Barkly Regional Arts

Our Vision:
Barkly Regional Arts will be recognised as Australia's leading cross-cultural regional arts organisation; renowned for its unique way of working with diverse cultures and for its ability to provide the resources for these distinctive cultures to express themselves in innovative ways.

Our Mission:
Barkly Regional Arts works in partnership with individuals and organisations to facilitate and promote artistic activities; nurturing the creative expression of the Barkly region and showcasing our diverse cultural riches to the global community. This vibrant artistic exchange across the communities of the Barkly will increase opportunity for economic development, cultural maintenance and community pride.

History

From Little Things Big Things Grow
(Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody)

Barkly Regional Arts was established in 1996 as a networking and resource organisation in response to community needs across the Barkly region in the Northern Territory of Australia. Three years later, in 1999, BRA received a Key Organisation Triennial Grant from the Federal government via the Australia Council for the Arts, ensuring tenure for staff and programs. BRA also secured Triennial Funding Status from the Territory government with Arts NT.

In 2005 BRA conducted consultations throughout the Barkly region, identifying the needs for skills development and exposure for the region's artists and musicians. That same year a rehearsal area for local musicians was established in the BRA office and by 2006 this evolved into the fully fledged Winanjjikari Music Centre with funding suport through a Shared Responsibility Agreement.

By 2007 BRA was recognised for its work by the Australia Council for the Arts via Community Partnerships as a Key Producer, one of 11 organisations nationally and the only one in the Northern Territory with this Key Producer status. As such BRA has a remit to advocate and facilitate regional arts development within the Barkly region.

The number of organisations with whom BRA works is around 20 - a significant achievement for an organisation with such limited resources. Staffing has also grown from a full-time Coordinator, part-time Assistant and part-time Music Project Officer in 2005 to a full-time Executive Officer, full-time Arts Program Manager, full-time Admin and Publicity Officer, full-time WMC Manager, full-time WMC Music Project Officer and 10 part-time Indigenous Cultural Support workers in 2009.