Papunya NT

Papunya lies approx 250km North-West of Alice Springs in the arid lands of the Luritja and Pintupi people of the Northern Territory, of Australia. There is a stark and awe-inspiring beauty about the place; backed by the ancient West MacDonnell ranges stretching east and west in silent contemplation, this country is Honey Ant Dreaming. There are around 350 people living in the community with a small transient population.

Papunya was the birth place of the Western Desert Painting movement with the encouragement and rare vision of a young compassionate art teacher from Sydney called Geoffrey Bardon. He encouraged the artists to value their work commercially as well as spiritually.

REF community capacity building for the Papunya Community.

After extensive consultation with Community Elders, Papunya Council, School, Clinic and Youth REF have been requested to facilitate the development of a Community Cultural development organisation. The aim of this organisation is to address the long term social, cultural and employment needs of the Papunya Community.

REF are working in partnership with Community Stakeholders and Community Elders, to formulate a plan that can help improve long-term education, employment, health and social outcomes for the people of Papunya.

We are looking to develop Long term education and employment outcomes through creating a platform for cultural maintenance. This plan will identify skill sets that can provide the ability for the Papunya Community to gain new skills and develop activities that can lead to cultural continuity.

A project that the Papunya Community has asked REF for support with is the creation of a Luritja Media organisation. The Aim of this program is to work with Sammy Butcher and other community members continue to develop the Wurumpi Recording Studio and a Luritja Film studio. During 2008 REF have helped to set up the Wurumpi studio again with a new G5 Apple mac and some new instruments. An G5 apple mac was also set up for the community to start to create cultural education videos.

We are currently working on a computer and music equipment donation program. So if you or you organisation has any old Apple Mac computers or music equipment and would like to donate them to the Luritja media organisation please contact us.

Community Development Model Project goals:

• Increased Education outcomes and School Attendance
• Increased Community health outcomes
• To revitalize and restore Community cultural identity
• To maintain cultural and environmental diversity with new media
• Protection, promotion and transmission of cultural heritage for the benefit of the community as a whole
• Increase capacity for short and long term education and employment options

• Leave sustainable skill base for the continuation of cultural development and education
• Develop a program that generates employment through the Community creating education tools
• Business Development