MEDIA RELEASE
16 July 2017
Richmond Wellbeing calls for indigenous artists to speak
from their souls in the pursuit of a dream…
Not-for-profit organisation, Richmond Wellbeing, will be joined by the Deputy Premier; Minister for Health, Mental Health – Hon. Roger Cook MLA on Tuesday 18th July to officially launch their inaugural ‘The Art of Wellbeing’ competition and exhibition.
The Art of Wellbeing exhibition will provide members of the West Australian Aboriginal community with an opportunity to share their culture through their art, by submitting their interpretation of wellbeing in their chosen artistic form such as painting, photography, and sculpture.
Richmond Wellbeing, specialists in mental health recovery, is celebrating its work with the Aboriginal community by implementing its inaugural art competition and exhibition. Up to twenty finalists will be selected from the entries received, and from these an overall winner will be chosen.
Each of the twenty finalists will be paid for their artwork, allowing Richmond Wellbeing to showcase and auction the works of art at a corporate event, raising funds to support the enhancement of its Aboriginal program.
The winner of the competition will be given the enriching experience of working with celebrated artist Janine Daddo and highly respected Noongar artist Wendy Hayden. The mentoring program from these esteemed artists will assist in spring boarding their career.
Richmond Wellbeing CEO, Neil Guard comments, “The Art Exhibition will offer an opportunity to budding Aboriginal artists to be exposed to the wider community and potentially a buying market.
“This unique project aims to reach into the Aboriginal community, demonstrate our ongoing commitment to reconciliation and will also help to further enhance wellbeing in the community by raising funds to enhance Richmond Wellbeing’s Aboriginal programs.”
Working in consultation with Aboriginal Elders Uncle Albert and Aunty Irene McNamara, Richmond Wellbeing has engaged well-known celebrity artist Janine Daddo and highly respected Noongar artist Wendy Hayden to be part of this unique project. They will play a major part in the judging process and also give their time to the overall winner by offering a formal mentoring program.
The two celebrity artists will also demonstrate their collaboration by painting a joint ‘Wellbeing’ artwork, which will be auctioned to raise all-important funds to support Richmond Wellbeing’s Aboriginal program.
Guard adds, “Essentially this is a call-out to all aspiring Aboriginal artists to be part of an exciting project that has the potential to enhance their artistic careers, while also giving back to support their communities.”
Richmond Wellbeing has been delivering high quality and effective mental health services, with a focus on recovery, to West Australians for more than 40 years. In recent years, the organisation has expanded its supports for the Aboriginal community in partnership with respected Elders Aunty Irene and Uncle Albert McNamara and has been significantly involved in a number of projects, including the Looking Forward Project, and events for NAIDOC and Mental Health Week, and an Aboriginal Family Fun Day.
KEY DATES
18th July – Launch
21st August 2017 – Close of Expressions of Interest
27th October – Close of Entries
14th November – Corporate Event / Announcement of winners
For more information and a full entry kit please visit www.rw.org.au/the-art-of-wellbeing/
For further press information, please contact:
Jenny Coyle
T: 9226 2222
E: jenny@devahasdinpr.co.m.au
About Richmond Wellbeing:
• Richmond Wellbeing WA has been delivering mental health services to West Australians, with a focus on recovery, for more than 40 years
• Richmond Wellbeing is a leading not-for-profit mental health organisation that brings recovery into mainstream mental health practices and supports individuals with mental health issues on their recovery journey
• Richmond Wellbeing programs include a comprehensive range of Residential Services, Outreach Services, Carer Services, NDIS Services, as well as the WA Hearing Voices Network, Training and Education
• Richmond Wellbeing is part of a network of Richmond Fellowship organisations throughout the world; the original founded in 1959 by Elly Jansen in Richmond, England
To find out more about Richmond Wellbeing visit www.rw.org.au
