May 10, 2019 - Gumbugan forum attracts top Indigenous arts specialists

Innisfail Indigenous dance legend Raymond Blanco and copyright specialist Terri Janke from Sydney will be among an impressive list of presenters at the inaugural Gumbugan Regional Indigenous Arts Forum in Innisfail at the end of this month. 

Ms Janke will present ‘Copyright 101, an overview of copyright basics, and explain how artists own copyright and control of their intellectual property.   She was raised in Cairns and has been director of her own legal firm since 2000, specialising in Indigenous cultural and intellectual property to empower clients towards success in business and innovation. She is a descendant of the Meriam people of the Torres Strait Islands and the Wuthathi people of East Cape York Peninsula.

Raymond D. Blanco, a highly regarded and awarded choreographer and leader in the development of contemporary Indigenous dance in Australia, will present ‘Let’s Talk Dance’

. Mr Blanco’s paternal heritage is Magarem of Mer Island and Kanju Wik from Injinoo (NPA, Qld) and his maternal heritage is Erub and Mer islands in the Torres Strait, and Malay. He was born in Townsville and educated in Innisfail before attending NAISDA Dance College in 1980. His career has encompassed dance and choreography, acting in theatre, opera, film and television, and dance in education and community arts, both nationally and internationally. 

 “I came back to semi-retire and see what’s happening here,” Mr Blanco said.

“So many successful artists have come from here but hardly anyone comes back. I’d like to see them come back, see what they can contribute and be part of a new future here. There are so many here that are coming up and need to have that goal and vision and feel if others can do it they can do it too.

“If they want to do something in the arts they can do it here on the Cassowary Coast. This forum should kick things off because the region needs to know what the arts can do outside of entertainment. It’s much more empowering than that.”

Gumbugan is the centrepiece of Reconciliation Week celebrations on the Cassowary Coast. For more information, contact organiser Cassowary Coast Community Development Officer Kath Hansen on 4030 2255 or email [email protected]