North Coast TAFE’s Indigenous artists get carded
Monday 19th May, 2008
Three Lismore TAFE students will have their artworks displayed Australia-wide thanks to a new initiative supporting emerging indigenous artists.
In conjunction with the North Coast Institute’s Lismore TAFE campus in New South Wales, ANZ has chosen four vibrant Indigenous artworks which will be made available to new and existing ANZ customers through ANZ’s “designmycard” feature.
ANZ customers will now be able to personalise their ANZ credit or Access cards with one of four images including: “Baby Goannas” and “Bilby at Night” by Les Evans, “Seashell Dreaming” by Rhonda Billett or “Turtle” by Nicole Sten.
Lismore TAFE’s Aboriginal art history teacher, Roslyn Sten, said TAFE students had approached ANZ last year with the idea of making Indigenous art more accessible to all Australians through “designmycard’.
“The initiative is all about getting Aboriginal art out into the wider community,” Mrs Sten said.
“We have had many amazingly talented artists come through TAFE over the years so it is fantastic to see some of them getting the recognition they certainly deserve.”
Rhonda Billett, from Banora Point, said she was overwhelmed to have her work displayed in such a high-profile arena. The self-taught artist has been painting for more than 20 years but decided to attend TAFE in order to hone her skills in acrylic painting.
“I certainly learnt a lot at TAFE and this is the result. It’s a very proud moment and I feel very privileged to be one of the three students whose work was selected,” she said.
“I am also a little sad because it is very hard to let go of something you have spent so much time on.”
Fellow artist Nicole Sten, from Lismore, said it was “absolutely stunning” to have her painting “Turtle” selected for the ANZ designmycard scheme.
“I really hope it will help raise my profile as an artist because it is (showcasing) my culture,” she said.
ANZ Managing Director, Consumer Finance, Mr John Harries said ANZ was delighted to be able to make the original artworks available for the community to see through the Australian tour.
“Through designmycard, ANZ card customers can carry a piece of Indigenous Art with them everywhere.”
The original artworks, which have been purchased by ANZ, will be exhibited in rural and regional branches as part of a 12 month national tour, starting this month in Lismore.
ANZ Managing Director Regional, Rural and Small Business Banking Mr Rob Goudswaard said: “We hope this initiative helps to raise the profile of these talented artists and of Indigenous art more broadly, and extend the appreciation of these unique artworks to the wider Australian population.
“Increasing cultural awareness is an important part of improving the social and economic wellbeing of Indigenous Australians, and is one of the commitments set out in ANZ’s Reconciliation Action Plan.”
