Artists for Kids Culture (AKC)

First Peoples Cultural Safety Policy

1. Purpose

Artists for Kids Culture (AKC) is committed to creating culturally safe, respectful and inclusive environments for First Peoples children, young people, artists, Elders, communities and organisations. This policy outlines how AKC embeds a First Peoples First approach across its governance, programs, partnerships and organisational culture. It reflects AKC’s charitable purpose of supporting children and young people experiencing disadvantage through creative opportunities while recognising the unique place of First Peoples as the Traditional Custodians of Australia.

2. Our Commitment

AKC acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we live, work and create. We recognise their enduring connection to Country, waters, culture and community and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge the strength, resilience and continuing cultural leadership of First Peoples across Australia.

• Embedding First Peoples perspectives across our governance, programs, partnerships and organisational culture where appropriate.
• Creating culturally safe environments for First Peoples children, young people, artists, staff, volunteers and partners.
• Supporting self-determination by creating meaningful opportunities for First Peoples people to inform, guide and influence our work.
• Building respectful, long-term relationships with First Peoples communities, organisations and creative practitioners.
• Continually strengthening our cultural capability through listening, learning and reflection.
• Recognising the disproportionate disadvantage experienced by many First Nations children and young people, AKC aims to allocate approximately 25% of Creative Access Program funding each year to First Nations children and young people, subject to eligible applications, community need and available funding.

3. Guiding Principles

• Respect – recognising and valuing First Peoples cultures, histories, languages, knowledge and leadership.
• Self-determination – supporting First Peoples leadership in decisions affecting First Peoples communities.
• Cultural Safety – fostering environments where First Peoples people feel welcomed, respected and safe.
• Authentic Partnerships – building relationships based on trust, reciprocity and shared outcomes.
• Respect for Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) – recognising that cultural knowledge, stories, language and creative works remain the intellectual and cultural property of First Peoples.
• Continuous Improvement – reviewing our practice and learning from community feedback.

4. Governance and Leadership

The AKC Board and leadership team are responsible for promoting cultural safety across the organisation.

• Seek First Peoples advice for significant initiatives where appropriate.
• Establish advisory mechanisms appropriate to AKC’s size and resources.
• Encourage First Peoples representation in governance, programming and partnerships.
• Report progress against this policy through regular Board reporting.

5. Programs and Community Engagement

AKC seeks to embed First Peoples perspectives throughout its work, including artsbus, the Creative Access Program, artsbusTV, Sub27 and other creative initiatives.

• Acknowledge Country in culturally appropriate ways.
• Work respectfully with Traditional Owners when programs relate to their Country, stories or cultural knowledge.
• Engage First Peoples artists, facilitators and organisations wherever practical.
• Represent First Peoples cultures respectfully and with appropriate permissions.
• Create opportunities for First Peoples children and young people to participate, lead and share their creative voices.

6. Employment, Engagement and Procurement

Where appropriate and within available resources, AKC will seek to:

• Engage First Peoples artists, facilitators, consultants and suppliers.
• Encourage applications from First Peoples people for employment, internships and volunteer opportunities.
• Provide fair remuneration consistent with industry standards.
• Develop respectful, long-term relationships with First Peoples creative practitioners.

7. Cultural Protocols and Indigenous Cultural & Intellectual Property (ICIP)

AKC recognises the importance of Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property.

• Obtain appropriate permissions before using cultural knowledge, stories, language, imagery or creative works.
• Acknowledge cultural ownership wherever appropriate.
• Respect local cultural protocols and seek guidance where required.
• Protect Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property in accordance with recognised good practice.

8. Cultural Capability

AKC is committed to continually strengthening its cultural capability.

• Provide regular opportunities for Board members, staff and volunteers to undertake cultural capability learning.
• Where practical, engage First Peoples facilitators to deliver learning.
• Encourage reflective practice and continuous improvement.

9. Monitoring and Accountability

AKC will seek to monitor progress through measures appropriate to the organisation, including:

• Participation of First Peoples children and young people.
• Engagement of First Peoples artists and facilitators.
• Community and participant feedback on cultural safety.
• Progress towards organisational priorities and partnerships.

10. Resourcing

Subject to available funding and organisational priorities, AKC will seek to allocate resources to support:

• First Peoples artist and facilitator engagement.
• Cultural capability development.
• Community consultation and partnerships.
• Initiatives that improve outcomes for First Peoples children and young people.

11. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed every two years, or earlier if required by changes to legislation, funding requirements, organisational priorities or recognised best practice.

 

 

Appendix 1 – Putting this Policy into Practice

This appendix demonstrates how AKC gives practical effect to this policy through its programs, partnerships and organisational practices.

Creative Access Program

• Supporting First Nations children and young people to access creative opportunities.
• Aiming to allocate approximately 25% of Creative Access Program funding to First Nations children and young people, subject to eligible applications, community need and available funding.

artsbus

• Delivering culturally safe, free creative programs for children and young people.
• Engaging First Peoples artists and incorporating First Peoples perspectives wherever appropriate.
• Acknowledging Country and respecting local cultural protocols.

artsbusTV

• Providing opportunities for First Peoples young people to tell their own stories and celebrate culture through digital media.
• Episodes begin with an Acknowledgement of Country.

Sub27

• Supporting emerging First Peoples artists through exhibition and professional development opportunities.

Partnerships

• Building respectful, long-term relationships with First Peoples artists, Elders, Traditional Owners, organisations and communities so AKC’s work is informed by lived experience and cultural knowledge.

Organisational Practice

• Providing ongoing cultural capability learning.
• Respecting Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP).
• Seeking First Peoples advice where appropriate.
• Continually reviewing and strengthening cultural safety across the organisation.