OUR COMMUNITY ENTERPRISE In 1995, the Pwerte Marnte Marnte a corporation , with the assistance of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island commission , purchased the oldest established gallery in Alice Springs. Formally the Centre for Aboriginal Artists. (for history see Art Gallery). Since 1995, the business now under Aboriginal control has grown 300 %. ART GALLERY RETAIL ARTS AND CRAFTS DIDGERIDOO UNIVERSITY HALF DAY TOURS FULL DAYS WHOLESALE / EXPORT SALES OUR COMMUNITY TRAINING POLICY STATEMENT The Pwerte Marnte Marnte Aboriginal Corporation realises that one of the most valuable assets of the business is the presence of not only well trained and confident staff but a community that is developing their individual skills. This would include : All community members (especially youth) Direction of P.M.M. Corporation The management of A.A.C.C. Staff (full time, part- time, casual) Artist , producer, small business operators The Corporation accepts that systematic training programs designed to improve the skills levels of the staff and management provides an invigorating atmosphere for all employees, community members and customers. THE FOUR KEY TRAINING AREAS ARE : 1. BUSINESS/ADMINISTRATION/ MANAGEMENT 2. RETAILING / WHOLESALING / PRODUCTION 3. TOURISM 4. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT Daryl Armstrong New Retail Trainee Manager Click on photo to enlarge (21KB) The management has identified a series of key skills: Communication skills Customer service skills Basic selling skills Product / general cultural knowledge Business / administration skills Merchandising / marketing/ product development Quality management skills Which will be included in the training timetable of the company. Training sessions in these skills and other identified subjects will be conducted weekly for all staff., artists, directors and community members over a period of 4 months. Training will be carried out by management and invited industry professionals. NEWSLETTER ABORIGINAL TOURISM IN CENTRAL AUSTRALIA SHARING OUR CULTURE WITH THE WORLD NEWSLETTER JULY 1998 Welcome to the July edition of our community enterprise newsletter 1 AACC WINS 1999 NORTHERN TERRITORY BROLGA AWARD At the 1999 Brolga awards here in Alice Springs on June 28 the Aboriginal Art and Culture Centre in Alice Springs won the Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander award for excellence in Tourism.In accepting the award Paul Ah Chee winning this award was especially rewarding considering the high standard of Aboriginal tourism product in the Nothern Territory.He made mention to the many local,national and international operators who have supported this Aboriginal owned and operated enterprise 2 ABORIGINAL CULTURE EXPERIENCE/NEW PRODUCT/HALF DAY TOUR In a joint venture project with the AURORA GROUP of companies (the Territory Inn,Heavitree Gap Outback Resort and Red Centre Resort) our community has developed a new $500,000 cultural centre just north of Alice Springs.The centre has a series of outdoor theatrettes for all weather Aboriginal cultural tours and performances. PRODUCT CODE REFERENCE AACC 5 3 YEAR 2000 OLYMPICS/INTERNATIONAL BROADCAST Our new Aboriginal dance group YIDAKI INMA was recently chosen to create the Aboriginal broadcast images for the Sydney Olympics Broadcasting Organisation (SOBO).The images will be seen in approx 180 countries in the lead up to the games and during the actual broadcast. 4 RED CENTRE DREAMING /NEW PRODUCT/DINNER PERFORMANCE We have introduced the first Aboriginal cultural and dinner performance in Alice Springs.Enjoy a quality three course meal Sunday ,Tuesday or Thursday ( May to October)Groups of 15+can be arranged for any night of the year.This is not another BAR-B-QUE but a gourmet taste of Australia. A world class dance performance by YIDAKI INMA the fire PRODUCT CODE REFERENCE AACC 9 5 GREAT OUTDOORS TELEVISION JULY 27 NATIONAL BROADCAST The great Outdoors film crew where here this month and our full day tour will be featured on Australian national television on July 27. 6 FORD MOTOR USA COMMERCIAL Our dance group has also been busy producing a new television AD for FORD USA.Shot at night on a film set at Ooriminna the $500,000 shoot featured our dances performing in front of a massive bonfire The commercial will be shown extensively in the lead up to the games. 7 AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER FEATURE TOURISTS TAP INTO DREAMTIME Following an extensive visit to our community Lisa Southgate from THE AUSTRALIAN published a major story about the demand/ growth of Aboriginal Cultural tourism in Australia featuring our new centre and Tjupukai in Cairns. Quoted in the article was Federal tourism minister Jackie Kelly "We really exploit our indigenous culture overseas,thats the distinguishing factor for us that makes people choose us over Africa or Hawaii for a holiday". If you would like a full transcript of this article please contact us. 8 MAJOR ABORIGINAL EMPLOYMENT STRATEGY 1999-2004 Earlier this year our community was awarded a major employment strategy from the federal government to develop a Central Australian Aboriginal Tourism Training Centre. An industry steering committee with representatives from AAT KINGS,AURORA ,ALICE TOUR PROFESSIONALS AND BRITZ RENT A CAR assisted Colin Cowell from Red Centre Marketing Services develop the strategy, The objective of the strategy is to train and create 200 full time positions for Aboriginal tourism trainees by 2003. 9 RAINBOW VALLEY /COMMUNITY HOMELANDS Following our first stage of development a camping ground for 100 visitors plans are underway to build a permanent "SAFARI " type of camp in 1999 10 AUSTRALIAN TRAVEL EXCHANGE(ATE) SYDNEY Paul Ah Chee travelled to Sydney in early June to be master of ceremonies at the opening of the new Northern Territory Travel Centre at Darling Harbour At the close of ATE Paul reformed his old band AMUNDA for a farewell gig! 11 ABC-TV Our tours where featured on the ABC-TV news recently throughout Australia 12.YAHOO INTERNET LIFE USA Yahoo magazine in USA is featuring our website in their magazine next month, This follows the use of our website by Bill Gates last year when he launched Windows 98 13 TO-DO AWARDS ITB BERLIN We would like to thank QANTAS and the Nothern Territory Tourist Commission for assisting community elder Daniel Forrester and General Manager Paul Ah Chee attend ITB for the TO-DO world tourism awards, Over 60 international and Australian media covered the award presentation. The Australian newspaper even reported that there was more interest at ITB Aboriginal Tourism than the Olympics. 14 NOKTURNAL One of our senior tour guides Damien Armstrong after many years of hard work is has signed a music publishing deal with major international music label. 15 NEW GALLERY / ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE As of April 1 1999 we have closed the upstairs gallery in Todd street and moved the paintings to our new centre.Over the next few months we are building a gallery/ shelter so that local Aboriginal artists can paint and interact with visitors on our tours who can buy direct. Our Art sales on the internet continue to rise with approx $30,000 in sales in Jan/Feb 99 16 ABORIGINAL TOURISM TRAINING CENTRE In July of this year we hope to start construction on a permanent training centre at our new Aboriginal Culture Centre.The centre will accomodate up to 50 Aboriginal tourism trainees who will do both on the job training and nationally accredited Certificate 2 in Tourism 17 AAT KINGS/ABORIGINAL CULTURAL TOUR As of April 1 1999 we welcome AAT KINGS who have chosen our centre to operate their Aboriginal Culture tours in Central Australia.Congratulations also to AAT KINGS for winning a 1999 NT Brolga Award for Major Tour Operators. 18 THE AGE NEWSPAPER MELBOURNE/Travel Guide Our Half day Aboriginal Desert Discovery Tour was chosen as one of the top four things to do in Central Australia. 19 FOX SPORTS USA Fox Sports including Duanne Bickett(NFL FOOTBALLER),Ben Elias Australian Rugby League toured with us on June 29 1999 and shot footage for a major gridiron game to be played in Australia in August and televised live back to the states, 20 THANK YOU In closing our community would to thank all our customers for your support If you require any further information please contact Paul Ah Chee Ngala Aboriginal Art And Culture Centre Previous Page........ 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