BackBone - Index of

Artists get I.T!By Thisbie PurichWell it looks like everybody gotsomething different out the BIAcomputer training that ANKAAAhelped organise during the lastcouple of months and what abig job those trainers have donevisiting nineteen communities.Michelle Williams and Paul Suttondid the Top End, and Neville Kingvisited the Kimberley and SouthernNT region. The training comesfrom a grant ANKAAA appliedfor from the government BackingIndigenous Ability (BIA) program,which delivered two training days,each to nineteen Art Centres,with training taking place incommunities on laptops.Each trainer and art centre had a differentfocus and approach. Michelle and Paulfocused on skills utilizing photographyso people could take away finished workand develop an enthusiasm that mightlead to further interest in using computers.Neville’s training focused more onpractical skills the Art Centre staff neededfor running day-to-day business.I think everybody was surprised at howmuch ‘good stuff’ could be done on thecomputer.When Neville was working withMangkaja Arts at Fitzroy Crossing thegroup consisted of older traditionalowners from the surrounding areasof Fitzroy Crossing. The traineesresearched stock horses, westernclothing, cattleman's boots and Akubrahats using the Internet. Neville foundlots of people who previously had notused the Internet at all due to theirage and some men who refused to sitdown due to their lack of literacy andthe shame of not being able to reador write. Once they got going thoughthey became very keen. It was alsointeresting to hear traditional ownersexplaining their country as Neville tookthem through Google Earth. Peoplewere able to tell stories of totemsand events over hundreds of squarekilometres showing landforms andboundaries of their land.Whilst visiting other Art Centres suchas Mowanjum in Derby, Neville wasasked to teach the Art Centre staffsome skills on the computers to helpwith art centre business. He taughtMicrosoft Word, Excel and File makingprograms, computer virus protectionand the importance of backing up work.At Merrepen Arts, Daly River when theirInternet was down they learnt how tomake their own slide shows using PowerPoint. Of course, there was also plentyof help with learning some fun things aswell such as Internet sites for car salesand using the web camera, and lookingat videos on YouTube.Michelle and Paul gave everybodysome great training as well and taught190 people at 13 centres. During theirtraining they taught people how to usea digital camera, make their own photopages, posters, signs, CD’s and ArtistsStories. People also learnt how to useemail and many people asked and gothelp with Internet banking.In some Art Centres people learnt howto make videos mixing photos of theirwork and their community with musicand their voice talking over explainingthings.Michelle and Paul also made sure theirtraining was practical. They gave goodadvice on what sort of camera andequipment to buy for remote use just incase batteries, spare parts or servicingis difficult. They also made sure thesoftware was compatible and easy touse. So it seems it was really worthwhileto do this training and would be worthdoing again in the future.Thanks to the hard working andtravelling trainers Michelle, Paul andNeville.Left: I.T. Training, Warlayirti Arts, Balgo. Photo:Neville King.Right: I.T. Training, Jilamara Arts, Milikapiti, BrianFarmer. Photo: Michelle Sutton.Volume 9: Issue 1 June/July 2009 Projects and training – Arts Backbone 15