Creative Equity Toolkit

Respecting Cultures: Working with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Community and Aboriginal Artists

Respecting Cultures provides a specifically Tasmanian perspective as a companion text to Cultures – Protocols for Producing Indigenous Arts. Together, these publications promote cultural harmony and goodwill through best practice methods of interaction and negotiation. Respecting Cultures is also an important tool in managing the ethical use of Tasmanian Aboriginal culture and arts.

Safety considerations when working with people from diverse genders, sexualities and cultures

According to NAVA, Institutions and arts workers have a duty of care to ensure the safety of artists and communities engaged in their spaces.

The aim of this guide is to help the reader consider the specificities and complexities of experiences of gender, sexuality and culture and to share suggestions for adopting culturally safer practice. It touches upon intersectionality, cultural competency, prioritising discretion and disclosure of identity and includes safety tools for action.

Sidney Saltner – Youth Program Director, Bangarra Dance Theatre

Wulli Wulli and Wakka Wakka man Sidney Saltner helped establish intergenerational knowledge-sharing program 'Rekindling' as Youth Programs Director for Bangarra Dance Theatre. It links youth and Elders to collaborate on a dance work with a focus on identity and pride.

'In our communities there is a strong need for our youth and Elders to be brought together, to share knowledge and stories and rekindle that connection to culture and strengthen their identities.'

Suriya Women’s Development Centre

Suriya Women’s Development Centre has been working with women in Sri Lanka since 1990 with the aim to create an equitable and peaceful society which treats women with dignity.

The key attributes of Suriya's cultural activism are:
* Integrating cultural activism into programs
* Applying culturally appropriate methods
* Adopting a collaborative creative development process
* Building a resilient community arts practice

Taking action for cultural safety

Extract from the book 'The Relationship is the Project' on Cultural Safety and an overview of its four core principles:

1. Critical Self-Reflection
2. Engaged Communication
3. Minimised Power Imbalances
4. Decolonised Practice

'Cultural safety helps us develop different ways of thinking and talking about discrimination and then act to effect change.'