About

Barkly Regional Arts (BRA) is the regional hub for the arts in the Barkly region. Its remit to deliver arts programs and initiatives in the region is as large as the region itself.

BRA has evolved from a project-driven to a program-driven arts organisation. Critical to these programs are that BRA provides an interface between mainstream and Indigenous cultures that reaffirm core BRA values including a celebration of and respect for cultural diversity and recognition of a unique Indigenous demographic.

The organisation currently provides 50 annual programs or projects to over 800 artists throughout the Barkly region including 120 Indigenous visual artists, 300 Indigenous musicians including 24 bands, 7 gospel choirs, 30 traditional Indigenous singers, 50 traditional Indigenous dancers, 20 writers, 250 young people and 80 children.

The Barkly regional demographic also reveals high levels of unemployment, social disadvantage and cultural erosion. BRA adopts the regional role of developing resilient community development and cultural maintenance arts programs.

It implements that role using arts as a platform for opportunity, engagement, and support and benefits across a range of economies: social, cultural maintenance, community well being, career pathways, financial, health and the celebration of regional arts. With increasingly secure funding and support BRA has developed strategies to create community benefits that are long-term and sustainable.