The annual funding round supports smaller and developing regional events to help attract new visitors to WA's five tourism regions and stimulate local economies.
This year's RES round will fund 10 new events and will include $250,000 to deliver Regional Aboriginal Events, including the agritourism event Taste of the Kimberley, showcasing the produce and landscapes of the Kimberley region; and the RAES event Iwarra Wilungga - Spring by the Sea, which is a celebration of Aboriginal culture in the Mid-West.
Other events include the Great Southern Stage Run, a three-day race following the wild and rugged Bibbulman Track; and the Northam Heritage and Multicultural Festival in the Wheatbelt. 

View the full list of recipients

Tourism operators from all over the world came together recently at The World Indigenous Tourism Summit (WITS) in Boorloo (Perth) and collectively endorsed unanimously and enthusiastically, a First Nations Climate Statement document. The statement read:
As proud descendants of Indigenous people from around the world, we, the 2023 WITS Delegates, recognise and accept our inherent social and cultural obligation gifted to us from our 'Old People' (Ancestors) to protect, heal and preserve our lands; or in essence "look after country.

​More information regarding the statement

The latest round of the Regional and Remote Festivals Fund has provided a financial boost to eight regional organisations to deliver arts and cultural activities at regional festivals in Western Australia.
The Regional and Remote Festivals Fund is part of the Regional Arts and Cultural Investment Program (RACIP). It is open to groups, organisations or individual artists, WA regional local government authorities and Aboriginal communities to support the costs associated with delivering arts activity that is part of a festival in regional Western Australia. 
Initiatives receiving grants through the program are:

1. Esperance Community Arts for the Kaddatji Nyungar Boodja Community Sculpture project which will be displayed at the Esperance Wildflower Festival in September 2021;
2. City of Greater Geraldton for the artistic program behind the Big Sky Festival 2021;
3. Shire of Yalgoo’s Open Air Sculpture Gallery, part of the Emu Festival 2021;
4. Shire of Mount Magnet for SciArt & Astro-Photography Activities, drawing on local Indigenous artists and culminating in an Astro-Photography Exhibition;
5. York Arts and Events for presentation of the 7th annual York Festival;
6. Shire of Merredin for War Stories Illumination Projections, part of the inaugural Memorial Festival;
7. Big hART Inc for Songs for Peace 2021, a month-long series of events featuring song writing workshops, community feasting and intimate acoustic performances; and
8. Annette Nykiel for the We Must Get Together Sometime exhibition and related events.

 
Media statement 
More information

WAITOC, in partnership with Breakaway Tourism has developed the Aboriginal Tourism Academy (ATA).
The ATA is a customised program for tourism business development and professional development for staff. It aims to meet the needs of new and existing Aboriginal tourism operators across Western Australia, including training/skilling, strategic marketing assistance, product/service development, and mentoring.
This follows from the success of previous programs where WAITOC partnered with The City of Perth.
WAITOC encourages all interested individuals, businesses and organisations to work together to help grow Western Australia's unique Aboriginal cultural tourism industry. Through committed partnerships, all stakeholders will benefit and communities in our state will begin to prosper.
Learn more about partnering with WAITOC by downloading the Local Government Prospectus: WAITOC Partnership Packages 2020

The Aboriginal Tourism Academy (Round 1), developed by the Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council (WAITOC) and Breakaway Tourism, and funded by program partners Indigenous Business Australia, City of Perth and the City of South Perth, is launching in July 2020.
The Aboriginal Tourism Academy is seeking expressions of interest from established ‘Emerging’ (operating less than 2 years), ‘Market Ready’ (operating for more than 2 years), and ‘Export Ready’ (operating over 3 years, contracted to international trade markets) Aboriginal tourism businesses in Western Australia that aspire to access the support, business/professional development, mentoring and industry networks required to operate successfully in the domestic and international Western Australian tourism industry. Applications close Friday, 19th June 2020. For more information, contact:
Rob Taylor, CEO WAITOC at ceo@waitoc.com or P: 0419 921 946
Michelle Sidebottom at michelle@breakawaytourism.com.au or P: 0419 904 691
Application form 

The new Western Australian Museum is on track to open in the Perth Cultural Centre in November, and is today advertising up to 30 new permanent positions for frontline visitor services staff, as well as opportunities to join a pool of casual staff. The new museum will share the stories of Western Australia's people and places. People from diverse backgrounds are being encouraged to apply for these positions. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and those from multicultural backgrounds will be an important part of the team sharing the stories of our State with the rest of the world. 
Read Minister Templeman's media statement here
Apply to join the WA Museum's visitor services team here

Regional Arts Australia have announced the details of The Recovery Boost funding scheme for individual creative practitioners and organisations in regional, remote and rural Australia. The funding is a one off investment provided by the Commonwealth Government which recognises the central role the arts play in supporting cohesive, thriving communities in regional Australia.  The funding which is designed to meet immediate, medium and long term activity through Relief, Recovery and Renewal stages includes a broad range of criteria including professional development and training programs.  Further information can be found here. 

Seventy-seven events to be hosted in regional WA have been awarded funding via the Regional Events Scheme. With the expected influx of intrastate tourists holidaying within WA, these smaller and emerging events, ranging from a celebration of wildflowers in Esperance, to star-gazing in the Wheatbelt will help support jobs and local economies by attracting visitors to the regions.
Seven events were awarded funding under the Regional Aboriginal Events Scheme, to showcase Aboriginal activities and experiences, and encourage Aboriginal leadership and participation.
Successful funding applicants have been given the option of holding their event at any time up until December 31, 2021.
For a full list of events awarded 2020-21 funding, visit Tourism WA
Media statement