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Welcome to the second newsletter of 2009 to keep you informed of news and coming events. For information about World Vision programs (both Australian and International) check out the website on www.worldvision.com.au BIRRUNG NEWS STAFF NEWS The most exciting news for Birrung staff has been our short listing in the City of Sydney Business Awards (winners to be announced in October). We thank our many supporters for voting for us. It is now up to the judging panel to appreciate what a unique and worthwhile project of World Vision we are! World Vision CEO Tim Costello welcomed the Head of World Vision India at a special function in May on the same day as we had a successful stand at the Kings Cross Food and Wine Festival. In September the head of World Vision Uganda also presented an overview of African projects to child sponsors. Two of our staff who are currently completing their Masters degrees are working on internships at major arts organizations. Julie Spatt is working on a project for the Australia Council for the Arts while Trudie Leigo is placed at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Greg Mallyon has represented Birrung on the Indigenous Code of Conduct Advisory Committee and also attended a working party for the National Gallery of Australia's planned Indigenous trainee program. INDIGENOUS ARTS NEWS The inaugural Cairns Indigenous Art Fair has proved to be another dynamic arts event on the national arts calendar. Opened by the Premier of Queensland in front of a large crowd this art event has put the national spotlight on what is considered some of the most exciting new talent in the art world. Birrung is delighted to announce it will be working with several Far North Queensland communities to present exhibitions in early 2010. The Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair and Telstra Art Award along with Alice Springs based Desert Mob exhibition have also continued to grow and generate national interest in Indigenous art. Staff from Birrung were featured on both the ABC TV news (in South Australia, NT and ACT) as well as ABC Stateline (NT) in August. This news story was about World Vision's support of community art centres and the anticipated Federal Government Code of Conduct for the Indigenous Arts Industry. Artists and the acting art centre manager from Maningrida Claire Summers all gave interviews on their opinion of the value of their art centre in supporting the needs of artists and the wider community. The new Code of Conduct will be a voluntary form of industry regulation. Commercial galleries will be invited to act as signatories to this code on agreement to terms and conditions promoting 'fair trade' for artists. In the international scene over 10 exhibitions by Australian Indigenous artists have been scheduled by various galleries or communities during 2009.They have included diverse locations such as New Delhi, Washington, Singapore and London. Warlukurlangu artists are returning to the Bahrain following previous success and Papunya Tula artists are exhibiting in the USA. The sustained overseas interest in our artists also reflects in the increasing number of international tourists that visit Birrung. WIDER INDIGENOUS ISSUES World Vision Australia has expanded its Indigenous Programs quite significantly over the past 12 months. Initiatives have included Youth leadership (Young Mob) in Sydney, Kids Hope, a national mentoring program, early childhood development in the Central Desert and Pilbara regions, and Indigenous housing in Cape York. CEO Tim Costello and Australia Programs Head Dr Mark Moran travelled to Cape York where extensive media coverage was achieved on World Vision's housing initiatives. Birrung is also seeking to expand its current activities (in supporting Indigenous artists) through an art program which focuses on professional development and business skills for fledgling arts enterprise in remote outback communities. One of the issues confronting many of the communities with which we work are 'camp' dogs. While the Birrung Gallery Manager has in residence an ex Yuendumu dog who now lives a life of luxury in Sydney such dogs are a major health and safety problem in Aboriginal communities.
THE AUSTRALIAN ART MARKET IN 2009 Despite the global economic downturn and a significant impact on the Australian art market, high quality work by notable artists has maintained value in the secondary (auction) arena. Auction house Sotheby's in what was tipped to be a litmus test for the market in July 2009 confirmed increases in some rarer art forms including bark paintings, artefacts including shields, sculpture and weaving while many works on canvas held their published estimates or increased in price. Most pundits agree the current market provides prime buying conditions for astute collectors. COMING EXHIBITIONS We have some great talent coming to Birrung in the coming months. Warlukurlangu Art centre and Maningrida Arts and Crafts are recognised as two of the outstanding success stories of the art world and in October and December we have exhibitions by emerging stars from these centres. In November, of particular interest to our female clients we have a wearable art exhibition from Elcho Island. Fantastic fibre purses, bags and jewellery from Mavis Ganambarr will be featured in a fashion parade. Mavis will also conduct a weaving demonstration to share her knowledge with Sydney siders. 
Works by Mavis Ganambarr courtesy of Elcho Island art centre
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