Country Arts SA recognises that we are living and creating on First Nations Lands and we are committed to working together to honour their living cultures.
Case Study: Balya Productions – Balya Mentoring Programme
Image: Letisha Ackland sharing some backline knowledge with mentee Graham Bilney. Photo by Brittan Sydney Andrews.
Project Summary
Balya Productions provides employment and mentoring opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Performing Arts & Events industry. Balya facilitated a mentorship programme focusing on live event and production skills for members of the community of Ceduna. Aboriginal electronic music duo Electric Fields performed as part of NAIDOC Week at the Umbrella Winter Sounds Festival in Ceduna. Using the Electric Fields performances and a live Q&A Panel as a vehicle, the participants were provided with a unique experience of being mentored within the production team. The Regional Arts Fund Quick Response grant enabled the professional industry mentors to be remunerated.
Project Type – Professional Development
Artform – Music
Amount Funded – $2,983
Primary Beneficiary – Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander people
Key Project Outcomes
Balya Productions received expressions of interest from the community to engage with these skills. The mentees who were contacted as a result of this consultation were keen to be part of the program and were provided with the opportunity not only to learn new skills but to work as part of a professional events team delivering live events. The mentees and mentors alike acknowledged the value this experience provided.
A long term outcome of the project was to inspire participants to seek employment in the industry.
Public Outcomes
There were two public outcomes with this project. The mentorships were built around the Electric Fields performance and the International Year of Indigenous Languages Q & A panel, all part of 2019 NAIDOC Week celebrations in Ceduna.