FORM

THE CANNING STOCK ROUTE PROJECT

(Working title only: a language name will soon be decided by communities)

Brokered by FORM, the Canning Stock Route Project (CSR Project) is an unprecedented cultural alliance involving nine Aboriginal arts and cultural organisations: Tjukurba Gallery, Martumili Artists, Yulparija Artists, Mangkaja Artists, Ngurra Artists, Paruku IPA, Warlayirti Artists, Papunya Tula and Kayili Artists.

In development since September 2006, the CSR Project includes practitioner workshops, community meetings, program delivery and content development in Perth. The Canning Stock Route Project is developed around the following major components, all of which incorporate employment, education and training models and engage Aboriginal professionals in a range of areas:

Touring Exhibition
Companion Publication
Professional Development and Employment Program
Heritage Preservation Program

The CSR Project will have its Australian exhibition launch in 2010. The exhibition, book, multimedia projects and academic research will contribute to the transfer of knowledge between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities and enrich Australia’s understanding of itself as a nation.

The CSR Project has been structured to create innovative employment and participation models that build economic, social and cultural capacity within community enterprises. The Project aims to create ongoing leadership and employment opportunities for Aboriginal people through avenues which are adaptive, responsive and culturally appropriate, enabling a solid partnership that will outlast the Project.

A monumental journey

In July and August 2007, Canning Stock Route Project team embarked on a monumental return-to-country trip, travelling the length of the CSR through the lands of Martu, Kukatja, Manyjilyjarra, Wangkajunka, Walmajarri and Yulparija peoples. Facilitated by Aboriginal cultural advisors and documented by Aboriginal multimedia trainees in collaboration with a professional film crew, Project team members recorded oral histories and made short films along the length of the CSR, building up a rich chorus of the many voices missing from Australian history books.

At designated camps along the way, 60 of Western Australia’s finest Aboriginal artists and emerging talents participated in artistic workshops on country. Three emerging Aboriginal curators are now working under the mentorship of guest curator Wally Caruana and FORM to develop the exhibition, which will present the fruits of this alliance to global audiences.

The Canning Stock Route joins the towns of Wiluna and Halls Creek along a 1750km track through the Great Sandy, Little Sandy and Gibson deserts in Western Australia and was pioneered by Alfred Canning in 1906-07. Using Aboriginal guides and their knowledge of local water sources, Canning sunk over 50 wells along this route to allow cattle to be transported from the Kimberley to the southern goldfields. Though unused for droving since the 1950s, the CSR has become a major 4WD adventure destination in recent times, seeing thousands of tourists along its path every year.

The Canning Stock Route Project seeks to re-examine what the Route means for Aboriginal Australians across the regions today.

The CSR Team

The Canning Stock Route Project is bold and ambitious – and would never happen without the expertise of the huge team behind it. The nine Aboriginal art enterprises and the FORM team are the crux of the Project, backed by the skills of many other participants. These include:

The Artists: creating works for the exhibition, including some of Australia’s most senior and respected artists - Eubena Nampitjin, Jan Billycan, Helicopter Tjungurrayi, Spider Snell and Patrick Olodoodi Tjungurrayi.

The Emerging Aboriginal Curators: Murungkurr Terry Murray (ex Mangkaja Arts), Hayley Atkins (Martumili Artists) and Louise Mengil (Waringarri Artists) who are working directly with the artworks and cultural materials for the exhibition while learning the specialised professional skills via Curator and Mentor Wally Caruana.

The Emerging Multimedia Practitioners: Clint Dixon (Goolarri), Kenneth KJ Martin (KLRC), Morika Biljabu (Martumili Artists)  who are working under the guidance of renowned professionals including award-winning filmmaker Nicole Ma Productions, and Goolarri Media Enterprises.

A diverse spectrum of Aboriginal and non Aboriginal professionals and agencies: including cultural advisors, interpreters, photographers, language workers, writers, curators, filmmakers, mechanics, health workers, art centre managers and other professionals who have contributed their skills, knowledge and passion to the Project’s development.

Visionary Partnerships

FORM in collaboration with the nine arts and cultural enterprises wish to thank the following partners for their support in helping us realise the Canning Stock Route Project.

If you are interested in being part of this exciting, unprecedented journey, contact Lynda Dorrington FORM’s Executive Director here.