Information and Cultural Exchange 23rd Annual Report January to December 2006 Contents

2 Overview of ICE 4 ICEMAP: the Visual Guide to ICE 6 Chairperson’s Report 7 Director’s Report 8 Artfiles 10 Artfiles: Dis/Place: Making Work in Exile 11 Cultural Development Program (CDP) 12 CDP: Writers’ Festival 13 CDP: Lost in the Waters 14 CDP: Siren Call 15 CDP: Sydney Arab Film Festival 16 CDP: Cultural Collaborations 16 Emerging City Exhibition 17 CDP: ARTiculate 18 CDP: Remembering Minto 19 CDP: Emerge 21 CDP: Darkness Over Paradise 22 CDP: Youth Digital Cultures 23 Switch Multimedia and Digital Arts Access Centre 24 Switch: Suburban Grooves Urban Music Project 26 Switch: Urban Music Artist-in-Residence 28 Switch: Originate 30 Switch: Western Sydney Screen Culture 31 Switch: Digital Storytelling 32 Community Information Technology Program (CITP) 34 CITP: Engaging Communities 35 People and Partners 38 Treasurer’s Report 39 Financial Statements Overview of ICE

Information and Cultural Exchange (ICE) region’s artists and creative practitioners. works at the intersection of arts, culture, ICE has expertise and success in developing technology and community. ICE works across multimedia, community development and , Australia’s most arts programs that engage thousands of culturally diverse region, on a range of individuals, artists and communities annually programs and projects that seek to and is known and respected for undertaking creatively engage diverse communities and projects with newly arrived migrant and artists to build capacity, generate new forms refugee communities and young people. of cultural expression, build cultural and ICE has grown rapidly in recent years, community infrastructures, encourage responding to increasing demands of Recognition ICE Director Lena Nahlous, Asialink Fellowship 2006 | Finalist, intercultural dialogue and tell the stories of Western Sydney communities for creative Stockholm Challenge 2006 | Winner, Western Sydney Industry Awards 2004 and this extraordinary place. opportunities and cultural expression, ICE manages Switch, Western Sydney’s information, digital arts and technology 2003 | Finalist, national Multicultural Marketing Awards 2003 | Finalist, Australia state of the art multimedia and digital arts access, skills and support. Stretching our Post Small Business Awards 2003 | Fadia Abboud, Switch Program Manager, Western resources to capacity, ICE has built access centre. We produce Artfiles: the Arts Sydney Arts Fellowship 2005 | Rotary Pride of Workmanship Awards for contributions Directory of Western Sydney, a print momentum from successful programs that publication and online resource, and also a seek to deliver new, creative ways to meet to Community and Cultural Development in Western Sydney to ICE Program Managers program of support and development for the these needs. Mouna Zaylah and Liliana Ruti 2004 and 2005

2 3 ICEMAP: the Visual Guide to ICE

1 Innovation 2 Incubation 3 Capacity 4 Communication 5 Alliances 6 Continuity Generate fresh forms of Seed new arts, community Build capacity of socially- Amplify Western Sydney’s Build strategic alliances Develop sustainable cross-cultural expression and digital media excluded communities to diverse and creative and partnerships to operations so programs and models of community enterprises, projects and share their stories, voices through the strengthen operations build momentum and

GOALS digital engagement. practices to sustainability. deepen participation and exhibition and promotion and boost creativity. provide genuine pathways effect change. of bold new work. for ongoing participation within and beyond ICE.

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Cultural Development Program Switch Community IT Program Artfiles

Encourages innovative collaborations A program and space to provide access to Strengthening Western Sydney communities Professional development, profile, between culturally diverse communities new media technologies to communities by building regional IT capacity, improving employment and recognition for Western and the arts sectors, to develop new models who typically lack access information exchange, and targeting gaps Sydney artists, arts and culture. for CCD practice and produce new work and needs. (with a focus on digital media). KEY KEY PROGRAMS 1 Support and resource cultural development in 1 Incubate emerging artists, projects and 1 Develop IT skills and infrastructure 1 Professional development and capacity- Western Sydney creative enterprises Resource community networks, NGOS, libraries, building for artists Initiatives assist communities and young people Artist residencies; mentorships; incubation workers; support access centres. to self-sustainability; provide advice and program. 2 Resource artist business and employment information in response to requests. 2 Build digital capacity of organisations and Incubate arts enterprises, employment 2 Skills and capacity-building for artists and service providers brokerage, information, referral. 2 Generate dialogue and research around artsworkers Multimedia training; capacity-building intersections of culture, arts, technology and Digital arts training; refugee radio initiative; collaborations (Connecting Parramatta). 3 Cultural brokerage with local government in community in Western Sydney web/design workshops; ‘active flix’ video project. Western Sydney Research with University of Western Sydney and 3 Develop innovative IT capacity-building Contribute to cultural planning; build networks; University of Technology Sydney (Digital Cultural 3 Deliver cutting edge community digital arts initiatives collaborations. Atlas, dig. stories). initiatives Digital access for excluded groups; Connect Out Africa On Screen; Suburban Grooves; hip hop project with isolated and recently-arrived 4 Interactive and dynamic information resource 3 Produce high quality community-led cultural projections; v-logging. communities. New website; biannual publication; e-bulletin. projects Remembering Minto; Hip-hop and urban culture 4 Increase isolated communities’ access to 4 Spearhead innovative research and 5 Profiling artists and resourcing arts projects. digital arts development marketing Mobile kits; access programs. Community IT mapping; conferences: Our Media, Artfiles showcase; artist profiling and marketing; 4 Progress CCD practice in Western Sydney Making Links. residency and skills program attached to Mentorships; master classes, youth initiatives 5 Switch Academy training and cost-recovery incubator. (Youth Digital Cultures). Open, fee-paying digital arts training. 6 Regional cultural mapping 5 Connect communities and cultural institutions 6 Switch Productions Dis/place project (refugee artists with Museum Revenue-generating service to produce of Contemporary Art & CAC); Sydney Writers’ specialist, culturally-savvy multimedia resources. Festival. 7 Maintaining facilities, equipment and Synergy 6 Develop strategic cultural interventions programming capacity Arabic youth film initiative; incubating Sydney Work across and between ICE programs to mutually reinforce and support outcomes, Arab Film Festival. 8 Hire of Switch and portable equipment fill gaps, break new ground and make connections.

4 © Information and Cultural Exchange (2007) 5 Chairperson’s Report Director’s Report

ICE’s reputation as a key cultural Young Australians and the Vodafone The past year has been one of consolidation, consolidation on our fragile infrastructure. development organisation and a creative Australia Foundation. creative challenges and of tremendous These are challenges we are planning to centre of Western Sydney continues to grow. I would like to thank our partners — their recognition. Never before have we seen so address through a strategic planning and ICE is an important voice in the Australian support not only allows us to survive in the many significant and far-reaching review process in 2007. arts scene, shaping our understanding of our physical sense but it is also a kind of moral partnerships and collaborations, from our ICE would not have achieved its many community’s artistic resource. support that the arts sector always work with grass-roots filmmakers and successes without our valuable and talented This is because, increasingly, appreciates! The achievements of ICE are emerging African artists to collaborations team, an inspiring and dedicated ICE is a place that people come to. It has due to the ongoing support of our principal with artists, community and cultural management committee, the support and become a central hub of activities for funding bodies, Arts NSW, the NSW institutions, both locally and internationally. participation of our partners, and the diverse Western Sydney. Look through this report Department of Community Services and the Participant and audience numbers have communities, artists, and individuals we and you will read about a huge range of Australia Council for the Arts. The support of continued to grow, with tens of thousands of work with. We were also sad to say goodbye activities — artistic, creative, spiritual and our organisational sponsor the Australian people connecting with our festivals, events, to two valuable team members in 2006. At educational. ICE’s vision, which is to Manufacturing Worker’s Union (AMWU) has films, CDs and publications and over 6,000 the completion of her three-year Engaging ‘creatively engage diverse communities and been invaluable — the AMWU provides a directly participating in our professional Communities Project, Therese Fingleton took artists to generate new forms of cultural home for ICE and Switch in Granville. Our development and training programs. up a job at the Australia Council and we also expression’, is the foundation on which we partnerships with the 14 Western Sydney With our first year of triennial support said farewell to Business Manager Thao build our yearly program. Councils, and in particular with Parramatta from Arts NSW, our principal funding body, Nguyen. In light of our recent growth, in 2006 we City Council via Switch, are also vital. ICE is in a position where we can plan with In 2006 I spent four incredible months in focused on our internal workings to ensure I would like to acknowledge the more certainty and develop more Hong Kong on an Asialink Arts Management we could adequately support our team, incredible work by all of ICE’s growing family sustainable outcomes. Residency. Thank you to ICE staff and communities and programs. Congratulations of workers, volunteers and participants. I and This continuity is an essential component management for supporting me in this to the staff on gaining triennial Arts NSW my colleagues on the Management for the development and maintenance of professional development opportunity, and funding, which has allowed us to plan with Committee feel very privileged to be relationships and reciprocity in many of the in particular to Assistant Director Caitlin greater certainty. involved with ICE but we only play a small communities we work with, and a critical Vaughan who acted in my position while I Our higher profile and reputation led to role in comparison to the staff and feature of sound CCD and arts practice. was away. many new activities and programs. For consultants who truly are a remarkable With a profile that continues to grow, so I would particularly like to acknowledge instance, our Director Lena Nahlous was group of people. Thanks to Lena Nahlous, for do the expectations and the demands of the energy and commitment of Chairperson invited to take up a fellowship in Hong Kong. her overall direction, dedication and her communities and artists in Western Sydney Tilda Sikes for leading us through this I believe this also reflects how the creative creative energy which inspires us all. for creative opportunities and digital access. important period of consolidation. direction of the organisation has stepped up Our recent growth and many successes have to a higher level. We have new support and Tilda Sikes bought their own challenges, including the Lena Nahlous partnerships including the Foundation for ICE Chairperson increased pressures of growth and Director

6 7 Artfiles

In its eighth year, Artfiles is a key resource Artfiles Showcase Website Design and Marketing for Western Sydney. The program provides Together with Auburn Council, we held the A series of workshops were held for artists skills and professional development services Artfiles 2006 Showcase at Auburn Town in introductory website design skills and for artists as well as information about Hall. Over 300 people attended the event, marketing. These aimed to increase the employment and other creative which was launched by Bob Debus MP, employment opportunities for young and opportunities. Artfiles operates as a Minister for the Arts. Darug Elder and artist emerging culturally diverse artists in the brokerage service for agencies, Uncle Greg Simms, welcomed us to Country Bankstown area. governments, businesses and others looking and Councillor Patrick Curtin, Mayor of to tap into the diverse wealth of creative Auburn also spoke. The event featuring Postcards from Bankstown talent on offer in Sydney’s west. performances, spoken word, art displays, Funded by Bankstown City Council and Financially supported by 12 local councils music, film screenings and installations by developed in partnership with Bankstown in Western Sydney, Artfiles is accessed the artists of Western Sydney. Youth Development Service, this small across the state, country and worldwide, and project taught graphic design skills to visual utilised by governments, production houses, A new direction for Artfiles Artfiles News artists to highlight the artistic and cultural media, arts and educational institutions, and Artfiles is driven by an Advisory Committee In 2006 we launched the first edition of diversity and the social and geographical many other organisations and groups. The made up of key local partners in Western Artfiles News, a weekly e-bulletin distributed landscapes in the Bankstown area. estimated annual readership of the book and Sydney. In 2006, these stakeholders were to Artfiles subscribers featuring information website exceeds 200,000 with 20,000 active participants in a comprehensive about exhibitions, events and activities, copies of the printed directory distributed evaluation of the Artfiles program led by an employment opportunities, training, across New South Wales annually. independent researcher. workshops, conferences, grants, funding and The evaluation process examined the collaboration opportunities for artists. successes of Artfiles since 1999, and Feedback on Artfiles News has been very identified future strategies to ensure its positive and the number of listings grows continued relevance. every week. As a result of the evaluation, the print Artfiles receives core funding from Arts NSW directory has been moved to a bi-annual Skills and professional development and is also supported financially by the publishing schedule and the website is being for artists following Councils: Auburn, Bankstown, overhauled and re-developed for launch in The Artfiles program continues to facilitate Baulkham Hills, Blacktown, Blue Mountains, 2007. The new site will enable a greater level small projects and training programs focused Campbelltown, Fairfield, Hawkesbury, of engagement by participating artists in the on addressing skills gaps in Western Holroyd, Liverpool, Parramatta, Penrith. generation of their own listings, content and Sydney’s creative industries, particularly in Major Sponsor: Webstar Print. reference points. relation to new technologies.

8 9 Artfiles: Dis/Place: Making Work in Exile Cultural Development Program (CDP)

Dis/Place is a partnership between ICE, the “Having lived here in The Cultural Development Program (CDP) is Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney (MCA) the beating heart of innovative arts and and Campbelltown Arts Centre that Australia for nearly three cultural actions, events and projects at ICE. acknowledges the cultural, artistic and other years, I have realised that The program emphasises collaborative, challenges that a ‘displaced’ artist faces in community involvement in creative creating work. text is one of the processes, and outcomes that value the This three-stage project began in May strongest vehicles of contributions of participating groups and 2005 with a forum convened by ICE and the expression for addressing artists. MCA to enable local artists and audiences to The CDP also undertakes strategic engage with the thematics of London-based issues of violence, cultural interventions to address gaps and Palestinian artist Mona Hatoum’s exhibition, migration and settlement redress cultural inequities. Over My Dead Body. In the wake of this Additionally, the CDP initiated projects event, the idea of a longer-term in Australia.” responding to cultural urgencies. In the developmental project around the ideas of Denis Asif Sado, Dis/Place artist current climate, working with Arabic- exile and displacement emerged. speaking, Indigenous and Pacific Islander In 2006, ICE and the MCA devised a communities is a priority. In Western Sydney, professional development program for where the largest urban Indigenous, Arabic- recently arrived refugee and migrant artists speaking and Australian-based Islander who have established bodies of work in communities reside, these interventions previous countries. This second phase of the recognise the specific challenges faced by project saw participating artists supported these groups and work collaboratively with through a series of professional Participating artists: Abshiro Khalif, them to develop creative responses such as development workshops to transition their Ali Abbas Hamadi, Babak Abbasi, the Sydney Arab Film Festival and Originate. artistic production to an Australian context. Denis Asif Sado, Fathia Balla, Fozia Zahid, Up until 2006, the Cultural Development The project will culminate in a May 2007 Irma-Gustaityte-Calabrese, Jasam Hasan, Program was called the Community Cultural exhibition of new work created by Min Khin Kyaw, Nusrat Ahmed, Development (CCD) program. It was renamed participating artists. Sardar Sinjawi, Zahid Ahmed in 2006 to reflect that the program’s scope had grown beyond the accepted definitions of CCD. Dis/Place: Making Work in Exile received support from the Australia Council for the Arts. The Cultural Development Program receives core support from Arts NSW.

10 11 CDP: Sydney Writers’ Festival CDP: Lost in the Waters

“Terrible. It was terrible. It was something beyond Lost in the Waters was a visual art exhibition about the Parramatta River, initiated by the imagination and it is still happening. The same thing Parramatta-Holroyd artist network. The is happening now in Iraq. So we are against this exhibition was a feature component of the continuity of torture. This is why we fought Saddam’s new Parramatta Riverbeats Festival, and explored issues and stories about the regime. We did not fight for 35 years to replace it by environmental, spiritual, cultural, historical another torturer.” Haifa Zangana, on her experience of being and political aspects of the river. Ten artists from Western Sydney participated in the imprisoned under Saddam Hussein’s regime exhibition which was presented in partnership with Parramatta Artists Studios and curated by Michael Dagostino.

In the fifth year of our continuing Participating artists: Marian Abboud, partnership with the Sydney Writers’ Festival, Zahid Ahmed, Laurren Brannigan-Onato, the CDP coordinated a forum called ‘Iraq’ Peter Day, Margaret Beadle, Darryl Guy, with Riverside Theatres Parramatta. The Indira Fernandes, Sharon Lee, event featured Iraqi painter and writer Haifa Abbas Makrab and Federico F. Mendoza Zangana, who escaped the Ba’ath regime and has lived in London since 1976. The forum also featured international writer Lost in the Waters received support from Mark Danner, Australian poet Jennifer Parramatta City Council. Maiden and was facilitated by Australian writer and CCD practitioner Paula Abood.

The Minto Community Storytelling Festival was also held as part of the 2006 Sydney Writers’ Festival. SEE CDP: REMEMBERING MINTO FOR MORE INFORMATION.

12 13 CDP: Siren Call CDP: Sydney Arab Film Festival

In early 2006, ICE was approached by the In 2006, The CDP continued its key role of respected performance ensemble Synergy incubating the Sydney Arab Film Festival. Percussion to participate in pulse:heart:beat This involved developing and securing new — a series of cultural events and partnerships, facilitating and providing engagements that reflect and explore the organisational support to the Sydney Arab cultures of the Middle East. The events Film Festival Organising Committee, and coincided with a concert featuring Synergy overseeing the creative development of the Percussion and two visiting acclaimed 2007 festival program. While the Festival musicians Hossam Ramzy, and Omar Faruk was not held in 2006, several film Tekbilek. screenings were held including a fundraising ICE worked with the Auburn Poets and event for the victims of the war in Lebanon Writers Group and Auburn Community and a gathering of local and visiting Arabic Development Network (ACDN), to bring a artists as part of Sydney Biennale. multimedia dimension to the collaboration. The end result was Siren Call, an event of www.sydneyarabfilmfestival.com spoken word, moving image, projections, and performance. The event ran for two nights in July and featured a special guest appearance by Hossam Ramzy, ‘Egypt’s Ambassador of Rhythm’.

“Poetry is a display of our cultural legacy, the sounds and rhythms of our lives, diverse landscapes of our home countries…” Dona Samson Zappore, Auburn Writers and Poets Group The Sydney Arab Film Festival is sponsored by NSW Film and Television Office (FTO), Casula Powerhouse and Liverpool Regional Museum, Parramatta City Council, Gulf Air, World Media, LBC, MySat, NSW Community Relations Commission, University of Western Sydney, Medialoft, Riverside Theatres, Filmotion, Egyptian Consulate.

14 15 CDP: Cultural Collaborations CDP: ARTiculate

The CDP of ICE also works collaboratively Inside Out: Muslim Women’s Art The ARTiculate campaign aimed to with other agencies and arts entities in Exhibition. Coordinated by Auburn showcase and highlight arts practice and Western Sydney, including working in an Community Development Network (ACDN), issues for artists in Western Sydney and to advisory capacity to provide creative and the CDP assisted with exhibition raise awareness about the wealth of creative logistical support to innovative arts and development, sponsorship, marketing and talent and cultural knowledge available cultural projects being undertaken promotion on this innovative project that is across all artforms and bridge the gap for throughout the region. Throughout 2006, believed to have been the first exhibition of artists in terms of employment, education, some of the projects in which the CDP has art by Muslim women in Australia. accessing resources, mainstream arts bodies played a key advisory and support role and institutions. include: Liverpool Migration Heritage Project: The The ARTiculate campaign ran CDP was represented on this project throughout 2006 culminating in the committee, involving researching the ARTiculate Arts Fair, a three-day event at histories of migration and settlement in the the Newington Armory (Sydney Olympic Liverpool region. Park), designed to showcase the work of Western Sydney artists and bring together artists and organisations from across Sydney. ARTiculate was managed by a Emerging City exhibition consortium of cultural organisations from Graduate students of the Faculty of Architecture, across western Sydney, including ICE, University of Sydney presented an architectural Bankstown City Council, Western Sydney vision for Parramatta in the form of the Emerging Regional Organisation of Councils, Fairfield City exhibition at Brand Smart, Parramatta. City Council, Fairfield Community Resource Exploring digital possibilities in architectural Centre, and CCDNSW. form, media and philosophy, they presented a ARTiculate was financially supported by Arts fresh and young city that allows life, culture, work NSW and the Australia Council for the Arts and community to find a confident identity beyond via the Department of Immigration and its borders. Multicultural Affairs. Additional sponsors Two of the students, Chauntelle Trinh and Shu included Sydney Olympic Park and Baulkham Fun Kwan, worked with ICE to develop their vision Hill Shire Council. of ICE in this new city. Their models were displayed as part of the exhibition.

16 17 CDP: Remembering Minto CDP: Emerge The Emerging Communities Initiative

Minto, a suburb in Sydney’s outer south- young people from local schools participated Emerge works with recently-arrived migrant place at Radio 2000FM 98.5, and for the west, is a community undergoing rapid in the festival, which incorporated and refugee communities, particularly those Liberian community, at WOW FM. change. A significant aspect of this change is performances, storytelling, art and with a short history of settlement in • A series of projects in radio production, the redevelopment of the public housing multimedia workshops. The project has Australia, to develop skills and community content, development and sound design estate. Since 2002, whole precincts of the continued to gather stories throughout the capacity in digital arts, multimedia and were coordinated. The Iraqi community estate have been dismantled and some year. communications. produced five projects for broadcast in residents have already been relocated. Over In 2006, Emerge had a dual focus on English and Arabic. These included radio the coming decade, streetscapes will be capacity-building, and on dramas, poetry readings and recordings transformed and the community with it. screen-based digital arts. Emerge has which were broadcast on The Cradle of Remembering Minto is a storytelling become a social enterprise incubator, Civilization Program on Radio 2000FM project driven by the Remembering Minto supporting initiatives that seek to build 98.5. Group, with a collective of residents and longer-term strategic capacity in digital arts local agencies. The project seeks to collect and media for emerging communities in Emerge supported emerging artsworker and publish the stories and memories of Western Sydney. Theodore Jalloh to work with young people lives, loves, highs and lows of this suburb from African backgrounds, to produce radio before they are lost in urban transformation. dramas: Tunde’s Story, a dramatisation of Remembering Minto has been developing Community Radio Initiatives work-place discrimination; and Binta’s Story a book and website, to be published in 2007. Emerge has had a focus on developing a dramatisation of racism in the school yard. In May 2006, a Community Storytelling capacities in radio, in particular for emerging In December, ICE celebrated with the Festival was held in conjunction with the communities, and initiatives have varied Sudanese community program, Voice of the Sydney Writers’ Festival to gather stories. depending on the size and capacity of Nile Network (VONN) as it reached its one- Hundreds of residents and children and participating groups. year broadcasting anniversary on Radio BFM www.rememberingminto.org.au 100.9 MHz. Emerge has been successful in • Participants from the Iraqi community supporting and incubating VONN, which now attended Radio Production Workshops. reaches a regular audience of close to 3,000 • Echo of the Drum Radio Drama and attracts listeners from Penrith and Development Workshops were conducted. Campbelltown to Auburn and as far away as The backbone of this project is the community support provided to it by a volunteer resident • Newly arrived African communities Melbourne, Cairo, USA and UK though committee and a range of organisations including South Western Sydney Institute of TAFE — attended an Introduction to Internet Radio internet streaming. Macquarie Fields Outreach Unit, Burnside Uniting Care, St Vincent de Paul’s Animation Project, program. Franciscan Friars, Campbelltown City Council, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Minto Community Library • On-air Radio Broadcasting Workshops for and Minto primary and high schools. Core support is provided through NSW Department of Housing. participants from the Iraqi community took

18 19 CDP: Emerge continued…

Sudanese Filmmaking Workshops A series of workshops throughout 2006 gave participants from the Sudanese community in Western Sydney skills in performance, directing, storyboarding and on-camera acting workshops. The outcome CDP: Emerge: Darkness Over Paradise of the project was the development of two videos, Colour Blind and The Applicant.

In development since 2003, Darkness Over “Our objective in Website workshops Paradise was launched in August 2006 by Emerge facilitated a series of website Kerry O’Brien of ABC Television’s 7.30 Darkness Over Paradise workshops in September and October 2006 Report. Over 400 people attended the is not to tell the whole with Iraqi journalists from Al-Watan, a self- launch at Merrylands Hoyts Cinema. generated publication by recently arrived Exploring the refugee experience through story about the war in Iraqi writers and journalists. The project the prism of war and exile, the project has , but bring sought to assist the group to identify online been a long-running collaboration with the knowledge to the publishing opportunities for this emerging ASALJE (Association of Sierra Leoneon publication. The head editor, Mohammed Journalists in Exile). The project is an international community Bakir, has since developed his own blog at Emerge is supported by the Australia Council important milestone for documentary that they have shut their www.mohammedbakir.maktoobblog.com/ for the Arts, the Australian Centre for filmmaking in Australia and is important in eyes and ears to The Al Watan website workshops were Languages (ACL), Burwood RSL (through the the context of its being generated through a supported as part of the ICE’s strategic CDSE program) and the NSW Film and collaborative CCD project, with directorial something more than a partnership with ACL. Television Office (FTO). input from participating members of the massacre.” Sierra Leonean community. Since it was launched, the documentary Edison Yongai, Co-Director, has attracted widespread attention and has Darkness Over Paradise been screened in many areas of Sydney, including at the Australian Centre for “We understand the importance of people being able to Independent Journalism and the ARTiculate tell their own stories of what has happened to them Arts Fair at Sydney Olympic Park. It was also screened at Auburn, Marrickville and Manly and their fellow countrymen in their own way and from Cinemas as part of Refugee Week 2006. their own perspective. We support it because it is one International screenings have since been staged by The Washington State University Darkness Over Paradise received funding and of the best ways to increase community understanding Chapter of the Society of Professional support from the NSW Film and Television and acceptance of difference.” Journalists, USA, and The American Office (FTO), Mercy Foundation, the Jennifer Whitmarsh, Managing Director, ACL Government Programs University of Paris, France, in early 2007. Australian Centre for Languages (ACL), the Australia Council for the Arts and the www.darknessoverparadise.squarespace.com Northern Beaches Refugee Sanctuary.

20 21 CDP: Youth Digital Cultures Switch Multimedia and Digital Arts Access Centre

Throughout 2006, with support from stage young people, the project produced a series Switch supports Western Sydney artist and the AMWU has been a fundamental enabler one of a new partnership with the of short films, skits, digital stories and community participation in digital and new of our consolidation, allowing us to generate Foundation for Young Australians, ICE performances. media arts, including those who typically innovative and genuinely engaged new undertook a youth-led interactive mapping The knowledge and skills developed lack digital access. Operating as both hub media arts practice reflective of Parramatta project which supported a diverse group of through Tag, have laid the foundation for and outreach to Western Sydney and Western Sydney’s cultural diversity and young people from across Western Sydney Youth Digital Cultures, a new three-year communities, Switch is emerging as a centre distinction. to utilise digital media to scope, map, partnership with the Foundation for Young for innovation and excellence in new media represent and communicate the issues of Australians, to commence in 2007. arts practice. most concern to them. The project will be initiating a series of From its early planning stages, the Switch is managed by ICE in partnership with The outcomes of this digital mapping projects and skills development activities for purpose and imagination of Switch has Parramatta City Council and receives core project were compiled into a multi-artform, young people in Western Sydney, giving always been as an arts and cultural support from Arts NSW and the AMWU. multimedia performance/installation and them opportunities to collaborate creatively incubator — seeding and supporting the screening event: Tag: Leave Your Mark, and culturally while honing their skills in development of local artists and creative staged at Riverside Theatres, Parramatta in particular areas of digital arts — from film, enterprises. October 2006. Produced by a collective of graphics and music to digital storytelling. Throughout 2006, Switch consolidated across its three key areas: music/sound/radio, film/screen-based arts, and web/graphic arts. Across these areas, “The digital technology available in today’s current ICE initiated a number of innovative programs that animate some of our key market, influences most of my artforms. As I am part strategic objectives. of a diverse performance ensemble with film and Switch’s growth and success would not performance being our main field, the digital have been possible without support from our major partners. We are also excited about technology plays an important role in helping us the future and new possibilities — 2006 has create and portray our artwork.” Riccardo Ciccone been the year that ICE and Switch digital arts programs have begun to gain recognition and support from non- government sources and internationally. Tag: Leave Your Mark mapping project was ICE and Switch have been sponsored by supported by the Foundation for Young the AMWU since the 2004-05 pilot phase. Australians (FYA). Now bursting at the seams, the support of

22 23 Switch: Suburban Grooves Urban Music Project

The Urban Music Project seeds and nurtures contributed to our international exchange, as ICE held five series of workshops in 2006: Special Events Western Sydney’s emerging young music many artists in the industry visit Switch to African Soundz targeted young people from Pacific Youth: Culture In the Chambers artists through skills and creative deliver workshops and training sessions with African backgrounds, many among them One of the highlights of the 2006 Urban development focused on performance, local young people when they tour. In 2006 refugees and most relatively new arrivals Music project was this free outdoor all-ages composition, music production, music our international visitors included respected to Australia. event featuring traditional and industry and business skills, lyric-writing and producer Spider Johnson, Mystro and DJ Suburban Sista Soundz II was a program contemporary performances of singing, music technology. Hans Nieswandt. for women, many among them rapping and dancing from Aboriginal, Maori For Suburban Grooves, 2006 was a year unemployed, early school-leavers and and Pacific Islander young people of Western of high achievement and consolidation made mothers. Sydney. possible with the arrival to the ICE team of Hip-Hop 101.2 introduced hip-hop to a group The event was run in partnership with Trey Thomas (MC Trey) one of Australia’s of at-risk and unemployed young people Holroyd Council and hosted by Trey, with foremost hip-hop artists. Trey was sponsored from all over the west. performances by Island Beatz, Brotha Black, by the Vodafone Australia Foundation’s Island Beatz II engaged young people from Wiradjuri Koori Kids, DJ Nick Toth, Urban ‘World of Difference’ Program to be based Pacific communities to learn to write lyrics Flava, Polynesian cultural groups and local full-time at ICE for one year (from May and produce their own music. More than high schools. 2006) to run urban and hip-hop music 400 people attended the launch of this programs with at-risk young people. This was project. DJ Hans Nieswandt Tour a new and exciting partnership for ICE and Sessions with Spider allowed young people DJ Hans is a renowned DJ, producer and for Trey. with a talent for writing lyrics and author from Germany. He toured Sydney as Trey’s work has really consolidated the producing music to work in the studio part of a program of the Goethe-Institut, the structure of the urban music project. alongside visiting UK producer, Spider cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Additional 2006 urban music program Johnson. Germany. He presented two events in activities were supported through a Sydney, including a demonstration workshop continuing partnership with the Outreach in Granville that was hosted by ICE. Unit of South Western Sydney Institute of TAFE. Suburban Grooves continues to facilitate an ongoing relationship with a number of talented hip-hop and urban artists such as producer and trainer Nick Toth, and Maya Jupiter. Our relationship with promotion The Urban Music Project received core support through the Vodafone Australia Foundation. company Hype in Ackshun has also Additional support was received from South Western Sydney Institute of TAFE.

24 25 “Since attending this course I can organise my thinking. I can make the beats. Also I can do recording so this course is very special to me.” Jiny Hwang

Urban Music Artist-in-Residence

MC Trey and the Vodafone Australia Foundation ‘World of Difference’ program “Somebody I love died yesterday, And I don’t even know if I’m gonna cry, “Wouldn’t it be grand in Hip-hip music allows you to express learn more about each other. Sometimes the pain a world of hope, yourself and tell your story. I am thankful to the Vodafone Australia overwhelms me, Filled with love and Music has always been a big part of my life. Foundation for all their support and advice Why oh why? From my Fijian up-bringing to my Aussie and extremely grateful to have had this prosperity and we But now I gotta say goodbye” uprising, writing lyrics has been my way of amazing opportunity to live out my passion. Mary-Jane Fauonuku weren’t broke, dealing with life’s curve balls and my Big ups to all that assisted with this We had all that we needed method of release. Hip-hop music inspires mighty project, especially to the hard- to survive, me. I listened to groups talking about their working management and staff of ICE, “We’ve got dreams To satisfy our wants and social situations, politics, and good times, thanks for all your assistance during my to be the best that we are anything they want to write about. They ‘World of Difference’ year. Your passion and we’ve got dreams our hearts desire, inspired me to write positive music to boundless energy are truly an inspiration to show the world who we are We wouldn’t have global inspire and motivate others. and it’s been a pleasure working alongside Now you can hear our voice warming sea levels In May 2006, I received a Vodafone you all. being heard” Ben Nitiva wouldn’t rise, Australia Foundation, ‘World of Difference’ And to the young people I have met ICE, grant to volunteer my services at ICE. thanks for being a part of this amazing we wouldn’t be at risk of Over 12 months, I coordinated and project and I’m look forward to seeing you losing islands in paradise, facilitated music workshops which included out there doing your thing. “Everybody get ready, don’t Weapons would not exist, lyric-writing, making music on computers, move keep yourself steady the thought ain’t there, mentoring, music business information, live Journey On ... I’ma keep my mind focused ’cos my mind can be deadly” Robbing from our performance and recording skills. These Big Al workshops helped to develop the skills of neighbours we’d be more the participants, improved confidence, concerned with care” encouraged young people to express From ‘Picture This’ by Trey themselves and work as a team, and brought together young people from different areas and cultural backgrounds to

26 27 Originate: Multicultural + Multimedia + Mentorship 2005-6 (Second Phase)

In April we showcased the design, music, Switch: Originate sound, installations and performances of the 23 Originate graduates at Powerhouse Youth Theatre. Following this showcase, ICE continued Originate: Australian Indigenous Originate 2006 differed significantly “Working one-on-one with to support these graduates throughout and Pacific Communities Multimedia from the previous year, in response to the 2006, by providing a structured mentorship + Mentorship 2006-7 and specific cultural and creative needs and my mentor was great. for five of the graduates, who have been Originate: Multicultural + Multimedia interests of the participating communities — I was able to learn about mentored throughout the year to implement + Mentorship 2005-6 notably artists and creative practitioners how to manage community small projects. from Indigenous and Pacific communities. The Originate Australian Indigenous and New and culturally-relevant approaches arts projects from Mentorship outcomes Pacific Communities program is an intensive, to learning and skills development were an someone who had industry • Theodore Jalloh produced a radio play integrated professional development important aspect of the program. with young people from African program in community cultural development, Participants learned about Indigenous experience, and I could ask backgrounds. arts project management and digital arts. copyright in the digital age, insurance and questions and get advice • Mary Marmour worked with the Sudanese Participating artists and practitioners are compliance, securing funding and dealing about where to go for community to record and produce a CD. involved in a series of skills, training and with conflict and traumatic issues that can • Ali Kadhim undertook workshops with professional development workshops, arise for participants in a community arts more help.” Ben Nitiva young people in Bankstown in the followed by a structured mentorship project. Originate: Indigenous and Pacific emerging physical urban artform of Le arrangement that supports them to begin to culminated in March 2006 with a series of Parkour, and has worked towards put the skills they have learned into practical seminars focused on issues and projects for producing a documentary film about the action. Indigenous and Pacific communities. The process to be launched in 2007. Originate builds on the processes trialled project will continue in 2007 with support • Anita Barar documented storytelling in 2005 with a group of emerging artists from Arts NSW with the selection of two workshops with seniors from South Asian from diverse cultural backgrounds. Originate projects developed by Originate graduates to communities and will produce and launch was originally developed to enable culturally be implemented throughout the year. her DVD in 2007. diverse emerging arts workers to implement • Juan-Carlos Martinez has produced and manage digital arts projects with their A Window From Western Sydney, a pilot own communities on their own terms. program seeking to be screened on Through a strategic partnership with Originate received core support from Arts community telvision that showcases South Western Sydney Institute of TAFE, NSW and program support from the Australia diverse and vibrant arts and cultural participants received TAFE-accredited Council for the Arts. Significant support was projects in Western Sydney. qualifications in Community Arts Project provided by South Western Sydney Institute of Management, along with structured skills TAFE through the Granville Outreach Unit. The ongoing support of the Originate development in an elective from one of two (Originate is a collaboration between the ICE graduates is made possible due to core streams of multimedia arts. Cultural Development and Switch Programs). organisational support from Arts NSW.

28 29 Switch: Western Sydney Screen Culture Switch: Digital Storytelling

Switch builds Western Sydney screen culture Changing Lives In recent years, ICE’s work has become on the ground. In 2006 we prioritised ICE has had a continuing focus over a increasingly focused on the convergence of providing infrastructure, targeted training number of years on Agents of Change, a new media and the ancient practice of and skills, and production development screen-based leadership program for Arabic storytelling. The Remembering Minto Project opportunities for emerging local filmmakers speaking young men. ICE has worked with has been working since 2005 with residents and screen content creators. The project this evolving group on a number of of the public housing estate to collect also sought to promote screen culture and successful short films, including Judging stories and memories of life in Minto as the engage wider audiences for diverse local Amir and the the award-winning Trouble estate is gradually demolished and films, building audiences for alternative and Comes to Me. Continuing foundation work redeveloped. significant international film culture that with this group has been an important Projects with recently arrived refugee would otherwise have been represented. component of the Western Sydney Screen and migrant communities, such as those In 2006, support for the Western Sydney Culture program in 2006, including a undertaken through the Emerging Screen Culture Project continued to grow, filmmaking camp with a group of young men. Communities project, have reinforced the with the NSW Film and Television Office During the camp, emerging filmmakers importance of sharing stories of providing a number of one-off grants for explored how to develop creative responses displacement, relocation, and the refugee strategic projects. to their lives, developing scenarios and short experience. Another strategic objective of the scenes in the context of scripting, acting and In 2006, ICE secured two new partners — program is to develop opportunities for local camera skills workshops. This work has the Myer Foundation and the Ian Potter artists, screen producers and communities to enabled us to secure support for a new Foundation — who have committed small begin to engage more effectively in the new vlogging (video diary) project in 2007, project grants to develop a digital areas of digital content creation that are working this time with young women as well. storytelling project with refugee and being opened up online and through mobile We will continue to support these emerging migrant communities in Western Sydney. technologies. filmmakers in the production and This project will also be the first in a series development of a feature film. of projects that will seek to build up a digital archive of stories and memories of Western Western Sydney Screen Culture received core Incubation: Parramatta Filmmakers Group Sydney communities. support from the NSW Film and Television A new self-initiated group of local artists ICE has already begun to develop a Office (FTO). ‘Agents of Change’ received commenced meeting in 2006 which ICE was partnership with UK organisation hi8us, who additional funding from JB Seed Arts Program able to support. we will be bringing to Australia in 2007 with Grants and the NSW Department of Sport and the support of British Council to help us Recreation. develop an inter-country digital storytelling project.

30 31 “ICE is where we work on the computers… We wrote stories. We had so much fun. We met new teachers. Some of us didn’t know each other before, but we made friends. we learned about digital photography and how to write about photos.” Participant, Connecting Parramatta

Community Information Technology Program (CITP)

The ICE Community Information Technology “Being made aware of the partners include Australian Federation of and senior members of community Program (CITP) is a strategic response to the process or generating AIDS Organisations, TriCommunity Exchange organisations, who recognised the need and issues faced by communities in Western and Infoxchange Victoria. also the limited opportunity to get and stay Sydney, and particularly in the Holroyd and websites and blogs will In 2006 the Community IT program also ‘up to speed’ with IT. Parramatta areas, in relation to the dramatic assist me to make decisions found its niche in IT capacity-building for the The demonstrated need for these changes brought about by the convergence sector, providing an innovative series of projects has led to similar initiatives in other of information technologies and the digital and contacts for several project-focused training and support in local government areas, including Holroyd in divide. Many people in the Western Sydney projects that I am working digital and IT skills for workers in the non- 2007, as well as a targeted in-service digital region face barriers to their equitable on and planning for the profit sector. These initiatives sought to capacity training program that can be participation in the digital age, a fact increase the knowledge and skills of delivered with individual organisations. reinforcing existing inequalities because the future.” Jacqui Douglas, participant, community workers and broaden the digital divide continues to generate barriers Connecting Parramatta knowledge-base and capacity of the to the economic, employment, social, organisations they worked for. connective and cultural opportunities The NGO Digital showcase DVD project afforded by digital literacy. provided assistance in digital video With support from the NSW Department communication for participating of Community Services, the program targets Building capacity in the community sector organisations while assisting them to and seeks to build the capacity of the non- Achieving its third year, Making Links 2006: produce their own organisational government sector and particularly DOCS- Technology for Social Action and Community promotional video resources. Connecting funded community service sector to better Building is developing into a respected Parramatta was an innovative crash-course equip and build the digital capacities of national conference. Making Links brings ‘taster’ program across six key areas of organisations that work at the coal face of together workers in the government and multimedia. Interestingly, these programs community development. Another important non-government sector around Australia to received a strong response from experienced component of the CITP focuses on share information, strategies and concerns, leveraging additional support to deliver and build the digital capacity of the sector to hands-on IT targeted training to address work more effectively with communities. In specifically identified digital capacity needs. 2006, Making Links recognised the impact of the rapid convergence of technologies, broadening out its focus to encompass The CITP receives core support from the NSW Department of Community Services. Additional digital arts and multimedia. support is received through a partnership with Parramatta Collage. Connecting Parramatta is CITP has been a key partner in supported by Parramatta City Council. Connect OUT received funding to commence in 2007 coordinating this conference. Other key through the CDSE Scheme, Holroyd and Parramatta.

32 33 CITP: Engaging Communities People and Partners

ICE MANAGEMENT Manager and Artfiles Urban Music Program In 2006, the Community IT Program worked “ICE’s work in Engaging COMMITTEE 2006 Program Manager Paula Abood, Originate and consistently at the grass roots level to Chair Tilda Sikes, Marketing Liliana Ruti, Community Emerge Project Trainer alleviate digital divide issues and facilitate Communities has been a Manager, TAFE NSW Information Technology Isabel Gill, Assistant, Vice-Chair Tiffany Lee-Shoy, Program Manager Urban Music Project cohesion with socially isolated and spur to get the College Cultural Planner, Fairfield Miguel Sumera, Administration Ben Nitiva, Assistant, disadvantaged communities. The highly more involved with City Council Officer and Special Projects Urban Music Project successful Engaging Communities project Secretary Nadya Haddad, Officer Fatima Mawas, Project Assistant, concluded in September 2006. For three other local Solicitor Trey Thomas, Urban Music Originate years, this project facilitated collaborative organisations, and we’ve Treasurer Heidi Freeman, Project Coordinator Emma Collison, Publicity programs with libraries and other IT hubs in NGO Development Project Therese Fingleton, Engaging Doris Barrios, Cleaner the Parramatta local government area that had lots of fun with Officer, Mental Health Communities Project Colleen Smith, Bookkeeper Coordinating Council Coordinator sought to open up these infrastructures to Women Work Together.” Committee Members Thao Nguyen, Business and INTERNATIONAL GUESTS local communities who were not accessing Terrie Gardiner, Principal, Professor Ross Gibson, Operations Manager Producer Spider Johnson (UK) them. Research Professor, New Fadia Abboud, Switch DJ Mystro (UK) By the end of the project, Engaging Parramatta College, 2006 Media and Digital Culture, Program Manager DJ Hans Nieswandt (Germany) Communities had initiated a range of University of Technology Tim Dennis, IT and Facilities Writer and painter Haifa innovative community engagement Sydney Coordinator (Switch) Zangana (Iraq) programs and new partnerships that are Susan Green, Associate Troy Ruttley, Remembering Legendary musicians Hossam Professor of Indigenous Minto Project Coordinator Ramzy and Omar Faruk continuing today. The projects and initiatives Education and Director of Tekbilek (Egypt and UK) incubated by Engage were documented and Nura Gili Indigenous KEY CONSULTANTS AND evaluated in a documentary produced about Programs, University of NSW CONTRACTORS 2006 TRAINERS AND CREATIVE the project, now a valuable resource for Paul Stuart, Sponsorship Xanthe Lawson, Artfiles PERSONNEL similar projects across the sector and an Manager, Fairfax Program Management and Marian Abboud important indicator of the need for Ilaria Vanni, Lecturer in Italian Research Patrick Abboud Studies, University of Barry Gamba, Chief Consultant, Danni Adams continuing programs at the coal-face. Technology Sydney Emerging Communities Joseph Aguok A DVD and printed flyer were produced Caroline Vu, Solicitor Project Bernard Amour Makeny to showcase the outcomes of this three-year Ben Hoh, Web Design and Soraya Asmar program. ICE STAFF 2006 Switch Consultant Danni Adams Lena Nahlous, Director, Meiying Saw, Graphic Designer Maissa Alameddine The Engaging Communities Project is ICE and Switch Enda Murray, Community Writer, Merv Bishop supported by the NSW Government through Caitlin Vaughan, Assistant Remembering Minto Zulema Cappielli Director Jerome Pearce, IT and Tim Carroll the Western Sydney Area Assistance Scheme. Mouna Zaylah, Cultural Technical Support Sophie Cleary Development Program Nick Toth, Trainer and Producer, Katina Cominos

34 35 Danielsan Urban Prophetz volunteers John Butler Seed Arts Program Bakar Almussawa, Illustrator Art Gallery Aguel Deng Shannon Williams/Brothablack Sydney Arab Film Festival Myer Foundation Fadle El-Harris, Festival Video Hype in Ackshun Madeleine Doyle Tom Zubrycki volunteers Vodafone Australia Foundation Artist InfoXchange Australia Nadyat El-Gawley Private Fatima Mawas, Liberian Radio Group Fadle El-Harris INTERNS AND STUDENT YOUTH DIGITAL CULTURES Australian Centre for Languages Production Assistant Liverpool Migrant Resource Hashim Elhassan PLACEMENTS COLLECTIVE (ACL) Maher Sultan, Website Centre Alissar Gazal Richard White Miguel Sumera Burwood RSL and Technical Support Liverpool Regional Museum Bella (Isabel) Gill (Charles Sturt University) (Project Coordinator) CDSE Parramatta Leagues Club Stephanie Diehl, Macarthur Foundation Pat Johnson Stephanie Diehl (Germany) Ali Kadhim CDSE Holroyd/Wentworthville Research and Administration Minto Community Library Maya Jupiter Ariel Etherington (University Hiba Kanj Leagues Club Emma Collison, Publicist Museum of Contemporary Art Julie Karajayli of Technology, Sydney) Theodore Jalloh Sponsorship Multicultural Disability Advocacy Erin Kelly Esther Diestelman (Germany) Aguel Deng Australian Manufacturing COLLABORATORS Association Peter Kennard Chang Yung (Idean) William Erimya Workers’ Union Association of Sierra Leonean NSW Council of Social Services Walter Macintosh Kim (Korea) Colin Gosper (key organisational sponsor) Journalists in Exile Our Lady of Mercy College Miriana Marusic Agey (University of Riccardo Ciccone Webstar Printing Assyrian Radio Program Parramatta College Amos Masina Western Sydney) Susan Chamma (key Artfiles sponsor) Auburn Community Parramatta Library MC Phreaze Katy Wilson (USA) Ben Nitiva Sydney Arab Film Festival Development Network Parramatta Heritage Centre Linda Mirabilio Fatima Mawas sponsors: Gulf Air, World Auburn Community Health Parramatta Marist College Maria Mitar VOLUNTEERS Media, LBC, MySat, Egyptian Service Powerhouse Youth Theatre Martha Mollison Sarah James (ICE archives) FUNDING, SUPPORT Consulate, Parramatta City Auburn Poets and Writers Group Radio 2000 FM 98.5, Burwood Scott Moon Farid Farid (Switch projects) AND COLLABORATIONS Council, Filmotion, Australian Federation of AIDS Radio BFM 100.9MHz Amos Mosina Marc James NSW Government Community Relations Organisations Finn O’Keefe (Originate promotions) Arts NSW (key supporter Commission, University of Bankstown Youth Development Riverside Theatres, Parramatta Peter Panoa Sameher Choukchouk (Artfiles) — core funding and programs) Western Sydney, Riverside Services SBS Radio Agnes Polese David Otott NSW Department of Community Theatres Baulkham Hills, Holroyd, Sierra Leonean Community John Taranto (Remembering Minto) Services Parramatta Migrant Resource Radio Program Johnny Tran Juan Salazar NSW Film and Television Office SYDNEY ARAB FILM Centre South Sydney Youth Services Garry Trinh Minto Storytelling Festival NSW Department of Housing FESTIVAL VOLUNTEER Biennale of Sydney Sudanese Filmmaking Group Community Relations ORGANISING COMMITTEE Blacktown Arts Centre Synergy Percussion Commission Abbas Makrab, Alissar Gazal, Blacktown Youth Services St Vincent de Paul Society Federal Government Me’ad Assan, Hajj Mohamad Association Sydney Christian Students and Australia Council for the Arts Duar, Ahmad Tobgy, Tony Ishak Blacktown Migrant Resource Young Christian Workers ICE is represented on, and facilitates, a broad range of committees, (key supporter — Originate (World Media), Fatima Mawas, Centre Sydney Writers’ Festival forums and boards. From January to December 2006 these included: and projects) Khaled Sabsabi and Nick Tsoutas British Council Australia TIN Radio, Newcastle Articulate Steering Committee Local Government (Casula Powerhouse), Tarek Campbelltown Bicentennial University of Technology Sydney Arts Advisory Committee - NSW Government Parramatta City Council (major Abou Senna (Consul General of Art Gallery University of Western Sydney, Artfiles Advisory Committee local government partner) Egypt), Mohamed Nasr and Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre Centre for Cultural Research Auburn Community Development Management Committee Auburn Council Saleh Alsalahey (Vice Consuls, CCD NSW University of Western Sydney, Community Cultural Development NSW Board Bankstown City Council Egyptian Consulate), Mick Darda Community Information School of Communication Engaging Communities Advisory Committee Baulkham Hills Shire Council and Tanya Sadeghi-Assl Strategies Australia Inc Media Arts Liverpool Migration Heritage Project Committee Blacktown City Council (Parramatta City Council), Computer Bank Sydney University of Western Sydney, Making Links Conference Organising Committee Blue Mountains City Council Maissa Alameddine (Medialoft) Egyptian Consulates Writing and Research Group Non-Government Organisations IT Network Burwood City Council Ermington Burnside Family Wentworthville Youth Services Parramatta City Council Arts Advisory Committee Campbelltown City Council SAFF PROJECT Learning Centre Voice of the Nile Regional Cultural Planning Reference Group Fairfield City Council MANAGEMENT Ethnic Communities’ Council Western Sydney Community - Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils Hawkesbury City Council Fadia Abboud and Mouna Zaylah of NSW Forum Remembering Minto Group Holroyd City Council Co-Festival Directors Goethe-Institut Western Sydney Information Switch Advisory Committee Liverpool City Council Maissa Alameddine, Granville Multicultural and Research Service Sydney Arab Film Festival Penrith City Council Web Manager Community Centre Western Sydney Regional Training Directions Network, Western Sydney Community Forum Philanthropic Meiying Saw, Art Director Granville Youth and Community Organisation of Councils WESTIR (Western Sydney Information and Research) Board Ian Potter Foundation Hajj Mohamad Duar, Recreational Centre James N. Kirby Foundation Sponsorship Consultant Hawkesbury Regional

36 37 Treasurer’s Report Financial Statements

While ICE has increased its income ten-fold We are forever grateful for the continued over the past six years, our biggest support of Arts NSW, from whom we challenge continues to be the management received our inaugural triennial funding in of sustainable growth. Particularly as most 2006. We are also grateful to the NSW of our revenue continues to be non- Department of Community Services, recurrent and derived from one-off grants. Australia Council for the Arts, Parramatta In 2006 our income through City Council, NSW Film and Television Office Information and Cultural Exchange Inc. philanthropic bodies and Foundations has and the Australian Manufacturing Workers 31 December 2006 grown significantly. This has also been aided Union for their continued support. by Artsupport’s invaluable guidance. I would like to thank the staff of ICE for The financial restructure undertaken in all their hard work in implementing the 40 Balance Sheet the previous year has proven to be a sound changes to the financial management financial basis to consolidate the impact of system. I feel privileged and encouraged by 41 Income Statement ICE’s rapid expansion. As a result, ICE is in a success of 2006’s innovations and look 43 Statement of Cash Flows stronger financial position, allowing us to forward to building on these in 2007. move forward with new strategic alliances 44 Notes to and Forming Part and subsequent projects. of the Financial Statements ICE’s position in the arts, cultural and community development sectors continues 46 Statement by Members to grow. We value our relationships with our of the Committee key partners and look forward to a continual Heidi Freeman and productive working future with these Treasurer 47 Independent Audit Report bodies.

38 39 Balance Sheet for the year ended 31 December 2006 Income Statement for the year ended 31 December 2006

2006 2005 2006 2005 $$ $$ INCOME Grants and donations CURRENT ASSETS - Arts NSW 275,000.00 250,000.00 Cash and cash equivalents 3 542,966.71 351,088.47 - Australia Council for the Arts (CCD Program and Project grants) 150,900.00 109,279.00 Receivables 4 128,692.00 35,643.16 - Australia Council for the Arts (projects carried forward from 2005) 85,556.22 - TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 671,658.71 386,731.63 - Australia Council for the Arts (2007 CCD grants in advance) 72,410.00 - - Department of Community Services (DOCS) 127,753.00 121,910.00 NON CURRENT ASSETS - Department of Community Services One-Off Grant 20,000.00 - Leasehold improvements - at cost 183,908.00 183,908.00 - NSW Film and Television Office 26,700.00 28,409.09 Less: Accumulated depreciation (129,600.00) (81,350.00) - Department of Housing - 127,609.38 54,308.00 102,558.00 - Department of Housing (continuing project carried forward) 94,328.82 - Office furniture and equipment - at cost 103,518.70 82,341.70 - Vodafone Foundation 75,000.00 - Less: Accumulated Depreciation (67,807.70) (53,683.70) - ACL 43,086.98 32,000.00 35,711.00 28,658.00 - Local Government 187,745.45 126,283.64 TOTAL NON CURRENT ASSETS 90,019.00 131,216.00 - Australian Business Arts Foundation (JB Seed) 5,000.00 5,730.00 - Myer Foundation 5,000.00 10,000.00 TOTAL ASSETS 761,677.71 517,947.63 - Foundation for Young Australians 10,000.00 - - The James N. Kirby Foundation 5,000.00 - CURRENT LIABILITIES - The lan Potter Foundation Ltd 5,000.00 - Payables 208,719.37 67,856.56 - Community Relations Commission 3,000.00 - Deferred income 315,714.26 336,973.82 - The Mercy Foundation Ltd - 5,000.00 Provision for staff entitlements 87,369.88 67,764.00 - Department of Infrastructure & Planning - 5,770.00 TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 611,803.51 472,594.38 - SWSAHS - 15,780.00 - Epping RSL Club - 11,000.00 NON CURRENT LIABILITIES - Wentworthville Leagues Club - 10,000.00 Provision for staff entitlements 138,434.46 35,322.00 - Burwood RSL Club - 5,000.00 TOTAL NON CURRENT LIABILITIES 750,237.97 507,916.38 - Grants In Advance (225,470.26) ( 113,799.14) TOTAL GRANTS AND DONATIONS 966,010.21 749,971.97 NET ASSETS 11,439.74 10,031.25 Membership and subscriptions 200.00 501.37 EQUITY Interest received 11,971.42 10,202.55 Accumulated Income at the beginning of the year 10,031.25 9,986.56 Special events - 15,880.55 Operating surplus/(deficit) for the year 1,408.49 44.69 Advertising 957.74 28,003.87 TOTAL ACCUMULATED INCOME 11,439.74 10,031.25 Project management fees 39,039.59 - 11,439.74 10,031.25 Funding carried over 24,627.80 - Service fees - 8,261.95 Raffle sales 7,200.00 - Merchandise sales 4,208.48 - Resource sales 1,893.74 -

40 The accompanying notes (p44) form part of these financial statements. continued… 41 Income Statement continued… Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended 31 December 2006

Equipment and venue hire 12,813.64 - Training allowance 18,955.45 32,050.59 Sundry income 5,055.57 8,885.63 2006 2005 126,923.43 103,786.51 $$ TOTAL INCOME 1,092,933.64 853,758.48 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES Receipts from Government and others 966,653.82 857,605.28 EXPENDITURE Payments to suppliers and employees (765,570.00) (682,859.63) Audit fee 2 5,000.00 3,000.00 Interest received 11,971.42 10,202.55 Bookkeeping 7,908.50 5,755.88 Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 213,055.24 184,948.20 Bank charge and merchant fees 4,400.05 2,530.17 Building repairs and maintenance 4,374.28 501.70 CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES Cleaning and gardening - 1,420.00 Payment for property, plant and equipment (21,177.00) (43,263.85) Consultancy fees 108,582.35 14,093.63 Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities (21,177.00) (43,263.85) Contractor fees 136,949.10 87,245.13 Net increase/(decrease) in cash held 191,878.24 141,683.83 Depreciation 62,374.00 75,375.61 Cash at beginning of year 351,088.47 209,404.64 Doubtful debts - 10,000.00 Cash at end of year 542,966.71 351,088.47 Legal costs - 120.00 Library and resources 457.82 927.98 CASH FLOW INFORMATION Equipment 2,143.12 3,495.15 (a) Reconciliation of cash Equipment repairs and maintenance 1,664.62 3,212.09 Cash at bank 76,240.20 35,298.70 Marketing/publicity 15,932.66 34,487.58 Cash investments 466,726.51 315,789.77 Hire - equipment (45.45) - 542,966.71 351,088.47 Insurance 17,070.34 14,680.06 (b) Reconciliation of cash flow from operations with deficit ISP webhosting 1,098.51 5,211.82 from ordinary activities 1,408.49 44.69 Programmes 93,292.75 - Non cash flows in deficit from ordinary activities: Printing, postage and stationery 34,737.90 31,744.51 Depreciation 62,374.00 75,375.61 Production - 77,439.58 Rent 15,197.70 6,668.18 CHANGES IN ASSETS AND LIABILITIES Staff training, recruitment and welfare 7,763.89 5,762.86 (Increase)/decrease in receivable (93,048.84) 92,708.28 Staff entitlements 122,718.34 41,900.77 Increase/(decrease) in prepayments - - Subscriptions 2,757.97 3,808.29 Increase/(decrease) in payable 140,862.81 1,029.24 Sundry 2,322.09 754.64 Increase/(decrease) in deferred income (21,259.56) (25,701.25) Security 890.51 850.75 Increase/(decrease) in provisions 122,718.34 41,491.63 Office amenities 1,664.50 1,877.73 Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 213,055.24 184,948.20 Superannuation contributions 37,724.65 32,322.41 Telephone 15,376.86 17,069.80 Travelling expenses 8,281.75 11,702.03 Wages and contract payments 375,577.51 366,142.82 Workers comp. insurance 5,308.83 (6,387.38) TOTAL EXPENDITURE 1,091,525.15 853,713.79

OPERATING SURPLUS FROM ORDINARY ACTIVITIES 1,408.49 44.69

42 The accompanying notes (p44) form part of these financial statements. 43 Notes to and forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2006

1 STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES 2006 2005 (a) These financial statements are a special (c) Revenue $$ purpose financial report prepared in order to Interest revenue is recognised on a 2 AUDITOR’S REMUNERATION satisfy the financial reporting requirements of proportional basis taking into account the Auditor Services the Association Incorporation Act NSW. interest rates applicable to the financial - C. M. Pitt & Co. 5,000.00 5,000.00 The committee has determined that the assets as it is received. - Prior year under provision - ( 2,000.00) association is not a reporting entity. Revenue from sales of goods is TOTAL 5,000.00 3,000.00 The statements have been prepared in recognised upon the delivery of the goods to accordance with the requirements of the the customers. 3 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS Associations Incorporation Act NSW and the Revenue from the rendering of a service Cash at bank 542,866.71 350,988.47 following Australian Accounting Standards is recognised upon delivery of the service to Cash on hand 100.00 100.00 and other mandatory professional reporting customers. TOTAL 542,966.71 351,088.47 requirements: Revenue from funding authorities AAS 1 Profit and Loss or received in advance is deferred to the period 4 RECEIVABLES Other Operating Statements to which it relates and included as an accrual Trade debtors 138,692.00 45,643.16 AAS 3 Accounting for Income Tax on the balance sheet. Less: Provision for doubtful debts (10,000.00) (10,000.00) AAS 4 Depreciation of Non-Current Assets TOTAL 128,692.00 35,643.16 AAS 5 Materiality (d) Employee Entitlements AAS 8 Events Occurring After Balance Date Provision is made for Long Service Leave, 5 PROVISION FOR STAFF ENTITLEMENTS No other Australian Accounting standards Sick Leave and Annual Leave estimated to be Current liabilities or other mandatory professional reporting payable to employees on the basis of - Annual leave 53,713.44 38,995.00 requirements have been applied. statutory and contractual requirements. - Long service leave - 6,487.00 The statements are prepared on an Provision is made for redundancy for long - Sick leave 26,156.44 22,282.00 accruals basis. They are based on historic standing employees as the association is - Award increase 7,500.00 - costs and do not take into account changing exclusively dependent on tiers of government, TOTAL 87,369.88 67,764.00 money values, or except where specifically and that policies and funding arrangements stated, current valuations of non-current are subject to periodic change. Provision is Non-current liabilities assets. made for the payment of twelve (12) weeks - Long service leave 6,544.59 4,638.00 The following specific accounting policies, maternity leave in accordance with pending - Maternity leave 74, 8 6 0. 8 0 30, 6 8 4.0 0 which are consistent with the previous staff agreements. The amounts provided have - Redundancy 57,029.07 - period unless otherwise stated, have been been apportioned between current and non- TOTAL 138,434.46 35,322.00 adopted in the preparation of these financial current, the current provision been the statements. portion that is entitled to be paid within the next (12) months. Payroll on costs associated (b) Incorporated Association with leave entitlements are recognised as The services were incorporated on 1st May, liabilities. 1986 as an incorporated Association, Contributions are made by the under the Associations Incorporated Act, Association to an employees’ superannuation 1984. The members liability is limited to the fund and are charged as expenses when extent of any unpaid membership fees. incurred.

44 45 Statement by Members of the committee of ICE Independent Audit Report

The Committee have determined that the association is not a reporting entity.

The Committee have determined that this special purpose financial report should be prepared in accordance with the accounting policies outlined in Note 1 to the accounts.

In the opinion of the committee the financial statements:

1Present fairly the Balance Sheet of Information and Cultural Exchange Inc. as at 31 December 2006 and the results of the association for the year ended on that date.

2At the date of this statement, there are reasonable grounds to believe that Information and Cultural Exchange Inc will be able to pay its debts as and when they fall due.

This statement is made in accordance with the resolution of the Committee and is signed for and on behalf of the Committee by:

Chairperson Treasurer Tilda Sikes Heidi Freeman

Date: 28 March 2007

46 47 ICE encourages the development of new partnerships. If you would like to be involved with one of our projects, or would like to make a financial contribution to our work, please contact us.

Street Address Ground Level, AMWU Building 133 Parramatta Road Granville NSW 2142 Australia

Postal Address PO Box 4033 Parramatta NSW 2124 Australia

T +612 9897 5744 F +612 9897 5766 E [email protected] www.ice.org.au

ICE is a registered charity. All donations are tax-deductible.

23rd Information and Cultural Exchange Annual Report ISSN: 1833-5306 © Information and Cultural Exchange (ICE) 2007 www.ice.org.au