Published on Tuesday 8 June, 2021

On May 18th the team at Bindi were pleased to receive a visit from the Hon. Chanston Paech MLP, Minister for Local Government; Minister for Central Australian Economic Reconstruction; Minister for Remote Housing and Town Camps; Minister for Indigenous Essential Services; Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage.

The visit provided opportunity for Patrick Wilsmore, Lifestyle Solutions National Business Development Lead and Liesl Rockchild, Bindi Operations Manager to meet Minister Paech and discuss future funding opportunities for Bindi Enterprises.

The day started with a meet and greet morning tea between the Minister and Bindi Enterprise Artists, program participants and team. During the morning tea Minister Paech was presented with artwork “Big Mob Goin' Camping” by “Billy Tjampijinpa Kenda”, along with a Bindi Art book showcasing the work by the talented collective of Indigenous and disabled people that Bindi and Lifestyle Solutions support.

Following the morning tea and gift presentation Patrick and Liesl guided Minister Paech on a tour of Bindi’s Enterprise units - Bindi Artists studio and gallery, workshop, contracts and the new digital arts program.

"Minister Paech was incredibly impressed by the high levels of engagement and participation from Bindi Enterprises staff and supported employees along with the remarkable impact the Bindi Mwerre Anthurre Artists are having in the broader Alice Springs and Northern Territory community." Said Patrick Wilsmore.

During the tour discussions were had around the accessibility to funding from state and federal government agencies and the ability for Bindi to access significant amounts of funding without the need for Auspice. Funding is currently being sought to increase the facilities capacity and expand on the current program offering to support more Indigenous and disabled people in Alice Springs and the Northern Territory. The envisioned plans for this funding would see an extension to the art studio and exhibition spaces and, would also see the introduction of an indoor-outdoor creative experience.

Recognising that Bindi is the only enterprise in Alice Springs devoted to supporting Indigenous people with disability, the Minister is keen to see the expansion of Bindi’s services and programs, furthering engagement and participation from the Alice Springs and broader Northern Territory communities.

Liesl Rockchild said, "Bindi is already experiencing a high level of demand from the Alice Springs communities and the additional studio space would see Bindi being able to further ensure Indigenous supported artists across central Australia receive the support they need and the opportunity to be represented in a professional space."

Additional conversations were had around the need for a greater focus on the promotion of the Alice Springs Art Centres in the Aboriginal art precinct ‘Anwernhe Aneme’. Something which would provide much needed support in overcoming some of the challenges experienced due to disruptions caused by the Covid-19 global pandemic.

During these conversations the Minister mentioned the possibility for Bindi to be involved in the new National Aboriginal Art Gallery to be based in Alice Springs, which is currently under construction. This would potentially provide Bindi artists whose artworks are created from a place of self-expression and imagination, with an additional platform and opportunity to be involved in the Australian art community on a local, state and national basis.

At the conclusion of the visit, Patrick and Liesl were thrilled to confirm Minister Paech as one of the guest speakers and to officially open the celebrations of Bindi Magic to be held September.  

"The Mwerre Anthurre Artists and Lifestyle Solutions community look forward to welcoming Minister Paech back again, to share in the celebrations of Bindi Magic." Says, Liesl.