[RNLD] changes to Indigenous Languages Support Program announced

Mon Apr 13 07:47:05 UTC 2015

Thanks for bringing up this topic, Julia.

It certainly concerns me that Language is now grouped under Arts – not just because language centres and programs are now in direct competition for funding with arts centres but also because of the connotation of this grouping.

Owning a piece of art, such as a painting, could be viewed as a luxury that you decide to own or not own. If Language falls in the same category, this unfortunately reflects what many Australians were thinking all along: that Language is just luxury and you don’t lose much if you don’t have it. 

In fact, the expression of visual arts in our society appears to be higher ranked than Language – an experience which we have made on the ground. In one instance, an arts centre was paid a fee for the (visual) artwork provided to a government agency whereas the language centre was not compensated for many hours of language services involving translation and linguistic research for the same project. There was no discussion about the reasoning behind the decision but obviously the artwork was more “tangible”, so language services were not budgeted for.

I am not sure whether we need to read this into the recent amalgamation of Language and Arts since the allocation of Language under the Arts sector is not new (note that the ILS program was previously administered under the DPMC – Office of the Arts).  However, the name of the new program is “Indigenous Languages and Arts (Languages)” – and I don’t like seeing “(Language”) in brackets.

Knut

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From: Julia Sallabank [mailto:js72 at soas.ac.uk] 
Sent: Monday, 13 April 2015 3:08 PM
To: Ruth Singer
Cc: Margaret Florey; Peter Austin; RNLD list
Subject: Re: [RNLD] changes to Indigenous Languages Support Program announced

Dear all

I don't think anybody has yet commented on the change from 'Languages' to 'Languages and Arts' - is there not a worry that funds previously earmarked for language programmes might be redirected to arts projects with little or no language element? 

Best wishes

Julia

On 13 April 2015 at 02:09, Ruth Singer <ruth.singer at gmail.com <mailto:ruth.singer at gmail.com> > wrote:

Hi guys,

I emailed the 'Indigenous Languages' (language centres)  contact email address about applying for funding for a new language centre and didn't get a definite 'no'. They encouraged my interest and mentioned that more information will be available online soon. 

So I think they don't actually know yet if they will be funding new language centres or not.

But we have a language centre building fitted out with a new computer, bookshelves and Mawng language resources. Have also had an expression of interest in the job of language centre coordinator. So we're all ready to be funded!

Cheers,

Ruth

On 2 April 2015 at 08:20, Margaret Florey <mflorey at rnld.org <mailto:mflorey at rnld.org> > wrote:

Hi everyone,

Regarding the comments and queries that have followed from my posting a couple of days ago, I think many of us are still feeling our way and working with the preliminary information that we're receiving from ILS (now ILA program).

In response to some of the queries:

We've been told by ILS that the "Framework to guide the planning, implementation and review of language projects" is being developed by First Languages Australia http://www.firstlanguages.org.au/. We were also told that other people/organisations will be consulted and asked to provide input before it is finalised and adopted. There's no guidance yet on timeframe and process. 

My understanding is that the development of the Framework does come from genuine concern in the department to provide more guided support to people undertaking language projects. However, as Peter noted and those of us in the field realise, there are clear challenges to developing such a framework and it remains to be seen how effectively it will be framed and implemented.

The FAQs indicate that the door is not entirely closed to new language programs http://arts.gov.au/topics/indigenous-arts-languages-and-culture/frequently-asked-questions As I read it, a big difference in the new approach is splitting the funding into three streams:

Indigenous Languages and Arts (Languages) - direct offer

Indigenous Languages and Arts (Projects) - competitive round "which is expected to open mid-2015"

"one-off or ad hoc grants that do not involve a planned selection process but are designed to meet a specific policy outcome or an urgent or specialised requirement." This seems to be similar to the Strategic Initiative Grants which existed under the ILS program, and were also non-competitive and primarily allocated according to initiatives identified within the department.

I don't think that this is just a one year strategy. It appears to be a strategy that is is intended to continue beyond 2016.

I hope this helps a little. We'll continue to add information as it comes to hand.

Note too that the web page suggests that "If you have any questions regarding the new arrangements for the Indigenous Languages and Arts (Languages) stream , please email Indigenouslanguages at arts.gov.au <mailto:Indigenouslanguages at arts.gov.au> " so go for it folk!

best wishes,

Margaret

On 1 April 2015 at 13:45, Peter Austin <pa2 at soas.ac.uk <mailto:pa2 at soas.ac.uk> > wrote:

Margaret

Thanks for sending around this information -- it is very interesting to see, and try to understand from afar, the new approach being adopted. 

One change that seems to be significant, at least from my position of ignorance outside Australia, is the following:

"The Ministry for the Arts is developing a Framework to guide the planning, implementation and review of language projects funded through Indigenous Languages and Arts (Languages). The Framework aims to assist Indigenous communities to make more informed decisions about their plans for the revival or maintenance of their language(s). All Indigenous Languages and Arts (Languages) funding recipients, in particular language centres, will be required to use the Framework in the planning, implementation and review of their language activities. Funding recipients will also be required to use the Framework to develop a Language Plan (depending on the type of language project) for each of the languages being targeted. Funding recipients will be required to consult with Indigenous communities in the development of their language plan."

Given that language revival and maintenance are undertheorised and no "proven methods" exist, I wonder who is specifying this "Framework" and what it might look like. Any ideas?

Peter 

On 31 March 2015 at 12:55, Margaret Florey <mflorey at rnld.org> wrote:

Dear RNLDers,

Senator George Brandis, Minister for the Arts, today issued a press release outlining changes to the Indigenous Languages Support Program. See http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.au/Mediareleases/Pages/2015/FirstQuarter/31-March-2015-Improvements-to-Indigenous-Arts,-Languages-and-Culture-Funding-Programs.aspx

According to the press release, the new Indigenous Languages and Arts program will fund organisations that support the revival and maintenance of Indigenous languages, and provide career opportunities and pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language workers. Operational funds for art and languages centres and service delivery organisations will be delivered through targeted grants (direct offers) from 1 July 2015.

In addition to Senator Brandis' press release the Indigenous Languages Support web site has already been modified to become Indigenous Languages and Arts. See http://arts.gov.au/topics/indigenous-arts-languages-and-culture/indigenous-languages-and-arts. 

The web site includes more details on the changes. The FAQ page http://arts.gov.au/…/indigenous-…/frequently-asked-questions <http://arts.gov.au/topics/indigenous-arts-languages-and-culture/frequently-asked-questions>  provides some detail on the process of direct offers to be made to targetted organisations, and the application process that will open later for language projects.

We understand that guidelines are likely to be finalised and released in the next couple of weeks.

best wishes

Margaret

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-- 

Dr Margaret Florey
DRIL Director
Resource Network for Linguistic Diversity

I am usually available in the office Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays except when I am travelling to deliver DRIL training workshops

ph: +61 (03) 9041-5474 <tel:%2B61%20%2803%29%209041-5474>  (office)
mob: 0488 086 031
skype: RNLDorg
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www.rnld.org <http://www.rnld.org> 
ABN 24 215 634 040

-- 

Dr. Julia Sallabank

Senior Lecturer in Language Support and Revitalisation, Endangered Languages Academic Programme;

Convenor: MA Linguistics, MA Language Documentation and Description, MA Linguistics and Language,

Department of Linguistics,
SOAS, University of London, 
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Endangered Languages: Beliefs and Ideologies in Language Documentation and Revitalisation

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