One of the critical building blocks of Warakurna Artists’ success has been the emphasis on governance training and highly participatory governance processes. Warakurna Artists has invested extensive resources and time in the Executive Committee and the associated activities to build the confidence of the members.
Since Warakurna Artists’ inception in 2004, Warakurna Artists Executive has participated in the Ngaanyatjarra Arts Governance Training, a unique initiative in remote Australia. The program works with some of central/western Australia's most successful Aboriginal enterprises, building on the governance processes, using a very strong regional framework. Ngaanyatjarra Arts Governance Training is not a separate organisation, but a multi-year activity, growing from the robust relationships existing between numerous centres in the region. Each member Art Centre's mandate is to provide culturally appropriate, locally owned and managed enterprise and employment opportunities for Ngaanyatjarra (and increasingly Pitjantjatjara) people from communities around the tri-state border area of WA, NT and SA. The participating communities are:
WA – Warakurna, Papulankutja (Blackstone), Patjarr and Tjukurla
SA - Amata, Nyapari, Kanpi, Watarru, Kalka and Pipalyatjara
NT - Mutitjulu
The Art Centres representing these communities are: Warakurna Artists, Papulankutja Artists, Kayili Artists, Tjarlili Arts, Tjala Arts, Tjungu Palya Artists, Ninuku Artists, Maruku Arts and Crafts and Tjanpi Desert Weavers.
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IMAGE: Kathy Tozer (interpreter) and Peter Shepherd (facilitator) conducting a workshop. © Warakurna Artists. Photo by Maisie WardThese leading Art Centres facilitate the production and sale of artworks, provides professional development, employment and access to small business opportunities for remote community residents, supports cultural maintenance and renewal and gives access to independent income.
The active participation by members in the management and direction of the enterprises is the overriding purpose of the Art Centres; it is from the involvement of the artists and Executives that the enterproses draw their mandate and this has built the stability and quality of the organisations. Nobody has more invested in the wellbeing and future of Art Centres than the artists themselves.
Warakurna Artists’ Executive Committee controls the overall direction and management of the organisation and meets regularly to discuss relevant strategic, financial and operational issues. These range from mapping commercial and exhibition plans, to development issues through to support and advice for the management and the business plans of the centre. The staff is tasked by the Executive Committee to carry out the Executive's decisions and to report on relevant areas, in particular on the financial performance of Warakurna Artists.
This model is followed by all the participating centres/communities in the Ngaanyatjarra Arts Governance Training program. It is this program and the strong regional and industry relationships that have resulted that are at the core of Warakurna Artists’ high quality and stable governance. Warakurna Artists’ Executive Committee, like the other participating Art Centres’ Executives face the reality of managing complex, hybrid organisations that operate across the cultural – commercial domain. The governance training focuses on strengthening the capacity of the Executives, improving their organisational literacy and on building community role models and leaders.
Ngaanyatjarra Arts Governance Training processes are based around a regular pattern of workshops. Three to four times a year, all regional Art Centre Executive Committees meet at a nominated community. Over the next 3 or 4 days, a broad range of governance topics are covered, depending on the interests and experience of the attendees. All meetings are fully translated, with more experienced members often taking a leading role when a new member or new Executive Committee attends.
There is often a focus on financial processes and accountability (given the commercial focus of the Art Centres) though broader topics such as planning and staffing are also covered. These workshops often double as formal performance review and/or probation assessments for staff, as there is a need for external facilitation. Given the dynamic, inter-cultural nature of Warakurna Artists there is the need for substantial collaboration between the Executive Committee and the staff of the centre. Warakurna Artists blends commercial, cultural and social activities, often for elderly and frail community residents.
Warakurna Artists has attended every Governance Training session. The Governance Training priorities align to Warakurna Artists’ own priorities of building the engagement between Executive Committees, members, staff and the wider commercial arts industry. In remote communities, staff attraction, retention and performance are a critical issue - perhaps the most central issue to the effectiveness of the organisation. All participating Art Centres are improving their HR systems - more relevant staff contracts, more robust recruitment, more specific staff development opportunities, more accountability in performance and reporting by staff and specific staff probation and performance review processes, with external representatives. The Ngaanyatjarra Arts Governance Training ensures Executive Committees have knowledge and familiarity with all of these practices, by ensuring there is theoretical and practical experience. Probation and performance review processes are a regular feature of the Training workshops, as organisations take advantage of the energetic format of the workshops and the availability of skilled external facilitation.
The second major theme of the Governance Training is that of financial management, financial literacy and the roles and responsibilities of managing a commercially focussed enterprise. Again, this focus complements the activities and priorities of Warakurna Artists.
The longevity of the Ngaanyatjarra Arts Governance Training program has ensured an impressive level of continuity. This has meant that new Executive Committees (they are each voted in annually) can engage with the Training and are often mentored by those Executive Committee members who have been participating for longer periods. Creating local and regional role models and leaders has been a major benefit from the program, as these people have taken on broader community leadership roles in areas such as the school, store or in regional organisations.
Like all Art Centres participating in the Ngaanyatjarra Arts Governance Training, Warakurna Artists is an Aboriginal corporation with a constitution that reflects the priorities and aspirations of its members. Warakurna Artists is constitutionally and operationally obliged to return maximum benefits to its members, financially and organisationally. To achieve this, Warakurna Artists has built its business model on the cultural and creative energies of Warakurna residents.
Remote area Art Centres are acknowledged as one of the few success stories from remote Australia, having provided many years of culturally appropriate, high quality social, cultural and economic benefits to community residents. Warakurna Artists is Aboriginal owned and managed, whose mandate and priorities are built on the participation by residents of their communities.
The Ngaanyatjarra Arts Governance Training program builds on these qualities, reinforcing the connections between residents and the organisation. The Training program does not mean that all Art Centres run the same way - what is stressed is that accountability and quality services are essential, so that Executive Committees and members have a direct and confident voice in framing those services in locally-appropriate ways. Warakurna Artists has been a significant beneficiary of this and the stability and quality of the Art Centre is a clear reflection of the energy and priorities of Warakurna residents.
Warakurna Artists’ Chairwoman, Eunice Porter explains the importance of working together with other Yarnangu (Aboriginal) owned and operated Art Centres and the importance of governance training “You know we all have to work under one wiltja (shelter). These are our businesses. They are here for our future. We have to teach our children our culture, language and stories. We are learning how to run a business and learning whitefella way and teaching them Yarnangu way. We are creating a bridge, learning together. We are not worried for money; we know we are growing, steady, steady. This place is making us happy, we have something to do”.
Warakurna Artists, like all Art Centres, provides unique services into their remote communities. The challenges and obstacles in the development of a successful enterprise in such areas are enormous; it is the integrity, dedication and vision of Warakurna’s artists that has created such a successful Art Centre. The successful empowering of remote communities like Warakurna to create some Australia's most successful cross-cultural businesses is a major achievement and a key element of long term stability in remote areas. There is a critical array of challenges facing remote communities. Some of these challenges are political and policy related, some are built on the demographics and dynamics of the communities. However, all of them impact on the sustainability of these communities and the wellbeing of the residents.
Art Centres provide the only realistic and sustainable form of employment, enterprise and participation for many remote community residents. Art Centres have been working with remote communities for many years, helping in the creation of an internationally recognised artistic phenomenon. Art Centres are committed to working in, and with, communities, giving options and opportunities to residents. By balancing the cultural and commercial, Art Centres reflect the aspirations and abilities of their home communities.
Warakurna Artists is a stable, high quality enterprise, working in partnership with the community and numerous other agencies, in a situation of extraordinary challenges. The Ngaanyatjarra Arts Governance Training program is a significant boost to the services provided by Warakurna Artists greatly increases the impact and efficacy of the Art Centre activities. Additionally, the inter-regional impact is significant, with cooperation between members, Executives and Art Centres ensuring a strong, united voice in all industry and community forums. With the range of political and commercial pressures (ranging from changes to the permit system through to threats from unethical art dealers) the unanimity of operations among the centres and the strength given to each Executive Committee are a key counterbalance.
Text: Many thanks to Tim Acker and Aboriginal Economic Development WA
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