Indigenous advancement and cultural strength are interchangeable concepts
• Engagement and participation for youth as the next generation essential to
the conservation and preservation of cultural heritage
• The IAS and a national cultural policy are connected – the language of the
arts
• to strengthen the discourse on social cohesion as part of international
sustainability

16. Poverty is a psychology
Community binge drinking program 2012. Image Courtesy of Desert Pea Media and Sean Spencer, Barkly Regional Council

17. Fostering innovation
• We nationally
• Foster connectedness both physical and social as part of national strategies
and initiatives for both the arts and society, with arts based investment in
the current Indigenous Advancement strategy
• Prioritise multi media platforms as vital connectors for innovation
• Seed funds creativity and its role in the formation of cultural heritage stock
• Encourages participation in arts and cultural activities as part of inter
cultural dialogue
• Acknowledges partnerships between local government, non government
agencies and community are valid and effective and connect the seven
cultural conventions

18. Questions?