Amy Stephens’ Weblog

So mere days after my last post about our group minimising to 3 we are back to 4. Hashim has decided to continue with the course and so we will continue as a group of 4. Our directions have also developed.

This is where we are at with our directions at the moment. We have two so far but are keen to come up with more. We are going to the Indigenous exhibition at Melbourne Museum as a group on Monday to get inspiration for not only further development of our research project but also for the outcomes required in the proposal brief. These are our two directions so far:

1. Direction One: Indigenous Community Online Network.

A place where indigenous communities can contribute, connect and promote their ‘arts’. It would be used as a promotional and educational resource for not only Aboriginals, but also other non-indigenous Australians and the world to find out more about Aboriginal Art Culture.

Focussing on ‘The Arts’: Music, Literature, Theatre/Film, Art/Design.

Applications:

Website: Where indigenous communities could self-upload their ‘art’ and contribute, comment and connect with other indigenous artists. There could be a ‘profiles’ section on new and upcoming or famous and established artists. There could also be a section on news and current issues creating discussion and awareness of the current situation in the indigenous communities around Australia.

Publication: A monthly or quarterly publication that again promotes and serves as an educational resource for communities. It would act as a call to action to direct people to the online network. It would be distributed to Art centres, government institutions, Galleries and Educational Institutions.

Gallery Space: To serve as the physical presence of the network. Creating a promotional and financially productive space for the ‘artists’ to show their work and there is also opportunity to hold shows and events (such as fundraisers etc). The money made would filter back into the indigenous communities to help fund education and other important infrastructure.

Logo and identity: To create an identifiable presence and branding for the website that would carry through to the publication and gallery space.

2. Direction Two: Online Indigenous Museum

A space that serves as an online museum, documenting Aboriginal history, artefacts and culture. It would purely be an educational resource – one that creates awareness of Aboriginal history and their way of life.

Applications:

Website: A controlled website showcasing Aboriginal artefacts and other Indigenous items that are already on public display in museums around Australia. Would also include a ‘History’ section which would include a thorough document detailing Aboriginal History pre-white colonisation. This part of the site would be particularly promoted to Australian Schools to be used as a resource when teaching Australian History and Social Science as currently Australian History only includes colonisation and after but not before the white-people came.

Advertising Campaign: Could include a variety of media including posters, advertisements in newspapers, educational publications and cultural Magazines, TVC ads and radio. It would act as a call to action to direct traffic to the online space. The campaign would most likely be directed at Educational Institutions.

Logo and identity: To create an identifiable presence and branding for the website that would carry through to the advertising campaign.
So, as you can see we are really focussing on the indigenous communities now. I’m excited about where we’re going with this topic.

AND ALSO WE GOT A HIGH DISTINCTION FOR OUR LIT REVIEW!!!!YAY!