Community Heritage Project: Wattan Report

Recommendations and Opportunities

Recommendations

The Powerhouse Museum, in partnership with an active community steering committee, to become a regional, national and international focal point for Arab Australian cultural heritage and contemporary expression. The partnership to facilitate national and international debate and exchanges, reflecting multiple “voices” of Arab experience.
Build on the success of the two pilot phases of the Project through long term relationships between Government and cultural institutions. For example, the Powerhouse Museum has applied to the NSW Premier’s Department for an enhancement of funds to further develop the Project. (Refer to Appendix 2 for document: “wattan: proposed activities 1998 to 2006”).
Explore the changing roles of museums and galleries through genuine community partnerships and community-generated programmes. For example, initiate a system of “community” affiliations to the Powerhouse Museum, which is broader than “society” affiliations.
Build partnerships with the Lebanese and Arab Australian business sector, as well as the Arabic language media.
Organise an open and critical discussion amongst key Arab Australian community members to discuss the issues raised in this report, and to develop strategies to move forward.
Develop “memoranda of understanding” between the Powerhouse Museum and University of Western Sydney and Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, to develop partnerships in research and community cultural development.

Explore opportunities to profile tangible project outcomes:

transcribe and log recorded interviews, to make the documentation accessible and to contribute to other resources
encourage further audio and visual documentation
create community events and exhibitions in the Redfern area, in partnership with South Sydney Council and local community centres
develop public programmes with Arab Australian artists, writers, musicians and educators, in partnership with Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre
develop community heritage projects in collaboration with Arab Australian groups e.g. the Australian Lebanese Historical Society, the Australian Arabic Communities Council, the Lebanese Community Council
create a photo essay: Nitsa Yioupros, the Conservation Dept. photographer to work with the Project Officer to develop visual documentation of the interviewees participated in the oral history recordings
wattan@egroups.com - initiate an email group to connect people in different regions and states who are involved in various Arab Australian heritage work, to break down isolation and to build national network
"East of Somewhere" Casula Powerhouse Art Centre, March / April 2001 - submit an exhibition proposal to the Powerhouse Museum for a heritage component in the Casula exhibition