Community Heritage Project: Wattan Report

Lebanese and Arab Australian Communities Heritage project

wattan: proposed activities : 1998 to 2006

The wattan project aims

• to promote documentation of the heritage of Lebanese and Arab Australian communities
• to communicate this heritage in a contemporary and participatory way to a diverse audience
• to promote cultural heritage work within the communities
• to work in partnership with other groups and individuals active in this area

Phase One: June to December 1998 / Department of Communications and the Arts & Powerhouse Museum (PHM)

• Pilot project
• Community consultation
• Community participation activities
• Focus group

Phase Two: August 1999 to February 2000 / Migration Heritage Centre & PHM

• Redfern focus
• Community participation activities
• Regional and national network
• Oral history documentation
• Location of some materials

Phase Three: 2000 to 2002 / University of Western Sydney & PHM

• Three year part-time jointly funded research project
• Focus on Redfern, Arab Australian community and intercommunal relations
• Research model
• Survey of references
• Documentation

Phase Four: 2000 to 2001 / Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre & PHM

• East of Somewhere
• Dialogue between heritage work and contemporary arts practice
• Exhibition at Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre: March / April 2001
• Regional tours e.g. Armidale, Wollongong: July / August 2001
• Joint booklet
• Seminars

Phase Five: wattan redfern Exhibition PHM

• Exhibition in PHM new community access space: September 2002 (12 months lead up time: Sept 2001 to Sept 2002, 12 months exhibition to Sept 2003)
• Public programmes in Redfern and at PHM
• Liaison with South Sydney Council
• Heritage walking tours of Redfern
• Booklet with images
• Oral history documentation

Phase Six: wattan international Exhibition PHM Proposal submitted

• Major temporary exhibition at PHM: March 2004 (18 months lead up time: Sept 2002 to March 2004, 18 months exhibition to Sept 2005)
• Public programmes
• Arab Australian community events
• Education and schools kit
• Book publications (PHM and an independent publisher) = catalogue plus social / cultural / historical commentary

Phase Seven: wattan australia on tour

Regional, national and international centres 2005 / 2006

• Wollongong, Newcastle, Armidale, Bathurst, Wagga
• Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth
• Beirut, Washington, Paris