The Purpose of This Award Is to Commend Communities That
TIDY TOWNS TIPS HERITAGE AND CULTURE AWARD
The purpose of this award is to commend communities that
preserve, promote and celebratetheir history, culture and identity
Each community’s cultural identity is comprised of a range of factors including the people, places and events that define it.
Cultural identity can be enhanced by what happens to people, and what they do. Projects that facilitate relationships between generations, or between people and place, or people and their shared activities, can enhance cultural identity.
It is hoped that various projects in this category will contribute to building a strong sense of place in regional communities throughout the State.
PROJECT IDEAS
- Establish or maintain local historical societies/groups
- Establish or maintain museums, galleries and heritage interpretation trails
- Preserve headstones and research those buried at your local cemetery
- Hold events (for example, welcoming newcomers to the community or honouring older residents)
- Encourage local businesses to adopt signage or paint work on shop facades that is symbolic of the community’s cultural identity
- Preserve culturally significant sites and traditions
- Promote the community’s heritage and culture to tourists and residents
*Please note these are examples only and are not essential.* It is important for communities to work toward achieving their own overall objectives.
JUDGE’S TIPS
Judges are particularly impressed by innovative ideas, collaborations, and leadership in the promotion and celebration of theindigenous and non-indigenous history and identity of your community.
As for other categories, local shires undertake projects that can easily be incorporated in your submission, such as Australia Day celebrations.
Tidy Towns Committees should also make contact with shire staff to see how they can contribute to the local townscape or community development plan or cultural plan (based on cultural mapping). Through the process of cultural mapping, community members identify and document local cultural resources such as galleries, craft industries, distinctive landmarks, local events and industries, as well as intangibles like memories, personal histories, attitudes and values.
Judges are also keen to view or hear about strategies and action plans.
CASE STUDY
The State Winner of Heritage and Culture for 2014 was Southern Cross. You can read all about their projects here (from page 12).
RESOURCES
For event ideas, you might get inspiration from the Events Calendar on the RRR Network site. Remember that planning for future events is judged on an equal basis with conducting the event. Grants and Awards is another useful feature of this great website.
To search for significant heritage sites in your community, use the inHerit or the Aboriginal Heritage Enquiry System. For a simple search of the latter, select ‘zoom to an area’, select Local Government area and your region, eg: Albany. Click ‘Aboriginal sites’ and ‘Other heritage places’ and Topographical maps and satellite imaging. You will see a number of sites, for example 22193 in Albany. Next, under the heading ‘what do you want to do?’ click ‘Find specific registered sites,’ select ‘ID’ in the second column, then type in 22193 for particulars.
The Department of Aboriginal Affairs and the State Heritage Officealso have hardcopy site files available for research and Heritage Officers who can answer enquiries.
The Western Australian Museum is dedicated to ‘inspiring people to explore and share their identity, culture, environment and sense of place, and to experience and contribute to the diversity and creativity of our world.’ Their Museums Assistance Program is currently headed by Clare-Frances Craig and visits to provide advice to regional museum staff are possible.
Museums Australiaand the NationalTrust are also good resources for communities keen to interpret or preserve museum collections or buildings, respectively.
The Community Arts Network WA can help you gain necessary resources and funding for community cultural development projects.
Keep Australia Beautiful’s Tidy Towns staff can provide further advice and support grant applications with letters of recommendation.
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