Plans for Aboriginal Retail Art Gallery and Dance Concept at Three Sisters Blue Mountains
The Koomurri Aboriginal Dance Show and Retail Gallery has been approved by Blue Mountains City Council and the new retail theatre concept will be trading as at 1 December 2011 at 3 sisters plaza, Katoomba just up the road from the world famous 3 sisters lookout. There will be various packages for tour and bus operators, the education market and independent travellers.
As reported on 24 August 2011:
Investors behind a bold proposal to establish an Aboriginal art gallery at the Echo Point tourist precinct hope it will breathe new life into the Three Sisters Plaza and boost job opportunities for indigenous local residents.
Founding director of Aboriginal Art Galleries, Farid Nayer, and his business partner Russell Dawson told the Gazette last week they are prepared to invest up to $2 million to establish and run the gallery. They have come to an agreement with Fivex Commercial Property (the owner’s of the shopping centre) to lease the 800 square metre basement level should their development application lodged on July 14 be approved.
Mr Farid said the investment would cover refurbishment and set-up costs, the purchase of more than 700 art works from Australia’s top and emerging indigenous artists, rent of the gallery and shop space and wages for 20 employees, 80 per cent of whom would likely be of indigenous background.
There will be a gallery entrance fee and visitors would be able to view and purchase top quality indigenous artworks mainly from northern and central Australia but also stroll through a section featuring the work of artists based in the greater Blue Mountains region.
Mr Farid said the proposal had the full backing of key Blue Mountains indigenous organisations and “if the local mobs had said no, I wouldn’t go ahead”.
“We’ve been consulting with local indigenous organisations including the Aboriginal Culture and Resource Centre in Katoomba, the Darug people, the Gundungurra Tribal Council and council’s Aboriginal development officer and they are all for it . . . They all want to see employment opportunities [for indigenous people] grow and that is something I’m passionate about.
“A certain percentage of our profit will go towards projects that build infrastructure for Aboriginal communities.”
Mr Dawson, who has a background in the Aboriginal education and entertainment sector, hopes it will become a tourism attraction that will not only benefit all Katoomba businesses but also “put indigenous culture on the map, promote reconciliation and give tourists an insight into indigenous culture”.
“It is important we come here as business partners that we embrace the local indigenous culture,” Mr Dawson said.
“Initially we are calling the gallery Waranga which means to sing, but we’d like the local community to name it, perhaps through a competition.”
A council spokesperson said additional information was being sought from the applicant about a performance component in the application to ensure it was an ancillary use.
“Subject to this issue being resolved satisfactorily, [council] anticipates being able to finalise the application in the next two weeks.”
The spokesperson said the application involves internal works so does not require being placed on public exhibition.
Mr Farid said once approved the gallery would take three to four months to set up and could open by the end of this year.
“It is important we come here as business partners that we embrace the local indigenous culture,” Mr Dawson said.
“Initially we are calling the gallery Waranga which means to sing, but we’d like the local community to name it, perhaps through a competition.”
A council spokesperson said additional information was being sought from the applicant about a performance component in the application to ensure it was an ancillary use.
“Subject to this issue being resolved satisfactorily, [council] anticipates being able to finalise the application in the next two weeks.”
The spokesperson said the application involves internal works so does not require being placed on public exhibition.
Mr Farid said once approved the gallery would take three to four months to set up and could open by the end of this year.
By Shane Desiatnik
24 August, 2011
Blue Mountains Gazette