5 July 2018

Rock Art Education Space revitalised

Rock Art Education Space to be revitalised with $345,000 Lotterywest grant

  • Mowanjum Aboriginal Art and Culture Centre receives $345,000 Lotterywest grant
  • Funding will support the Centre's redevelopment of its Rock Art Education Space to engage young people, support sharing cultural knowledge, and promote wellbeing
  • Premier to officially open Mowanjum Festival, an annual event which attracts thousands of visitors to the Kimberley

Premier Mark McGowan and Josie Farrer MLA, Member for Kimberley today presented a Lotterywest grant of $345,000 to the Mowanjum Aboriginal Art and Culture Centre in Derby.  

The funding will go towards the redevelopment of the Centre's Rock Art Education Space, which will engage children and young people, support the sharing of cultural knowledge and promote social, emotional and environmental wellbeing.

Once complete, visitors will be able to walk through a permanent storytelling cave featuring state-of-the-art interactive displays.

Visitors will also be educated about cultural protocol when visiting cave sites, helping to inform the estimated 200,000 tourists who travel the Gibb River Road each year.

A separate learning space will feature dynamic collections presenting the traditional language, song, dance and traditional storytelling of the Wandjina-Ungud people.  

Premier Mark McGowan will tonight officially open the Mowanjum Festival, an annual event which attracts thousands of visitors to the Kimberley.

The festival features traditional dances from the Worrorra, Ngarinyin and Wunambal-Gaambera language groups, collectively known as Wandjina-Ungud people.  

Comments attributed to Premier Mark McGowan:

"The Kimberley is a vibrant place and it's exciting to see so many visitors flock to Derby for the Mowanjum Festival.

"I am pleased to present the Mowanjum Aboriginal Art and Cultural Centre with a Lotterywest grant for $345,000, to help develop the Rock Art Education Space.

"This redevelopment will inspire Mowanjum young people to engage more with their local art centre and assist visitors in learning the correct cultural protocol in approaching significant rock art sites.

"I applaud the Mowanjum Aboriginal Art and Culture Centre for their creative and innovative approach to educating the next generation."

Comments attributed to Josie Farrer MLA, Member for Kimberley:

"Rock art is a unique and treasured part of the Western Australian culture and footprint.

"I am glad to see the State Government, through Lotterywest, support the Mowanjum Aboriginal and Culture Centre and all the artists and visitors who will benefit from the redeveloped Rock Art Education Space.

"Our culture is rich and diverse. It provides for our people and gives a sense of awareness and belonging. We need to continue to pass on our knowledge to our younger people, as it was passed on to us, and having a space such as this ensures that that unique knowledge is told to as many people as possible for greater appreciation and understanding.

"It's wonderful to join the Premier at this year's Mowanjum Festival which brings together so many people who live here in the Kimberley to celebrate our culture and preserve it for many generations to come."

Media contact: Premier’s Office 6552 5000