Campbelltown Arts Centre has taken out a an IMAGinE award for its 2015 exhibition, With Secrecy and Despatch.
The IMAGinE awards aim to promote and strengthen the NSW museum and gallery sector.
They honour best practice education outreach programs, exhibitions, collection management projects and the achievements of individuals.
Mayor of Campbelltown, Cr George Brticevic, said the award recognised council’s commitment to place-based arts, and to preserving the stories and identity of our local Aboriginal community.
“The With Secrecy and Despatch exhibition was a conscious effort to help create a positive future by acknowledging the past struggles of local Aboriginal people, celebrating the resilience of such a rich culture, and working together with the local community to preserve the stories and identity of our Aboriginal heritage.
“I congratulate all of the artists, the curators, and everyone who was involved in bringing together the thought provoking exhibition.
“The fact that a second C-A-C exhibition – Extraordinary/Ordinary – along with last year’s Fisher’s Kids event were also nominated for this year’s awards is testimony to council’s ongoing commitment to innovation and best practice across all aspects of the arts, and the significant role that our city’s Arts Centre plays in fostering an appreciation of the arts within our local community and beyond.”
Using the 200th anniversary of the April 17 Appin Massacre as a catalyst, six Aboriginal Australian artists and four First Nation Canadian artists were commissioned to create new works that either deal directly with the Massacre or draw from the shared brutalities across both nations.
The exhibition demonstrated considerable innovation in the work produced and curatorial style.
The project’s community-oriented development and international perspectives on local histories helped create a platform for difficult conversation.
Recognising innovation and excellence in 500 museums, galleries and Aboriginal cultural centres across NSW, the IMAGinE awards acknowledge the outstanding achievement of more than 8,000 paid and volunteer workers in fostering richer local communities and their contribution to the extraordinary diversity within the NSW museum and gallery sector.
With 68 nominations, this year’s winners represent the best of regional and metropolitan NSW visual arts and cultural heritage experiences.
These awards offer a unique opportunity for museums and galleries to advocate, promote their achievements and raise their profile within the community.
A large number attended the awards night at Verge Gallery, demonstrating the awards’ continued popularity, and to pay respect to the people who work in museums and galleries across NSW.
