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Community

22 May, 2020

A welcome to Girramay Country

Visitors will have even more reason to stop and break their journey in Cardwell after the Cassowary Coast Regional Council (CCRC) approved the commissioning of additional Bagu to add to the already impressive Indigenous Entrance Statement.

By Peter McCullagh

The Cardwell foreshore featuring the Bagu sculptures
The Cardwell foreshore featuring the Bagu sculptures

As part of the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF), CCRC Community Development Officer, Kath Hansen promoted a selection of community arts initiatives including the commissioning and installation of three additional contemporary Bagu sculptures to join the three already greeting north-bound visitors to Cardwell.

The Bagu is a Traditional tool unique to certain Rainforest Aboriginal people from the wet tropic regions of North Queensland. The Contemporary Bagu sculptures adorning traditional patterning, can be found not only gracing the entrance to Cardwell but also outside the Cairns Cultural Performance Centre. 

Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre Manager, Joann Russo is excited to collaborate with the Girramay people, to showcase their artwork and create increased awareness of the rich cultural history of the Traditional Owners in the Cardwell area.

Daniel Beeron, Garraway Traditional Owner and artist with the Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre: “I am excited to see the Bagu group grow and allow visitors to get a better understanding of the Girramay culture that is present within the Cardwell community.”

Each year CCRC partners with Arts Queensland to administer a significant local fund for the development of arts related projects for the community of the Cassowary Coast.

An independent RADF committee assesses applications against an Arts Queensland RADF funding criteria. Funds are available to individual professional artists, arts and cultural workers or project coordinators who are based within the Cassowary Coast region.

Funding approval was granted at the recent CCRC meeting for Innisfail born dancer and choreographer Raymond Blanco to develop a dance theatre production for presentation during the Cairns Indigenous Arts Fair in 2021.

More information regarding RADF funding and projects can be found on Councils website, www.cassowarycoast.qld.gov.au/regional-arts-development-fund-radf

 

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