ANNUAL REPORT - ice.org.auice.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Annual-Report-2011-.pdf · Executive Director’s Report 9 Organisational Chart 10-11 CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

ENERGYCOMMUNICATION

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NFORMATION

DIGITAL

ENTERPRISESTORYTELLING

INTERACTIONInformation and Cultural Exchange Inc

SENTERPRISE

JAN-DEC 2011ANNUAL REPORT

COMMPARTNSTORY

DRAINCUBENTER

MAATION

PRISE

CREACULTEXCH

CREACULTEXCH

COMM

TIVE

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TIVEURALANGEUNIT

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ENGAGEURBAN

DIGITASTOR

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UNITY

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Grant Writing Workshops For Local Government 34

Cultural Mind Jam 35

CREATIVE ENTERPRISE PROGRAM 36

Highlights Of 2011 37

Creative Enterprise Programs 38

Graphic Designer: Nasim Harandi 39

ICE Hub 40

ICEbreakers 40

Hubster: Adam Dunn 41

Creative Services & Production 42

In Her Shoes 43

Training Services 44

Switch Digital Arts Centre 45

Hire - Equipment & Venue 45

INTO THE FUTURE 46

Media Producer: Saber Baluch 45

User Map Of Creative Services 48-49

RESEARCH & COMMUNICATIONS 50

ICE Website And Promo 51

Awards 52

Sustainability 52

Ripple Effects: New Paths To Cultural Citizenship 53

Evaluation 54

Reconciliation Action Plan 55

PEOPLE, PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS 56

FINANCIAL REPORT 61

Treasurer’s Report 62

Balance Sheet 63

Income Statement 64

Notes For The Year Ended 31 Dec 2011 65

Statement By Members Of The Board 67

Independent Audit Report 68-69

CONTENTS

Overview of ICE 4-5

ICE Map: The Visual Guide to ICE 6-7

Chairperson’s Director’s 8

Executive Director’s Report 9

Organisational Chart 10-11

CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM 12

URBAN CULTURES 13

Megaphonic Slam! 14

Optic Stories 14

Hip Hop Projections 6 15

Transformations: Insights Of The Incited 16

A Conversation With The Narcicyst 16

Reel Words 17-18

East London West Sydney 19

SCREEN CULTURE 20

Stuff Launch 20

Seeing The Elephant 21

Get It On The Big Screen 22

DigiDiaries Launch 23

Tropfest Forum 23

Sex In The West 24

Arab Film Festival Australia 25-26

Revolution, Romance, Realities Forum 27

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 28

Koori Story Exchange 28-29

Upstream: Stories Of Water And Place 30

Fairfield Mobile Expressions 31

The Artfiles Project 32

Artfiles - Profiling Artists 32

Auburn Artfiles Clinic 33

ICE ANNUAL REPORT 2011 32


ICE was born and raised in Western

Sydney, growing up with our wonderful

family here. And in 2011 we couldn’t

wait to get the family over to our new

place. We threw open the doors to

our high-tech home, and the creative

energies of Western Sydney surged in

to fill the space.

2011 was a fantastic year for ICE. Once

again, we expanded rapidly, and with

our new staff and facilities, our success

stories multiplied too, many of which

are detailed in this report.

Switch Digital Arts Centre provided a

space for the community to explore,

collaborate and network. Artfiles

hosted career-enhancing and industry-

boosting opportunities for the local arts

scene. The Arab Film Festival wowed

a 4000-strong audience with stories

straight from the heart of the Arab

Spring. And audiences of the Sydney

Festival felt the beat of international

hip-hop theatre brought to them in

collaboration with ICE.

It’s been an action-packed year for

the Cultural Development team. They

started with a bang with East London West Sydney, and produced ICE’s first

feature film, Seeing the Elephant.

2011 was the first full year of our

Creative Enterprise Program, which

enabled like-minded organisations to

OVERVIEW OF ICEutilise Switch. The program launched

creative services so emerging artists

could work alongside ICE’s experienced

team on projects like creating promo

videos and workshops in digital media.

ICE started a partnership with Aurora

TV to create a new community news

program – Chatterbox. The ICE Hub

was in full swing, providing a space

for artists and cultural practitioners in

Western Sydney. Monthly networking

events, ICEBreakers, invited guest

speakers to share their experience and

provide an environment for networking

and collaboration. We provided venue

and equipment hire to dozens of local

artists and businesses and held an

Open Day for Switch to showcase the

spaces and equipment.

We stretched out as an organisation

with a renewed sense of identity and

inspiration and created a 30-second

broadcast-quality promo video to share

our ethos widely. We also completely

redeveloped the ICE website,

integrating social media and getting the

whole organisation blogging.

And finally, it was wonderful to be

recognised for our work with an AbaF

Award for Project 5, and to be runner-

up for a Human Rights Award.

Throughout this busy year, ICE’s

incredible team of committed people

(fondly known as the ICE-icles)

maintained the quality and integrity

of ICE’s work to set Western Sydney’s

stories free.

ICE receives core support from

Australia Council for the Arts, Arts

NSW, Screen NSW and Department of

Human Services, Community Services.


Creative Enterprise TeamCultural Development Team Executive Team

Operations TeamCommunications and Research


ICE MAP: THE VISUAL GUIDE TO ICE

ICE ANNUAL REPORT 2011


In 2011 ICE continued its role as one of the major organisations that supports communities of Western Sydney, all the while, working to explore new avenues for our own creativity and growth.

As an organisation operating for over 25 years, there will always be challenges to continually create, invigorate and inspire. However, in 2011 ICE once again delivered new projects, new services and new platforms for expression that reflect the energy of the organisation and the people who collaborate with us.

Our Creative Enterprise (CE) Program has delivered training and skills development in digital arts that are otherwise unavailable in Western Sydney. CE’s new Creative Hub Program has also been providing unique services for artists and cultural practitioners of the region, such as mentoring, co-working space and professional development.

Our recently refurbished digital arts centre, Switch, has finally had a full year in operation, allowing us to welcome thousands of people into the space and also deliver exciting programs.

ICE continues to share the creative work of Western Sydney at a national and international level. In 2011 we partnered with The British Council to produce East London West Sydney and presented it at Sydney Festival. Thanks to our innovative Urban Cultures Projects, we were able to engage artists from both the UK and Canada this year to collaborate and share new practices with ICE trainers and participants. Our Screen Cultures Project has also raised the bar with our first feature film being created and entered into the 2012 festival circuit.

A big thanks goes to our core funders Australia Council for the Arts and Arts NSW as well as our key program supporters Screen NSW and NSW Department of Human Services, Community Services, your ongoing support is what makes it all possible.

On behalf of the Board, we would like to thank Executive Director, Lisa Torrance for her amazing energy, drive and commitment to ICE. Her work is, of course, only one part of the story. The ICE staff are a very special group of people and the Board looks to them for their advice, guidance and expertise in community arts and development. They continue to astound us with the outcomes of projects.

At ICE we are very proud of our continual growth, flexibility, and that we are still an exciting organisation that feels fresh when you walk through the door. This is a testament to the staff, but also to the people of Western Sydney. They come to us expecting programs that will engage them and their expectations continue to inspire us. We thank the people of Western Sydney for their support and ICE remains unequivocal in its commitment to our communities.

Sue Green and Tilda SikesCo-Chairs

CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT

Tilda SikesSue Green

At ICE we see ourselves as a creative conduit between Western Sydney and the world. Our guiding principle is to capture the stories within the communities that surround us and work with people whithin them to express them in creative ways.

For over 25 years we have worked within a region with roots in 100 different nations, being particularly respected for our success with newly arrived migrant and refugee communities, as well as young people. Our role is to work alongside these communities to enable them to share their stories, as we believe that culturally specific, community-based cooperation and creativity can touch and change the world.

Through the many projects we ran in 2011, we captured a wealth of stories and experiences from individuals doing extraordinary things in Western Sydney. By really listening to communities we were able to tap into the deeper currents of what matters to people in the region. The stories that emerge from our creative process have the capacity to become invisible threads that connect people, contribute to real changes in society and build empathy.

Our sincere thanks go to The Catholic Diocese and our long-term supporters Parramatta City Council. 2011 marked our first full year in our purpose-built, high-tech Switch Digital Arts Centre in the heart of Parramatta and We love our new home. We could not throw open the doors and run our programs without the valued support of our core funders Arts NSW and The Australia Council for the Arts as well as key program partners Screen NSW and NSW Department of Human Services,

Community Services. We have many other partners, supporters and peers, all recognised in this report, with whom we collaborate on many levels. We thank each of you warmly for your invaluable support.

Our bonds with communities, artists and program participants are often long and enduring and we thank each of you for sharing your stories and ideas to make ICE the leading organisation it has become. I would also like to thank our Co-Chairs Sue Green and Tilda Sikes for their passionate commitment to ICE over many years, as well as each member of the Board for their support and guidance.

Each day I am inspired by the dedication and passion our ICE team and trainers bring to their work. It is their spirit, imagination and work ethic that makes this organisation so special and gives it such prominence. I thank each of you from my heart for your commitment to the work that we do.

To single out any of our projects is impossible as each of them is special and important in their own ways, as you will discover when you read through this report.

Lisa TorranceExecutive Director

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT



ICE Board of Management

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

MANAGER,RESEARCH & POLICY

MANAGER,MARKETING

& COMMUNICATION

SWITCH CENTRE & TRAINING COORDINATOR

CREATIVE HUB COORDINATOR

PRODUCTION &CLIENT SUPPORT

ARTFILES PROJECT COORDINATOR

ADMINISTRATION &RESOURCE OFFICER

COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

GRAPHIC DESIGNERCOMMUNITY

ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR

SCREEN CULTURE PRODUCER

URBAN CULTURE PRODUCER

MANAGER, OPERATIONS & FACILITIES

MANAGER, CULTURAL

DEVELOPMENT

MANAGER, CREATIVE ENTERPRISE

IT AND FACILITIES OFFICER

Management Plan

ORGANISATIONAL CHART


CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Whether working with a small community organisation, an emerging

filmmaker or a teenaged refugee, ICE’s Cultural Development

Program (CDP) builds projects that engage imaginations and

demystify digital technologies.

The program stretches the possibilities of community cultural

development to produce exciting new works that empower

communities and create pathways for professional development.

CDP manages a range of projects including Urban Cultures, Screen

Cultures, Community Engagement and Artfiles.

12

Drawing on personal stories and

community inspirations, young

people from Western Sydney shared

their creative inspiration in two

free workshops focusing on hip-hop

and visual arts during April. Guest

trainers international artists-in-

residence Yassin Alsalman (aka The

Narcicyst) and Sundus Abdul Hadi

worked with local trainers and the

powerful results were unleashed on

an appreciative crowd at Hip Hop

Projections 6 in May (See page 15).

URBAN CULTURES

ICE’s Urban Cultures project celebrates the raw and often gorgeous voices of

the urban landscape. It throws creative practitioners at ambitious arts projects,

equips them with digital resources and empowers participants to tell their

amazing stories of Western Sydney.

URBAN CULTURES WORKSHOPS IN THE WEST

Megaphonic Slam! Participants outside Switch


MEGAPHONIC SLAM!MEGAPHONIC SLAM!Hip-hop is a magic medium for

telling your story, but there are a few

technical tricks you need to nail too.

The free Megaphonic Slam! Workshops

in Parramatta and Liverpool during

April helped young people bring out

their stories and hone techniques to

tell them. The 70 participants looked

at songwriting, music production,

recording and mic technique as well as

video production.

The workshops were hosted by local

artist and ARIA nominee MC Trey

and Iraqi-Canadian hip-hop emcee,

academic and writer Yassin Alsalman

(aka The Narcicyst). A video clip was

produced by Vanna Seang and music

was created by The Narcicyst, Nick

Toth, L-Fresh and participants.

OPTIC STORIESWhile Megaphonic Slam! kept all ears tingling, participants of Optic Stories set out to tantalise the eyes.

Local digital media artist, illustrator and painter, Eddie Abd and Iraqi-Canadian artist-in-residence Sundus Abdul Hadi led participants on an exploration of visual art including painting, graphic art and photography with a focus on using images to tell a story, and digitally reinterpreting stories that arose from the music workshops.

Supporters

NSW Government through Artstart – TAFE

NSW and Communities NSW – Better Futures

Strategy, Penrith City Council, St Marys Corner,

The Street University – Liverpool, The Hills Holroyd

Parramatta Migrant Resource Centre and Auburn

Community Development Network.

Optic Stories Participants at St Marys Corner

14

HIP HOP PROJECTIONS 6REFLECT+IMAGINE+CONNECT

Telling stories, banging beats, sharing

treasures. A crowd of over 200 gathered

at Switch on 14 May to sample the

creative flavours emerging from the

Urban Cultures workshops.

Hip Hop Projections 6 was the mega

showcase of the workshops with

acapella, song and rap together with

multimedia artworks, along with

projections, paintings and illustrations

filling up the Switch space.

On the night, Megaphonic emcee’s,

L-Fresh, MC Trey, DJ Nick Toth, Juse

Crew, 6PounD, The Narcicyst and

participants performed tracks as

multimedia works were displayed by

Optic stories participants and, Sundus

Abdul Hadi, Eddie Adb. The sights and

sounds blew away the crowd, and later

the country, when SBS World News

featured a three-minute story of the

event. Hip Hop Projections 6 had an

international flavour, featuring artists

in residence from Canada, and trainers

and participants representing the rich

diversity of Sydney’s glorious West.

SupportersAuburn Community Development Network, The

Hills Holroyd Parramatta Migrant Resource Centre,

Street University in Liverpool and Penrith City

Council. Made possible with funding from the NSW

Government through Artstart – TAFE NSW and

Communities NSW – Better Futures Strategy

ICE.org.au/project/hip-hop-projections-6/


Switch Digital Arts Centre in full swing

ice.org.au/project/hip-hop-projections-6/


TRANSFORMATIONS: INSIGHTS OF THE INCITEDOn 2 May, hip-hop artists, multimedia

magicians, performers, producers

and community workers joined in a

conversation to expand the mind. They

ranged over topics such as cultural

interaction and creativity across space

and time; engaging community cultural

development aspirations; diversity as an

asset to identities; and the responsibilities

of artists in cultural life.

Forty emerging creative practitioners,

academics and researchers, community

cultural development workers and artists

gathered at Switch to bounce around

these ideas in a conversation moderated

by artist, writer and activist Dr Paula

Abood. Around the table were Sundus

Abdul Hadi (Iraq/Canada) – painter,

visual and multimedia artist; Eddie Abd

(Lebanon/Australia) – illustrator, painter

and digital storyteller; MC Trey (Fiji/

Australia) – hip-hop artist, performer and

community worker and Yassin Alsalman

aka The Narcicyst (Iraq/Canada) – hip-hop

emcee, writer and sound producer.

A CONVERSATION WITH THE NARCICYST“Hip-hop: Highly Intellectual People Hovering Over Politics” Yassin Alsalman

Acclaimed Iraqi-Canadian hip-hop artist,

academic and actor (Aka The Narcycist)

Yassin Alsalman came down under to

ICE to officially launch The Diatribes of a Dying Tribe. His book captures the

beginnings of the burgeoning Arab hip-

hop scene of the past decade.

Fifty people attended the book launch,

while an online audience of 300 people

streamed it live. Hailing from Montreal

Canada (originally from Basra, Iraq) The

Narcicyst was in town as ICE artist-in-

residence to facilitate Megaphonic Slam!

workshops. At the launch, he rapped,

ruminated, philosophised and joked with

Egyptian-Australian academic, cultural

commentator and spoken word artist

Farid Farid aka MC Shedeed.

My book, The Diatribes of a Dying Tribe, is an example of how hip-hop has been used to create an identity, to help create a space, for people who feel under-represented or mis-represented…Arabs in this case.

Yassin Alsalman

Artists; MC Trey, Eddie Abd, Sudus Abdul Hadi, Yassin Alsalman (The Narcicyst)


REEL WORDSYoung men in the making, cracked

open their creative hearts with the Reel

Words project, which showed artistic

transformation is possible when you

put mics into the hands of inmates and

at-risk youth. Participants from Pacific,

Maori and Indigenous backgrounds

worked using music and digital

storytelling to develop self-expression,

engagement and communication skills.

The program worked with the 40

young males (aged 14 to 26) to build

self-esteem, skills and alternatives

in rehabilitation to support them in

expressing themselves constructively. It

also worked to develop creative crime

prevention interventions beyond the life

of the project.

Two digital stories, three music videos,

one documentary, and over ten hip-hop

tracks were produced and showcased

live to an audience of hundreds of

people, while the work continues to

live through videos, street press, radio

and online media. Most participants

have gone on to further education and

employment or have used their skills to

train others.

THE WORKSHOPSReel Words consisted of four workshop

components. The first was Train

the Trainer workshops in digital

storytelling, music and production.

Skills learnt are now being used at

Parklea Correctional Centre.

The second component was a series of

workshops at Switch from August to

September in which the participants

worked with artists on original songs

and digital stories. The workshops

encouraged them to share their stories

and present them creatively, while

also exploring culture and identity. The


success and popularity of the project

extended the workshops until December.

The third component, Parklea X-Press,

was run at Parklea Correctional Centre.

During November and December.

Inmates attended lyric-writing, beat-

making, recording, film and visual art

workshops. They expressed their stories

and wrote songs for partners and family

members. A multicultural mural of

visual art was also painted.

During November and December, the

workshops also ran as part of the

Rhythm and Reform Program at Ted

Noffs in Mt Druitt. Participants from

Aboriginal and Pacific communities

co-wrote a track, and collaborated using

ICE digital equipment.

SupportersAttorney General’s Department, Proceeds of Crime

Act, Inner West Skills centre- Youth Linx Ted Noffs

Foundation- Mt Druitt Parklea Correction Centre

Trainers (Switch): Vuli Mkwananzi, Junior Tavola,

Charles ‘6 Pound’ Lomu, Vanna Seang, Ari Roberts,

Isaac Parson, Thelma ‘Trey’ Thomas

Trainers (Parklea X-Press): Sally Lim-Sun, Vuli

Mkwananzi, Isaac Parson, Thelma ‘Trey’ Thomas

Trainers (Ted Noffs): Junior Tavola, Ian Escandor,

Isaac Parson, Thelma ‘Trey’ Thomas

“They only judge what they see, but never want to listen to what we all have to say. Only see our pain and frustration, through our struggles of temptation. Leading to bad decisions and a misjudged nation.

”Lyrics by TJ, Sharn, Savannah & Ame

“In the beginning some of the lyrical content was quite violent and dark, which reflected the lifestyles and environment they were in, towards the end of the project, songs of hope, love and positivity were produced

”MC Trey

ice.org.au/project/reel-words/

Performance at Mt Druitt

EAST LONDON WEST SYDNEYEast London West Sydney brought

together a crew of dexterous hip-hop

artists from London and Sydney to

exchange ideas and smash inner-city

stereotypes in a multilingual mash-

up of spoken word, drama, music and

movement.

Directed by leading UK hip-hop theatre

creator and performer Jonzi D, artists

including Brothablack (Aus), Sarah

Sayeed( UK), MC Trey (Aus), Rima Najm

(Aus) and Maxwell Golden (UK) used the

tools of the urban poet to ride the parallels

and divergences between two cities.

Three years in development, the project

culminated in January 2011, when

almost 2000 people attended eight

shows at CarriageWorks, most of them

sell-out performances.

The show was also a hit with the media,

with Jonzi D appearing on ABC triple

j breakfast radio, features and review

in the Sydney Morning Herald and

inclusions in the Daily Telegraph, MX

and The Australian.

SupportersPresented by Information and Cultural Exchange

(ICE) and the British Council in association with

Sydney Festival and CarriageWorks

Project Team: Jonzi D, Brothablack, Maxwell Golden,

Rima Najm, Sarah Sayeed, MC Trey, Lina Kastoumis,

Fadia Abboud, Kim Bowers aka Busty Beatz

“As complex and tangential as our metropolis. Both east & west but shimmering too with true laughs & an ability to laugh at oneself. Very very enjoyable. Well done! Take it to London innit…

”

“Soul connection. I felt your heartspace, your places of humanity. HEARD you. Learnt from you. Am changed through your raw expression

”

Excerpts from audience feedback forms

ICE.org.au/project/east-london-west-

sydney


ice.org.au/project/reel-words/

http://ice.org.au/project/reel-words/

ice.org.au/project/east-london-west-sydney




STUFF“The launch celebrated the many months and efforts of the seven directors, their casts and crews, the filmmakers started this process as enthusiasts and emerged as artists who learned the skills necessary to produce such high quality films

”Amin Palangi

ICE.org.au/project/stuff-the-drama-of-it-all

The digital revolution has put filmmaking within reach of the community, but the

skills required can be intimidating. ICE’s Screen Culture project gets into the nuts

and bolts of storytelling, directing, cinematography, acting and post-production. It

also works to change the content of our digital visual landscape – bringing diverse

perspectives to the screen from Western Sydney and around the world.

STUFF LAUNCH

SCREEN CULTURE

STUFF Coordinator, Amin Palangi welcomes the crowd at Riverside Theatre

20

SEEING THE ELEPHANT Family and relationships in multicultural communities of

Western Sydney is the theme of ICE’s first ever feature film.

Seeing the Elephant demonstrates that far from being an

impediment, diversity is essential in expressing tolerance and

mutual respect.

Taking its name from the ’Elephant in the Dark Room’ by the

Persian poet Rumi, Seeing the Elephant evolved from the

STUFF project. The seven STUFF films had common threads

running through them and an idea was born to link them

together. New scenes were shot and, with passion and hard

work, the seven shorts were pulled into one feature film. The

film will be finished in early 2012 and floated for distribution

and festival entry.


Actor Ludwig El Haddad in Seeing the Elephant

In 2010, the STUFF project put seven

emerging filmmakers into the furnace of

storytelling with an intensive workshop

on writing and directing drama,

characters and story. In March, the seven

films launched to a packed audience of

200 at Parramatta’s Riverside Theatre.

Since then films have been entered into a

variety of festivals.

SupportersSTUFF is part of ICE’s Parramatta Screening three-

year initiative building film skills and production,

funded through Parramatta City Council.

ice.org.au/project/stuff-the-drama-of-it-al


In the second they formed production

teams with a director attached and

made three short films. The workshops

ran over four weekends culminating in a

screening on 30 July at Switch.

SupportersParramatta City Council

TrainersAmin Palangi, Ben Rose, Katie Newton, Maria

Barbagallo, Mariel McClorey, Ross Giardina

ICE.org.au/project/get-it-on-the-big-screen

22

DIGIDIARIES LAUNCHIn 2010 the DigiDiaries project worked

with over 80 young people to create,

produce and tell their own digital

stories. The stories took on subjects

ranging from refugees journeying

across the sea, to young girl’s

reflections on wearing a hijab, to tales

of family and love.

In 2011 their stories were shared with

the world when the DigiDiaries DVD and

accompanying booklet was launched

in March with 180 copies going into

distribution. Over 200 friends, family and

supporters packed out the screening area

at Switch for the launch. The films were

also screened in Newtown in September

for The Sydney Fringe Festival, at the

participating high schools, and their

online home on Vimeo.

Supporters

Arts NSW and Department of Immigration and

Citizenship, Fairfield High School, Intensive English

Centre, Sule College, Auburn Community Development

Network and Afghan Hazare Youth Group.

ICE.org.au/project/digidiaries

TROPFEST FORUMThe Western Sydney information

night for the world’s largest short

film festival, Tropfest was held on

17 November at Switch. The session

enabled filmmakers to hear firsthand

from Movie Extra Tropfest about

the entry process, selection criteria,

filmmaker activities for 2012, and

to meet award-winning Tropfest

filmmakers and watch their films.

SupportersA partnership with Movie Extra Tropfest.

ICE invites you to come along to

WHEN Thursday 17 November 6-8pm

WHERE Switch Digital Arts Centre

8 Victoria Rd, Parramatta (Cnr Villiers St)

The Movie Extra Tropfest Info Session is hosted by Information and Cultural Exchange (ICE) and presented in partnership with Movie

Extra Tropfest. ICE receives core support from Australia Council for the Arts,‚ Arts NSW,‚ Screen NSW and Department of Community

Services – Human Services. This project utilises the facilities of Switch Digital Arts Centre – a partnership with Parramatta City Council.

www.ice.org.au www.tropfest.com

17 Nov


GET IT ON THE BIG SCREENFilm production is a team effort. The

creative talents of cinematographers,

editors, set designers, make-up artists

and actors must come together to make

it happen. This project did just that –

bringing 25 emerging talents from all

these fields into intensive training that

reinforced the collaborative nature of

filmmaking.

The project involved two stages. In the

first, participants took part in practical

workshops with experienced trainers to

expand their skills.

ice.org.au/project/get-it-on-the-big-screen

ice.org.au/project/digidiaries


SEX IN THE WEST

WHEN Monday 7 November, 6.30 – 8.30pm

WHERESwitch Digital Arts Centre8 Victoria Road, Parramatta

Refreshments provided. RSVP essential by 2 November to [email protected]

This event is not open to the public and is byinvitation only. For more information phone8821 9152.

is an 8 part TV series created by Fadia Abboud. It is a drama comedyfocusing on Arab Australian women, who have not yet made a dent on theplasma, but dust around it regularly.

Sex in the West is a stylish, sexy, witty

TV series based in Western Sydney

featuring wild women with attitude

— the first of its kind.

The pilot episode has been written

by Fadia Abboud and Lina Kastoumis.

We welcome you to a LIVE SCRIPT

READING for industry and community

to give feedback on this exciting new

television venture. The reading will

take 40 minutes followed by a Q&A.

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THREE LEB CHICKS GET BITCH-SLAPPED BY LOVE AND LIVELIHOOD —

THANK GOD THEY’VE GOT EACH OTHER.

A FADFILMS PRODUCTION. PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL AND INFORMATION AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE.

!"#$%&#'&($

You are cordially invited to join us for

A LIVE SCRIPT READING OF THE PILOT EPISODE

SEX IN THE WEST

Though they dust around it regularly, Arab Australian women

are yet to make a dent on the plasma screen. But all this is

about to change with Sex in the West, the first stylish, sexy,

witty series based in Western Sydney featuring wild women

with attitude.

The eight-part series is the brainchild of Fadia Abboud,

recipient of the Parramatta Artist Fellowship for 2011/12. A

pilot episode written by Fadia Abboud and lina Kastoumis

was presented to 80 people at a live script reading at ICE on

7 November. Audience responses were collected to feed into

further research and development for the project.

SupportersParramatta City Council

24

The 2011 Arab Film Festival Australia

hit the screen just six months after the

dawn of the ‘Arab Spring’. As the world

scrambled to understand the swift-

moving events, the festival expressed

inspirations and frustrations, conflicts

and passions that propelled Arabs into

that incredible season of change.

Opening Night on 30 June took us

straight to the barricades of Tahrir

Square with The Cry of an Ant, the first

feature film to address the Egyptian

Revolution, which featured live footage

from of the turmoil.

The program of 22 films journeyed

from Australia to Morocco, Kuwait

to Tunisia and Egypt. International

festival favourite Son of Babylon

followed a 12-year-old boy and his

grandmother on a quest through a

ravaged Iraq, two weeks after the fall

of Saddam Hussein. This is My Picture When I Was Dead investigated the life

of four-year-old Bashir who was with

his father, a member of the PLO when

he was assassinated in 1983, while

Teta, Alf Marra introduced us to a feisty

Beiruti grandmother in a magic-realist

documentary.

Thanks to Etihad; special guests joined

the festival for Q&A sessions including

Nawaf Al-Janahi, whose film The Circle is described as ‘a major turning point

in Emirati and Gulf cinema’; Khalid Al

Mahmoud, who brings poetry to the

screen in Sabeel and Tania Khalaf,

director of Gaza Shield, which explors

triumph of the human spirit.

Opening night audience at the Festival


ARAB FILM FESTIVAL AUSTRALIA


The festival ran at Riverside Theatres,

Parramatta from Thursday 30 June

to Sunday 3 July before touring to

Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and

Brisbane through July. A record audience

of over 4000 people attended nationwide.

SponsorsEtihad Airways, the Australian Human Rights

Commission, Australia Council, Arts NSW, Council

for Australian-Arab Relations, Parramatta City

Council, World Media International, Screen NSW,

Media Loft, SBS Film, 2Moro, MySat, Arabic Pages,

Port Bar, Dendy Cinema, Palace Nova Cinema,

Riverside Parramatta, National Film & Sound

Archive and Cinema Nova.

Festival committeeDr Paul Abood, Alissar Gazal, Firas Naji, Joanne Saad,

Saleh Saqqaf, Omeima Sukkarieh and Farid Farid.

AFFA teamFestival directors: Mouna Zaylah and Fadia Abboud.

Publicist Nicholas Pickard, Graphic Designer

Meiying Saw, Documentation Video Artist Vanna

Seang, Multimedia Support Zahra Al Samawi,

Marketing Kristy Mayhew, Jackie Leewai And Yu Ye

Wu, Communications Consultant Monique Perrin,

Festival Trailer Music Provider The Narcicyst,Website

Developer and Designer Maissa Alamedine.

“Celebrating our 10th anniversary with over 4000 people was a major milestone

”Festival Co-director Fadia Abboud

arabfilmfestival.com.au/2011

Fenella Kernebone, Mouna Zaylah, Fadia Aboud abd Tania Khalaf

26

REVOLUTION, ROMANCE, REALITIES FORUM

REVOLUTION, ROMANCE, REALITIES FORUM

The demands by young people in the Arab world for freedom,

justice and dignity have been a unifying call through the

Arab Spring. This special forum addressed how new media

facilitated a critical mass movement, amplifying everyday

voices and transmitting images globally.

Held on 1 July at Switch, the conversation was led by cultural

worker and activist Dr Paula Abood and featured reel

intelligence, raw gossip, and reflective responses by Randa Abdel

Fattah (Author, Human Rights Lawyer and Social Commentator)

and Farid Farid aka MC Shedeed (Academic, Writer and Spoken

Word Artist). The forum attracted over 60 people.

“Arab filmmakers are making it without Hollywood - they are making films under occupation, in cities of chaos, with limited funds and sometimes no budget at all

”Mouna Zaylah, Festival Co-Director


arabfilmfestival.com.au/2011


COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Stories, songs and perspectives from

youth in Cranebrook were given

a digital twist with photography,

animation, hip-hop and music

production in Koori Story Exchange.

The project trained 25 young Aboriginal

people in digital media and equipped

four Aboriginal community workers to

become digital storytelling trainers.

Between May and August Koori Story

Exchange produced eight digital stories,

three music video clips, three behind-

the-scenes digital stories, a behind-the-

scenes mini documentary-doco and a

30-minute documentary.

On September 22, the Koolyangarra

Aboriginal Child and Family Centre

With over 25 years’ of local experience and digital media facilities, ICE

is uniquely placed to develop and deliver projects that engage Western

Sydney’s diverse communities, and make a difference.

ICE’s Community Engagement Projects work creatively with at-risk and

socially excluded communities on projects in their own local spaces. It

offers access to information and resources that enable people to change

their futures.

KOORI STORY EXCHANGE

28

showcased the stories. The event

featured performances and screenings

from the young participants and also

their trainers, who put together a rap

to get things going. Over 60 people

attended, including crews from ABC

TV’s 7.30 Report, Koori Radio and 2SER.

Trainers had varied experience in

media production and it was their

creative backgrounds in Aboriginal

media and arts that connected

them with participants. Three of the

Aboriginal trainers have continued as

contractors for ICE.

SupportersA partnership with Nepean Community and

Neighbourhood Services and funded through

Department of Environment, Water, Heritage

and the Arts and Penrith City Councils Magnetic

Places Neighbourhood Renewal Grants.

TrainersEmily Mcdaniel –Video, sound, digital storytelling,

Colin Kinchela – Video artists, actor, Simon

Menzies – Hip-hop artists and youth worker and

Isaac Parsons – Documentary maker.

“It was off the Hook ”Connor aged 11

ICE.org.au/gallery/koori-story-exchange


ice.org.au/gallery/koori-story-exchange


What happens when a group of

refugees from Egypt, southern Sudan,

Bhutan, Nepal, Sierra Leone, Iran,

Afghanistan and Sri Lanka come

together to tell their stories about

water? The answer: The Upstream

DVD. Produced through a seven-

day digital storytelling workshop,

it features seven digital stories

discussing the sustainable use of water.

The stories look at ways communities

use water in Western Sydney and

compare it to their experience of water

resources in their homeland.

A full house of 250 people launched the

DVD, which also features a 10-minute

behind-the-scenes documentary,

at Hoyts, Blacktown in June. The

DVD has been distributed to partner

organisations and three of the

participants have joined further ICE

projects.

SupportersThis project is funded by Western Sydney Regional

Organisation of Councils’ Water in the Landscape

Cultural Grants Program through The NSW

Environment trust in partnership with Sydwest

Multicultural Services Inc. This project is powered

by Switch.

ICE.org.au/project/upstream

UPSTREAM: STORIES OF WATER AND PLACE

FAIRFIELD MOBILE EXPRESSIONS

30

What if you could document your

activities, generate your own

promotional material, and harness

social media to spread the word about

what you do?

This was the question posed to

participants in Fairfield Mobile

Expressions, a free, five-week series

of digital media workshops. The

workshops targeted community workers

in the Fairfield Local Government Area,

aiming to equip organisations with the

latest promotional skills. At the end of

the project each organisation received

a digital media kit to keep.

The response was strong and

the program was expanded to

accommodate extra people from 10

community organisations. Participants

learned to use digital media equipment,

produce and package their own digital

media and train others in these skills.

They were also introduced to Switch

as a community resource and had

the chance to make new connections

between community organisations

within the group.

SupportersSt Johns Park Bowling Club through the Community

Development Support Expenditure Scheme (CDSE)

“I think this training offers a good opportunity for workers and organisations. You have done a great job in offering a useful training

”Participant

ice.org.au/project/upstream


THE Artfiles PROJECT

ERRYN ARKIN

Erryn Arkin was IN FOCUS on artfiles.

com.au in July. Westmead born and

bred, this prolific film actor, writer

and producer- now based in Los

Angeles- still calls Artfiles home.

“I like dramas and I’m drawn to stories that deal with the human mind and all its complexities

”Erryn Arkin

Artfiles

artfiles.com.au shares

the love as your online

directory and news service

covering who’s who and

what’s what in Western

Sydney arts (all half-a-

million hectares of it).

Get news of opportunities

and grants, see what’s

on in our region, and

find or be found. In 2011,

Artfiles.com.au welcomed

118 new profiles to the community

including commercial artist Chris

Wahl, the Bullaburra Life Drawing

Group and classical dance artist Aruna

Subbiah. There are now over 3000

profiles online, 2261 subscribers receive

the weekly e-news and 300+ people

connect with Artfiles through Twitter

and Facebook. And, in the actual world,

Artfiles was getting amongst it in a

big way; serving on the Arts Advisory

Committees for Holroyd Council and

Fairfield City Council; hosting artist

professional development activities

in Auburn, Cabramatta, Canley Vale,

Armed with the 24/7 portal artfiles.com.au and a love of connecting people, the Artfiles

Artist Professional Development Project eyeballs new ways to promote and navigate the

creative jungle of Western Sydney’s exploding arts scene. Artfiles is out there pounding

the pavement (actual and virtual) to engage and collaborate with artists, organisations,

government and supporters on career-enhancing and industry-boosting opportunities.

32

Parramatta and Penrith; and working

with other ICE projects to provide artist

professional development opportunities.

Find & be found with Artfiles. Find

people and information, put yourself out

there, upload your own news and events.

All for free. Gold.

SupportersArtfiles is managed by ICE and is a partnership with

Arts NSW and the Australia Council for the Arts.

Artfiles is supported by Fairfield City Council and

Penrith City Council and is Community Partners

with Auburn Community Development Network,

Peacock Gallery and Auburn Arts Studio, Fairfield

City Museum and Gallery, Parramatta Artists

Studios, Casula Powerhouse, and Liverpool

Regional Museum.

“I love Artfiles! The e-news put me onto the ICE Hub call-out for emerging creative enterprises and now I have a space where I can grow my arts business and be inspired

”Jerome Valencia

artfiles.com.au

AUBURN Artfiles CLINIC In February a new-style Artfiles Clinic

rolled out in partnership with Auburn

Council whose LGA includes many

active but under-resourced artists.

Provided in-kind by Artfiles, the ‘clinic’

was created as a way to assist artists

and arts groups who might be a bit

shy when it comes to technology or

talking about themselves. Eight artists

attended the clinic in Auburn Library

and four new Artfiles profiles were

created. The clinic was rolled out on

23 February and covered the Auburn

local government area which includes:

Auburn, Berala, Homebush Bay West,

Lidcombe, Newington, Regents Park,

and Silverwater.

The clinic enabled participants to

prepare text and images for their own

Artfiles profile, work with technological

glitches and gave them an overview

of how to upload their own events

and news items to Artfiles.com.au. All

participants received Artfiles Quick

Guides for profiles, news and events

to remind them of what to do next

time they post something to Artfiles.

com.au. Most participants were over

the age of 45 and keen to get online

despite not having done it before which

was inspiring. The online world isn’t a

scary place! With just a little support

even the most disdainful-of-technology

artist can use Artfiles.com.au to

promote themselves and learn about

opportunities.

SupportersAuburn Council

PROFILING ARTISTS

Artfiles.com.au

Artfiles.com.au

artfiles.com.au

Artfiles.com.au

artfiles.com.au

artfiles.com.au

Artfiles.com.au

Artfiles.com.au

Artfiles.com.au

Artfiles.com.au


On top of providing online and

professional development support

to artists, Artfiles also delivers grant

writing workshops to support artists

in nosing out the funds available from

local government for projects.

In 2011 both Fairfield and Penrith City

Councils utilised the Artfiles project to

skill up local artists and cultural groups

in the craft of applying for funding,

in Community Cultural Development

practise (CCD) and Place-making.

FAIRFIELD

For four years Fairfield City Council have

boosted the impact of their annual CCD

Grants by engaging Artfiles to deliver

grant writing workshops and mentoring

sessions to potential applicants from

across the LGA. Led by skilled facilitator

Dr Paula Abood, workshop participants,

including artists and representatives

from cultural and/or community groups

learned the ins-and-outs including the

principles of CCD, how to develop an idea

into a funding submission, and realistic

budgeting. Participants also have the

opportunity to bounce these ideas off

their peers in a supportive environment

and book a further mentoring session

with Paula. Fairfield City Council offered

a total of ten CCD grants in 2011 and five

of these were awarded to participants

of our workshops. We held a further

workshop on 20 December for grants

due in March 2012.

PENRITH

In 2011 Artfiles delivered an intensive

grant-writing workshop for Penrith City

Council to assist potential applicants

in applying for the collaborative Place-

making grants program, Magnetic Places.

Also lead by facilitator Dr Paula Abood

the workshop gave participants an

overview on partnering strategically,

using language effectively and meeting

legal requirements of programs such

as Magnetic Places. The session

included a presentation by Dante

Barcoma, former successful recipient

of a place-making grant. From the

workshop’s ten participants, two were

successful recipients of grants. Outside

this key outcome, lively discussion was

had, fresh ideas were sparked and a

general awareness of CCD as a practice

and an exciting artistic opportunity

filled the air.

Supporters

Fairfield City Council and Penrith City Council. 35

We couldn’t think of a better way to

put the cherry on top of 2011, than

bringing together CCD practitioners,

cultural producers and cultural

development workers in a relaxed

setting here at Switch. We dubbed this

Artfiles event - Cultural Mind Jam. The

gathering was organic and took the

shape of informal mingling, and gave

us all a chance to reflect on the years

big and small wins, what’s cooking

right now, and hopes for the future.

The inaugural Cultural Mind Jam on

14 October was a direct response to

anecdotal evidence of the need for more

networking events in the region and also

an opportunity to connect face-to-face,

not just device-to-device. When urged

to enjoy each other’s good company the

crowd took to it like the proverbial to

water. It was great to see and the happy

buzz was music to the ears.

Attending the event were around 20

guests from local government, cultural

institutions, arts companies, community

organisations, festivals, and the world

of freelancing. A ‘word wall’ was created

for everyone to texta up their wins and

hopes, identify gaps, and hint at what

was on the horizon for next year. We

asked the question – More Mind Jams?

And the answer was yes. So stand by

for more Jamming of the minds in 2012.

“we (the national we) can overcome the anxious, hyphenated identity crisis and have an honest and equal dialogue about us as Australian and our Australian stories (like, not Asian-Australian- oh the offending hyphen)

”

“Recognition for our filmmakers, parkour artists, graphic artists in Fairfield and beyond.

”Quotes from our “Big and Small” wins

word wall.

GRANT WRITING WORKSHOPS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT

CULTURAL MIND JAM


CREATIVE ENTERPRISE

CONNECTING CREATIVITY TO SUSTAINABILITY

ExperienceReal projects engaging

emerging artists

EmploymentAimed at Western Sydney’s

diverse artists

SkillsMentoring, project roles,

collaborative opportunities,

training

PathwaysExternal opportunities and

sustainability outside ICE

IncomeLeveraging ICE contracts

into the community and

brokering work

NetworksICEbreakers, public

events, on the job

networking

36

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2011

CREATIVE SERVICESProjects, contracts and production

SWITCH TRAINING & VENUE

CREATIVE HUBSeeding creative enterprises and cultural producers

Skills development and training in digital media

Switch Digital Arts Centre

Diwali at ICE

Hub Residents At Work

Football United


CREATIVE ENTERPRISE PROGRAMS

2011 was the first full year of Creative Enterprise, one of ICE’s key programs. It has established there is a need for creative services in our communities. The significant opportunities that it allows ICE to create for artists and producers in sustainable pathways through projects and employment are an equally important outcome.

The team, Benjamin Rose, Kate Taylor, Leeanne Torpey and Indu Balachandran came together to develop and deliver a range of beautiful and exciting projects, ranging from training, to media and cultural services.

The promise of our work within our communities is now bearing fruit in opportunities for project collaboration with our artists through our networks, digital capacity, facilities, and project management such as Sydney Festival’s Parramatta Chill Out Lounge 2012, and ICE-produced TV series Chatterbox.

The key principles we uphold in our projects are being consultative

(underpinned by principles of cultural community development), being

representative (engaging artists relevant to the project community), working in

partnership (to develop objectives and outcomes), being community advocates (of

the communities’ interests and outcomes), and understanding community issues.

38

Nasim Harandi connected with

ICE as an intern while studying

her Masters in Convergent Me-

dia at the University

of Western Sydney.

She was soon of-

fered a paid position

as ICE’s graphic de-

signer.

Although Nasim had

10 years of experi-

ence working as an

Art Director at Daarvag Interna-

tional in Tehran, Iran, she faced

considerable difficulty finding

an internship in Australia.

Nasim has launched

her own graphic de-

sign studio based

in Western Sydney

designasim. Nasim

is a highly regard-

ed contractor for

ICE, and now for

other organisations

through our networks.

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: NASIM HARANDI

“Without contacts, it was very difficult. I was so lucky that I found ICE and met their welcoming people – they understood the challenges as a new Australian, and supported me and connected me up to other opportunities. I am developing my network and my friendships through ICE, and hopefully this will be continued.

”ICE ANNUAL REPORT 2011 39


In 2011, the dream of a creative, professional workspace in Western Sydney

with facilities to connect, incubate and support cultural producers and creative

entrepreneurs came to life. Through business mentorship and fresh networking

opportunities, the ICE Hub helps creatives, who care about community, to grow

their enterprises and spark new connections.

ICE identified that there was a networking gap in Western Sydney for creative

people to get together and share their successes, challenges, and opportunities.

ICEBreakers are the ICE Hub’s answer: monthly after-work opportunities

for creatives to connect with ICE Hub residents, ICE staff and industry experts on

issues pertinent to creative enterprise. The first ICEBreaker was held in August

2011 and over the year themes have ranged from starting up a creative business

to social enterprise collaborations and how to run a campaign that attracts

mainstream media attention.

ICE Hub Residents

40

Adam Dunn first noticed ICE on

a flyer for Hip Hop Projections –

one of ICE’s CCD projects. As an

established hip-hop MC who was

studying digital media at TAFE,

Adam has become

involved with several

aspects of ICE that

assist his develop-

ment.

Adam became a

resident of the ICE

Hub program and is

supported while he

establishes his own

creative enterprise. He is also

mentored in a structured approach

to running a business. “I’ve learned

so much in the short time I’ve

spent involved with the ICE Hub,

many very specific lessons about

art, the process, and industry

know-how of videography as well

as learning about community and

cultural development. Originally

working in the building

industry, Adam was

concerned about

taking the plunge

required to change his

career, that his aspira-

tions were nothing but

a dream. “I am more

and more confident

that I can operate a

freelance business combining

a varied skills set that up until

recently I didn’t perceive to be

compatible or even valuable” said

Adam.

HUBSTER: ADAM DUNN

“I believe the most valuable lesson I’ve learned is that by actively aiming to help and learn from others I have had wonderful opportunities presented to me. I have rapidly built an amazing network of friends, colleagues and mentors. I have had access to jobs directly from ICE and their network which have led to further referrals and repeat clients. This has really been my journey so far, it’s been exciting and at times terrifying due to the speed at which my life is changing, but having support in all areas gives me a confidence to tackle things that I previously thought impossible.



Our creative services and production work grew significantly

as word continues to spread about ICE

offering creative services. Government

agencies, councils, universities, community

organisations and businesses are now

working with ICE to develop and deliver

projects that use technology and digital

media meaningfully and appropriately to the

diverse communities of Australia.

POP UP ROCKSShowreel for Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority

CHATTERBOX TV TV program with Aurora for the community by the community

IDEAS ON EDGEShowreel for Parramatta Council’s design competition

PARRAMATTA HILLS HOLROYLD MRC Showreel for Migrant Resource Centre

AUSTRALIA DAY Capturing Parramatta Park Trust’s event on video

FILMLIFEYoung filmmakers’ stories about organ donation and transplantation

IDEAS ON EDGEShowreel for Parramatta Council’s design competition

YOUTH PEACE INITIATIVEDocumenting Noam Chomsky at Cabramatta High School

EASE THE WHEEZEMusic Video on Asbestos with Holroyd High School

IN HER SHOESMedia campaign for Australian Immigrant and Refugee Women’s

Alliance (AIRWA)

SEVENS GOLFShowreel for Sevens Golf

COMMUNITY AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT SHOWCASEFor Australia Council for the Arts Cultural Policy Forum

FRESHShowreel for University of Western Sydney’s digital project

Migrant Resource Centre

The Hills Holroyd Parramatta Migrant Resource Centre provides high quality holistic services, support, and settlement information to migrants and refugees in order to facilitate successful integration into the wider community. For more information contact the The Hills Holroyd Parramatta Migrant Resource Centre

Level 41 Horwood PlaceParramatta NSW 2150 Phone: 02 9687 9901Fax: (02) 9687 9990

[email protected] or [email protected] www.thhpmrc.org.au

The Hills Holroyd Parramatta


“The In Her Shoes project has been the best thing we’ve done for improving the perception of migrant and refugee women in Australia. It’s been a mind blowing experience for AIRWA members, because we wanted to engage with media in articulating the migrant women’s experiences in a way that their stories can inspire other Australians rather than continuing to victimise them. The colour, accents, languages and depth of the campaign has redefined the perception of the immigrant and refugee experience in Australia, and has created a dialogue that is just as important for our daughters as it is for us.

”Sela Taufa, Australian Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Alliance (AIRWA)



DIGITAL BITES (MDAA)Creative production workshops for siblings of disabled youth

WAKAKIRRI

Film production training for teachers

TWIN WORLDS (BORONIA MULTICULTURAL Services)Digital storytelling workshops for Sri Lankan youth

PARRAMASALAMusic production workshop

TRANSMEDIA WORKSHOPIn partnership with Metroscreen

BONDS FOR LIFE: LIFE AFTER BONDS (TCFUA)Arts advocacy project with retrenched workers

WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE A KID Digital Storytelling with Mission Australia

WATER IN THE LANDSCAPE (WSROC)Digital Storytelling with Glenmore Park

Hip Hop WHO R UWordPress production and reflection on global citizenship

Our training service has seen a regular stream of organisations seeking us out

to develop and deliver customised training and workshops, from digital storytelling

to film production. Switch training has started scoping and delivering a schedule

of paid training, to begin to address some of the needs in the region.

Parramasala Twin Worlds

Bonds For Life: Life After Bonds

FBi Music Open Day

Hip Hop Who R U?

All of the training, mentoring and creative opportunities engaged the converted

warehouse space that is Switch Digital Arts Centre. It never fails to

surprise us how Switch can be transformed. From powerful theatre performances

as part of the Refugee Art Project launch, to a technical class on WordPress

production, to a buzzing networking event via the ICEBreakers, and much

more. Throughout 2011, the gallery, training facilities, performance space and

recording space were all used extensively; each tailored to respect the diverse

communities, cultures and creative abilities in Western Sydney.

None of the projects would have been possible without the extensive amount

of equipment at our fingertips at Switch. The capabilities of the Sony EX3,

Canon 5D and a JVC HM100 can be seen in the quality of work produced by ICE

in their film based works in 2011. The capabilities of the Canon 550D can be seen

in some of the beautiful photography that was taken at ICE, and the high quality

sound productions created using our zoom recorders.

FOOTBALL UNITED (TRAINING, VENUE)Training partnership for Western Sydney schools

FBi MUSIC OPEN DAY (VENUE)Venue partnership with community radio station

48 GREEN HOURS (EQUIPMENT)Sponsorship partner for short film competition on the environment

COLOURFEST (EQUIPMENT)Sponsorship partner for film festival promoting diversity on screen

REFUGEE ART PROJECT (VENUE)Venue partner for project launch

KABUL KIDS (VENUE)Venue partner for photo exhibition

FBi Music Open Day Kabul Kids


We have truly begun the journey of connecting creativity to sustainability and the future is bright and exciting for Creative Enterprise.

A growing pipeline of interesting projects with diverse organisations will bring

new challenges and opportunities for our artists and communities and allow us

to leverage income and employment into our communities.

The potential for innovation in digital media with and for the dynamic

communities and artists of Western Sydney and beyond will continue to drive us.

We will develop the ICE Hub as a platform for producers and entrepreneurs,

and bring new knowledge, networks and people to spark creative collisions that

will speak to the unique issues and solutions for communities that we work with

and for. In 2012 ICEbreakers, our monthly after-work meetups, will be held on the

last Tuesday of every month.

Regular Switch training courses will address the skill gaps in the region and seek

appropriate structures and accreditations for delivery of training that is

appropriate to the needs and strengths of the communities within which we work.

INTO THE FUTURE

Digital Bites

Digital Bites

ICE Hub

Parramasala

46

Saber Baluch officially began his

journey with ICE in 2009, as a par-

ticipant of Create Media! which

mentored young digital artists

from newly arrived refugee

and migrant backgrounds to

encompass the essential skills

necessary to find work or start

a business in digital

media. “The envi-

ronment of ICE is

like a box and you

jump inside that box

and come out with

so many new skills

and discoveries.

Apart from my script

writing, directing,

filming and editing skills, I learnt

so many other skills such as

people skills, leadership skills and

the list goes on” said Saber.

Saber continued his involvement

in workshops and began working

as a trainee film and digital

media trainer for ICE while he

was completing his Bachelor of

Communications Studies. “ICE

provided me with skills and also

enabled me to have access to

equipment so I could practice and

have a reasonable income while I

was studying.”

Fast forward to 2012,

Saber is the Director

of his own produc-

tion company, Saber Media and is a highly

respected trainer and

contractor for ICE,

who is also mentoring

emerging ICE trainers.

He is currently undertaking a

traineeship with SBS, due to a

connection that was facilitated

by ICE. “This has already opened

new doors” said Saber.

MEDIA PRODUCER: SABER BALUCH

“When it comes to the question ‘how has ICE helped me with my career?’ my response is ‘how didn’t ICE help me with my career?’ Because most of the career kick offs I have had, are because of ICE…I have had a life at ICE and life is all about learning. I have learnt so many things. I can go on and ten pages are not enough.



USER MAP OF CREATIVE Services

Transmedia Masterclass (Training, Hub)

Facilitated by Hub resident Michelle Cotterill, the workshop brought together a group of creative, cultural and technical practitioners. It explored storytelling techniques that draw in an audience through integrated media platforms, and applied these to participants’ projects.

Bonds for Life: Life after Bonds (Training)

In the aftermath of 2000 workers being retrenched when Pacific Brands moved production offshore, The Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia (TCFUA) worked with ICE on an arts advocacy project Bonds for Life: Life after Bonds. Participants from the Wentworthville factory attended workshops to document and represent their experience as workers and as members of their communities.

“The workers who made the iconic brand Bonds are courageous, hardworking and loyal. Their story is a story of real people, families and communities” said Michele O’Neil, National Secretary, TCFUA.

In Her Shoes (Creative Services)

The Australian Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Alliance (AIRWA) is working with ICE to raise awareness of issues faced by immigrant and refugee women in Australia. Combining social media, video production, consultation, engagement

Transmedia

Masterclass

Kabul Kids

Football United

Seven’s Golf

Audio

StudioMeeting

Room

Bonds for Life:

Life after Bonds

Lab 1Lab 2

In Her Shoes

Chatterbox

Ease the Wheeze

VideoEditing

Performance Space

Greenscreen Area

Gallery Space

48

of ambassadors, capacity building and training, the campaign provides a platform for stories to be told, and conversations to be had, encouraging Australian women and men to share the journey “In Her Shoes”.

Ease the Wheeze (Creative Services)

Students from Holroyd High School worked with several of ICE’s filmmakers to write, produce and edit a rap song and music video with a strong social message about the dangers of working with asbestos.

Seven’s Golf (Creative Services, Hub)

Western Sydney Business Enterprise engaged ICE to produce a corporate video to showcase their national golf tournament. ICE’s artists worked with caricatures, actors and renowned voice-over artists on location and in studio to create a fun way to promote the competition.

Football United (Training, Venue)

Football United uses soccer as a tool for social development. Western Sydney high school students worked with interactive technology, and sport. Five ICE facilitators have worked on the project building the capacity of participants to create their own works, tell their own stories, and actively work against the stereotypes that culturally and linguistically diverse populations face every day.

“You could tell it was a special moment, to suddenly be in this space where they were being taken seriously.” Facilitator, Mayu Ganeshan.

Chatterbox (Creative Services, Hub)

Aurora TV and ICE are producing Chatterbox – a monthly community arts and events program. Chatterbox shows events that bring communities together – introducing the people behind the projects and the passion and joy of those working behind the scenes. The project is an opportunity for emerging screen practitioners to apply their skills, and provides a platform for diverse communities to tell the stories of contemporary Australia.

Kabul Kids (Venue)

Photographer Palwesha Yusaf held a photography workshop at Hope House Orphanage in Afghanistan. The 6 participants’ work were on display over the course of a week including a launch event.

“Launching at ICE meant I had a space to strengthen the ability of the community to work with the wonderful organisation that is Mahboba’s Promise.” Palwesha Yusaf.



COMMUNICATIONSPROJECT 5Project 5, our ongoing collaborative,

artistic and philanthropic partnership

between aMBUSH Gallery, Cockle Bay

Wharf, Leonard Joel Auction House

and a rotating bill of four urban art

trailblazers, was bigger than ever

in 2011, with the third live art event

and auction resulting in $14,800 for

ICE. This takes the total of Project 5

contributions to around $40,000 since

the partnership began in 2009.

The live art event in March at Cockle

Bay Wharf attracted large audiences

with Kid Zoom, Ghostpatrol, James

Jirat Patradoon and Deb working

aerosol cans and brushes. Kid Zoom,

dubbed Australia’s Rembrandt with a

spray can, sparked a fierce bidding war,

topping the auction with $8,000 for the

2 by 1.2 metre artwork.

Perhaps the most exciting news for

Project 5 in 2011 was our National AbaF

Award win. We flew to beautiful Perth

in hopes that the Australian Business

Arts Foundation would put the cherry

on top of our already successful and

vibrant partnership. And the answer

was yes! Project 5 won the National

Partnering Award in the Australia

Council Emerging Artists category, a

real honour in front of our peers.

ICE would like to warmly thank Cockle

Bay Wharf for the last three years of

support for Project 5, as we look to

secure a new venue partner for 2012.

The funds raised so far have been

essential in supporting Switch Digital

Arts Centre and extending the depth

and breadth of ICE youth engagement

programs.

RESEARCH & COMMUNICATIONS

50

ICE.org.au took on a brand new look

and feel in 2011 thanks to the clever

creative vision of The Nest, a good

friend of ICE and an amazing digital

agency specialising in creating stunning

websites for the arts and creative

industries. The new ICE website is a

super user-friendly WordPress site with

gateways through to our social media

augmenting our audiences’ experience

in the one place. ICE staff have really

taken to blogging and creating their

own projects online, so now you can

look forward to hearing the voices of all

ICE-icles and their unique POV’s (points

of view), online.

Whilst we’re on the topic of

communications, 2011 was also the year

we produced a brand new ICE promo

video. With the generous pro-bono

services of acclaimed Director, Platon

Theodoris and a cast of 50 plus very

enthusiastic volunteers from ICE’s

Western Sydney communities, we

made magic happen on the screen. The

promo is now running on Aurora TV

and making the rounds online. ‘We are

Storytellers. We create, We collaborate.’

To watch the promo, check out our

Vimeo site vimeo.com/infocult.

ICE WEBSITE & PROMO

ICE.org.au

vimeo.com/infocult.


RESEARCH

Won AbaF National Award – Australia

Council’s Emerging Artists Category

Finalist Human Rights Awards

Finalist Australian and New Zealand Internet

Awards (ANZIA) in the category of Internet

Access and Digital Skills

AWARDS

SUSTAINABILITYICE’s commitment to sustainability continues. Whether it be

minimalising our impact on the environment through crafting

policies for the efficient use of resources within Switch Digital

Arts Centre, working to find sustainable practices within the

creative industries or reducing the amount of marketing material

we produce, such as creating this annual report primarily as an

E-version, ICE has it’s finger on the pulse of the future.

Our passion for supporting sustainability was evident in 2011

when we partnered with Western Sydney Regional Organisation

of Councils’ (WSROC) Water in the Landscape Project to produce

our Community Engagement Project, Upstream. Individuals from

the Blacktown area were trained in the digital storytelling process

and mentored through the process of making their own digital

stories about water and place from a variety of different cultural

perspectives. Their reflections on the importance of water as a

resource were shared with the world.

ICE also partnered with 48 Green Hours, a film competition based in

Western Sydney that promoted sustainability through stipulating a

‘green’ theme running through each of the films. ICE will continue to

support creative practitioners and organisations that are proactively

involved with sustainable and environmental responsibility and look

forward to sharing our sustainability policy with the world shortly.

52

NEW PATHS TO CULTURAL CITIZENSHIP

In recent years the concept of participation in cultural and media

practices - often making use of digital media - has created a shift in how

we understand being culturally active. This shift can be thought of as

a change in direction from active cultural and media consumption to

active cultural and media production.

For three-years, ICE has partnered on the Ripple Effects Project

with researchers from the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS)

Transforming Cultures Research Centre, Arts NSW and the Australia

Council for the Arts. The Ripple Effects research project is funded by the

Australian Research Council–funded Linkage research project.

In November it was time to bring these discussions, ideas and concepts

out of the hard drives and into the world, resulting in the first ever

Ripple Effects Symposium developed by ICE and partner UTS. Years

of research led to this presentation surrounding community building,

participation and cultural citizenship through creative practices in

Western Sydney. The symposium explores what happens when

participation in cultural activities and the making of cultural forms

become a way to engage in a process of social change.

The symposium was full of creativity, participation and action with

a number of plenary sessions, facilitated panel discussions, creative

showcases as well as the presentation and showcase of research

findings about ICE, Western Sydney and the nature the creative process,

namely, how it develops strength and autonomy within communities.

The research team is led by Dr Ilaria Vanni. Researchers are Dr Tanja

Dreher, Dr Christina Ho, Dr Justine Lloyd, Dr Tony Mitchell, Dr Devleena

Ghosh and the research assistant is Jemima Mowbray. It was managed

at ICE by Caitlin Vaughan, Research & Policy Manager.

RIPPLE EFFECTS



EVALUATIONICE’s evaluation policy has been a key

component of our processes at ICE in

2011. Our research and policy program

has identified measurable practices and

techniques which allow ICE to translate

the learning and intuitive knowledge

of participants and trainers into simple

language. We find points to check in

with the creative journey of our projects

to identify personal and professional

impacts, both subtle and evident

outcomes, which supplement the more

prevalent learnings.

East London West Sydney, ICE’s hip-hop

theatre performance at which featured in

the 2011 Sydney Festival, attracted large

audiences and we took the opportunity

to design a survey card to collect

feedback on the show. Around half of the

audience provided feedback. The form

had simple questions but also space for

free-form feedback which allowed for

drawing and unlimited self-expression.

The data collected from these forms

has given ICE a real insight into our

audiences and will greatly assist the

development of this genre of show for

the next phases.

The activation of our Evaluation

Strategy has allowed us to better track,

monitor and report on the outcomes of

our work. It enables critical reflection

and assessment at different levels of

our practice, and allows us to better

understand and communicate the wider

scope and impacts of our work.

54

This year we have been collaborating

with key partners and communities in

the production of our Reconciliation

Action Plan (RAP) which we will

launch in 2012. ICE recognises

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

people as Australia’s first people and

the traditional owners of this land. We

recognise a continuous living culture

rich in diversity, language, knowledge,

creativity, heritage and contemporary

expression and this recognition

is a starting point for all of ICE’s

collaborations.

On 27 October, ICE hosted

a discussion session called

‘Reconciliation Action

Conversations’ to bring together

Aboriginal artists and community

members along with others from

our many valued partners, projects

and collaborations who are

working towards Reconciliation.

These conversations were vital

to assist us in developing our

Reconciliation Action Plan. It was

also a great opportunity for old

and new friends to connect.

RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN



KEY ORGANISATIONAL

PARTNERS

Arts NSW

Australia Council for the

Arts

Department of Human

Services - Community

Services NSW

Parramatta City Council –

a partner of Switch Digital

Arts Centre

Screen NSW

ICE Hub Capital Works

and Facilities PROJECT

PARTNERS

Arts NSW

Catholic Diocese,

Parramatta

Toland Architects

Walton Construction

Berents Project

Management

PROJECT FUNDING

BODIES and SPONSORS

Arabic Pages

Arts NSW

Artstart NSW

NSW Department of

Health and Ageing

Attorney General’s

Department, Proceeds of

Crime Act

Auburn Community

Development Network

Aurora Television

Australia Council for the

Arts

Australian Human Rights

Commission

Casula Powerhouse Arts

Centre

Community Services -

Families NSW

Community Services –

Better Futures Strategy

Council for Australian-

Arab Relations

Department of Health and

Ageing

Department of

Immigration and

Citizenship

Department of Water,

PEOPLE, PARTNERS & SUPPORTERS

ICE would like to warmly thank our partners, sponsors and supporters for their support in 2011.

56

Heritage and the Arts

Etihad Airways

Fairfield CDSE

Fairfield City Council

Fairfield City Museum and

Gallery

Holroyd City Council

Inner West Skills centre-

Youth Linx

Loud Multicultural

Media Loft Web Design

and Development

NSW Community Relations

Commission

NSW Department of Trade

and Investment

NSW Environment Trust

Parklea Correction Centre

Parramatta Artists Studios

Parramatta City Council

Peacock Gallery and

Auburn Arts Studio

Penrith City Council

Port Bar and Restaurant

Riverside Theatres

Parramatta

SBS Film

SBS TV

Social Ventures Australia

St Marys Corner

Sydwest Multicultural

Services Inc

Ted Noffs Foundation- Mt

Druitt

The Hills Holroyd

Parramatta Migrant

Resource Centre

The Street University –

Liverpool

The Nest

Western Sydney

Organisation of Councils

(WSROC)

World Media International

PROJECT PARTNERS

48 Hour Film Project

48 Green Hours

Afghan Hazare Youth

Group

aMBUSH Gallery

Arts Law Centre of

Australia

Auburn City Council

Auburn Community

Development Network

Aurora Community

Channel

Australian Immigrant and

Refugee Women’s Alliance

(AIRWA)

Bay East Auction House

Boronia Multicultural

Services

Braddock Primary School

British Council Australia

Cabramatta High School

Casula Powerhouse Arts

Centre

Civictec

Cockle Bay Wharf

Colourfest Film Festival

Cranebrook High School

Cranebrook

Neighbourhood Centre

Darling Park

Deliottes

Dendy Cinemas (Brisbane

and Adelaide)

Fairfield City Council

Fairfield High School

Fairfield Intensive English

Centre

Family Violence Response

Support Strategy (FVRSS)

FBi Radio

Fiji Youth Initiative

Football United

Holroyd City Council

Holroyd High School

Holroyd Youth Services

Inner West Skills Centre

Institute for Sustainable

Futures

Kala Indian Dance

Mars Hill Cafe

Mission Australia

Mount Druitt Family

Violence Response &

Support Strategy

Movie Extra Tropfest

Multicultural Disability

Advocacy Association

Music NSW

National Film and Sound

Archive, Canberra

Napean Intensive Care

Unit

Noffs Foundation – Mt

Druitt

Nova Cinema (Melbourne)

Parraconnect

Parramasala

Parramatta Artists Studio

Parramatta City Council

Parramatta Hills Holroyd


Parramatta Park Trust

Penrith City Council



Powerhouse Youth Theatre

School of Social Entrepreneurs

Sevens Golf

Social Ventures Australia

South Penrith Youth Neighborhood

Services

Stockland Property Group

Sule College

Sydney Festival

Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority

TAFE NSW, Ultimo

The Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union

of Australia

The Street University - Liverpool

University of Technology, Sydney

University of Western Sydney

UWS College

Wakakirri

Word Travels and the National Poetry Slam

ICE STAFF AND KEY CONTRACTORS

Lisa Torrance: Executive Director

Lena Nahlous: Executive Director

(maternity leave)

Yu Ye Wu: Executive Assistant to the

Executive Director

Jill Chambers: Manager, Operations

Jerome Pearce: IT and Facilities Officer

Kim Tan, Georgie Lampe: Administration

and Resource Officer

Kanaki Nadesan: Bookkeeper

Caitlin Vaughan: Manager, Research and

Strategic Development

Mouna Zaylah: Manager, Cultural

Development and Co: Director, Arab Film

Festival

Donita Hulme: Coordinator, Artist

Professional Development

Christian Tancred: Coordinator,

Community Engagement

Fadia Abboud : Co:Director, Arab Film

Festival

Amin Palangi: Screen Cultures Producer

Thelma Thomas aka MC Trey: Urban

Cultures Producer

Indu Balachandran: Manager, Creative

Enterprise

Leanne Torpey, Switch Centre and

Training Coordinator

Ben Rose: Production and Client Support

Kate Taylor: Creative Hub Coordinator

Kristy Mayhew: Manager, Marketing and

Communications

Jackie Leewai: Communications Officer

Nasim Harandi: Graphic Designer

Maria Tran: Urban Cultures Project

Coordinator

Saleh Saqqaf: Project Consultant and

Trainer

Saber Baluch: Enterpise Apprentice:

Saber Media Productions

Vanna Seang: Chatterbox D.O.P.

ICE HUB CREATIVE RESIDENTS

Mike Chin

Michelle Cotterill

Andy Minh Treiu

Adam Dunn

Ravi Kambhoj

Hugo Moline

Heidi Axelsen

Jerome Valencia

Rusalia Bazlamit

58

ARTISTS,

CONTRACTORS

AND CREATIVE

CONSULTANTS

Adam Dunn

Adrian Tan

Aiden Keogh

Aisha Kamara

Akeesha Horton (USA)

Alan Butterfield

Alexis Axelbaum

Alissar Chidiac

Amy Kwong

Ari Roberts

Aveline Hernandez

Ben Hoh

Bheki Mkwananzi

Bill Lesi

Billy Marshall Stoneking

Brad Crawford

Brothablack (aka Shannon

Williams)

Catherine Tsai

Charles ‘6 Pound’ Lomu

Christina Alvarez

Colin Kinchela

Courtenary Botfield

Dan O’Reilly-Rowe

Dante Barcome

David Beaumont

Danielle Antaki

Darrall Thompson

David Cassat

Dennis Cala

Dev Singh

Diana Sedlarevic

Duncan Underwood

ECJ Technology

Eddie Abd

Elena Parashko

Elizabeth Vu

Emily McDaniel

Environmental Art +

Design

Evan Kaldor

Fadle El-Harris

Fadia Abboud

Farid Farid

Fatima Mawas

Felicity Castagna

Felino Dolloso

Felix Ryan

Fraink Mainoo

Garry Trinh

Haidar Noor

Hakan Manav

Hatef Ahankoob

Heidi Axelsen

Hugo Moline

Isaac Parsons

Jacqueline Andres

Jacqueline Leewai

James Carr

Jane Bennett

Jay Johnson

Jeff Purser

Jemwel Danao

Jaivir Dhruv Signh

Jill Colvin

Joanne Saad

Joanne McNeill

Joanne Villacruz

Jonzi D (UK)

Junior Tavola

Juse Crew

Kerrie Noonan

Kevin Crouse

Khalid AlMahmood (UAE)

Kim Bowers aka Busty

Beatz

Kim Huong Nguyen

Kristina Scudds

Kristy-Lea Payne

L-Fresh Sukhdeep Bhogal

Larry Heath

Len Metcalf

Liane Rossler

lina Kastoumis

Lisa Colley

Lisa Rhodes

Lisa Walker

Ludwig El Haddad

Maissa Alameddine

Matt Fallon

Maria Barbagallo

Maria Tran

Marian Abboud

Marian Marcatili

Marie Setiwan

Marina Kingsley

Marissa Kaye

Martin Cox

Maxwell Golden (UK)

Maya Newell

Meiying Saw

Merlyn Bilas

Mia Viaña Stewart

Michelle Cotterill

Mickey Kovari

Miranda Nation

Miriam Cabello

Monique Perrin

Monireh Khabiri

Nasim Harandi

Nawaf Aljanahi (UAE)

Negin Asadipour

Neveen Hanna

Nicholas Pickard

Nocile Miller



Nick Toth

Palangi Productions

Parramatta Clay and Arts

Incorporated (PCAI)

Patrick Heeger

Paula Abood

Paulo Goncalves

Peta Downes

Peter Davidson

Peter Knight

Peviter Veygal

Platon Theodoris

Qamar Zaman

Quan Tran

Rajaella Priogioni

Randa Abdel-Fattah

Rebecca Laubi

Redemption Band

Reza Taheri

Richard Teague

Rima Najm

Saber Baluch

Saleh Saqaff

Sally Lim-Sun

Samanatha Lang

Sanaz Fotouhi

Sania Saeed

Sarah Sayeed (UK)

Saro Carlwig (UAE)

Seina Rahimi

Sheila Pham

Somnang Seang

Simon Menzies

Soul Benefits

Steve Pozel

Stuart Buchanan

Sue McReady

Sundus Abdel Hadi

(Canada)

Tania Khalaf (USA)

Thelma ‘Trey’ Thomas

Toni Blackman

Uncle Greg Simms

Vanessa Scott

Vinh Nguyen

Vanna Seang

Vuli Mkwananzi

Yassin al-Salman aka The

Narcicyst (Canada)

Zahra Alsamawi

PROJECT ADVISORY

MEMBERS

Arab Film Festival

Advisory Committee

Alissar Gazal

Farid Farid

Firas Naji

Joanne Saad

Omeima Sukkarieh

Paula Abood

Saleh Saqqaf

VOLUNTEERS AND

STUDENT INTERNS

Dominik Brunner

Jacob Ching

Jannika Gier

Maria Kirov

Rachida Pearce

Lisa Walker

60

INFORMATION AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE INC.31 DECEMBER 2011

FINANCIAL REPORT

C O N T E N T S

Treasurer’s Report 62

Balance Sheet 63

Income Statement 64

Notes to and Forming Part of the Financial Statements 65-66

Statement by Members of the Board of ICE 67

Independent Audit Report 68-69



I am pleased to report that we have ended the 2011 financial year in a sound financial position with a surplus of $1,253. This result was achievable due to all our core funders and partners, their ongoing support has allowed the organisation to continue to expand and grow. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank them all for their support. Key funders include Arts NSW, Australian Council for the Arts, Screen NSW and the continued support from the Catholic Diocese, in particular Bishop Anthony and John Spillane.

Due to the support and financial backing of the aforementioned organisations, and all our partners, 2011 was a year of continued expansion and growth as ICE developed new partnerships with SBS, Sydney Festival, AIRWA (Australian Immigrant and Refugee for Women’s Alliance) and Aurora resulting in collaboration on various projects that achieved great success in spreading the stories from our richly diverse communities in Western Sydney.

The past year was also a time of stability for the ICE team as they settled into the newly refurbished Switch Digital Arts Centre for their first full year. This new chapter of growth saw the completion of the Creative Hub and the first nine enterprising individuals taking up residence in August 2011. The completion of this centre could not have been achieved without the generous financial support received from Arts NSW and Social Ventures Australia.

Over the years ICE has developed a fantastic reputation and is frequently approached to undertake a number of

projects to continue to work with the many community members for the expression of the region’s extraordinary cultural voices. Unfortunately not all offers can be accepted, due to the additional resources that would be needed to do so. This being said, a special thanks goes to Social Ventures Australia whose funding has made it possible to employ an additional eight people in 2011 on various short term contracts. This has enabled the organisation to take up the project offers that we would otherwise have declined.

Another component of our revenue stream has been generated by ICE’s own Creative Enterprise program with self-generated funds. This will be a fundamental focus for 2012 as ICE looks to identify new opportunities in raising support from a diverse range of sources to ensure the long term sustainability of this organisation.

The Board would like to thank Jill Chambers, ICE Operations Manager and Lisa Torrance our Executive Director, who have both worked tirelessly over the past year to ensure the continuation of tight operational processes. This has resulted in the sound financial position of the organisation and allows for ICE to continue to reach out to people in Western Sydney communities.

Jennifer WidjojoTreasurer

62

CURRENT ASSETS

Cash and Cash Equivalents Receivables Prepaid Expenses Inventory TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS NON-CURRENT ASSETS Building Improvements - at cost Less: Accumulated Depreciation Office Furniture & Equipment - at cost Less: Accumulated Depreciation TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS CURRENT LIABILITIES Payables Deferred Income Provision for Staff Entitlements Provision for Building Maintenance TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES Provision for Staff Entitlements Deferred Income Provision for Building Maintenance TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES TOTAL LIABILITIES NET ASSETS EQUITY Accumulated Income at the beginning of the year Operating Surplus for the year Total Accumulated Income TOTAL EQUITY

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2011

2011$

565,377 75,835

8,010 7,710

656,932

1,284,605 (154,057) 1,130,548

716,494 (282,803)

433,691 1,564,239

2,221,171

140,279 328,551 109,809

8,000 586,639

152,681 1,422,140

38,501 1,613,322

2,199,961

21,211

19,958 1,253 21,211

21,211

NOTE

34

5

67

86

2010$

797,408 135,761

6,117 -

939,286

1,227,902 (28,434) 1,199,468 696,279

(129,870) 566,409 1,765,877

2,705,162

174,271 474,244 131,842 8,000

788,357

189,122 1,675,725

32,000 1,896,847

2,685,204

19,958

21,182 (1,224) 19,958

19,958

The accompanying Notes form part of these financial statements.


TREASURER’S REPORT


INCOME Arts NSW - Triennial Funding Arts NSW - Capital Works Arts NSW - Project Arts NSW - Digi Diaries Arts NSW - AFF Arts NSW - ELWS Australia Council for the Arts (CCD Program & Project grants) Australia Council for the Arts (AFF Project grant) NSW Human Services, Community Services NSW Human Services, Community Services - one off grant Dept of Premier and Cabinet DEEWR - One off grant for capital work Screen NSW Department of Environ, Water and Heritage Attorney General’s Department Communities NSW Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Events NSW Industry & Investment NSW TAFE NSW (ArtStart) Local Government Social Ventures Australia Westpac Foundation British Council Australia Community Development and Support Expenditure (CDSE) Foundation for Young Australians Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Community Relations Commission University of Western Sydney Mary MacKillop Foundation Other Small Grants Unexpended grants at the beginning of the year Unexpended grants at the end of the year Interest Received Project Funding Donations Other Income TOTAL INCOME LESS: EXPENDITURE Relocation expenses Employee expense Equipments purchase Depreciation expense Insurance expense Media and marketing expenses Programmes and production expenses Rental expense Contractor expenses Administration expenses Other expenses TOTAL EXPENDITURE SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) FROM OPERATIONS

INCOME STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2011

2010$

300,000 -

131,084 - - -

205,53170,00089,227

110,00050,000

1,500,00055,000

- -

10,479 -

9,000 -

5,200132,528

- 62,844

- -

9,712 - -

14,600 -

4,0001,500

-

(1,675,725)53,956151,78825,08544,345

1,360,154

22,031651,900

7,51680,59620,66592,756

219,34430,69435,42984,370116,077

1,361,378

(1,224)

2011$

307,500 60,500

- 17,000 10,000 3,000

206,544 70,000 112,024

- - -

60,000 50,000 42,300 54,915

20,000 9,000 5,000

53,500 130,500 97,300

- 40,012

20,000 -

15,000 13,000 3,000 11,818

-

2,050 1,675,725

(1,422,140) 18,668 68,768 17,087

151,975 1,924,046

6,672

866,032 15,457

278,556 21,990 112,325

299,383 31,086

108,931 70,943 111,419

1,922,793

1,253

The accompanying Notes form part of these financial statements.64

1. STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

This financial report is a special purpose financial report prepared in order to satisfy the financial reporting requirements of the Association Incorporation Act NSW. The board has determined that the association is not a reporting entity.

The financial report has been prepared on an accruals basis and is based on historic costs and does not take into account changing money values or, expect where specifically stated, current valuations of non-current assets.

The following significant accounting policies, which are consistent with the previous period unless otherwise stated, have been adopted in the preparation of these financial report.

(A) INCORPORATED ASSOCIATION

The services were incorporated on 1st May, 1986 as an incorporated Association, under the Associations Incorporated Act, 1984. The members liability is limited to the extent of any unpaid membership fees.

(B) Revenue

Interest revenue is recognised on a proportional basis taking into account the interest rates applicable to the financial assets as it is received.

Grant and donation income is recognised when the entity obtains control over the funds which is generally at the time of receipt.

Revenue from funding authorities received in advance is deferred to the period to which it relates and included as an accrual on the balance sheet.

(C) Inventories

Inventories are measured at the lower of cost and net realisable value.

(D) Economic Dependence

Information and Cultural Exchange Inc. is dependent on the Arts NSW and Australia council of Arts for the majority of its revenue used to operate the business. At the date of this report the Board of Management has no reason to believe the Arts NSW and Australia Council of Arts will not continue to support Information and Cultural Exchange Inc.

(E) Employee Entitlements

Provision is made for Long Service Leave, Sick Leave and Annual Leave estimated to be payable to employees on the basis of statutory and contractual requirements. Provision is made for redundancy for long standing employees as the association is exclusively dependent on tiers of government, and that policies and funding arrangements are subject to periodic change. Provision is made for the payment of twelve (12) weeks maternity leave in accordance with pending staff agreements. The amounts provided have been apportioned between current and non-current, the current provision been the portion that is entitled to be paid within the next (12) months. Payroll on costs associated with leave entitlements are recognised as liabilities.

Contributions are made by the Association to an employees’ superannuation fund and are charged as expenses when incurred.

NOTES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2011



NOTES CONTINUED FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2011

2011$

6,000 6,000

564,377 1,000

565,377

75,835 -

75,835

7,710

114,650

213,901

1,422,140

1,750,691

60,758

49,052

109,809

28,198

74,483

50,000

152,681

AUDITOR’S REMUNERATION Remuneration of the Auditor for: - Auditing the financial statements

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

Cash at Bank Cash on Hand

RECEIVABLES Trade Debtors Less: Provision for impairment of debtors

INVENTORIES Current Books published available for sale

Inventories are measured at the lower of cost and current replacement cost.

DEFERRED INCOME Total Unexpended Grants Grant in Advance - Other Unexpended Building Grant

PROVISION FOR STAFF ENTITLEMENTS Current Liabilities

Annual Leave

Sick Leave

PROVISION FOR STAFF ENTITLEMENTS Non-Current Liabilities

Long Service Leave

Maternity Leave

Redundancy

RESTATEMENT OF COMPARATIVE INFORMATION

2010$

6,000 6,000

796,008 1,400

797,408

135,761 -

135,761

-

70,200

404,044

1,675,725

2,149,969

78,002

53,840

131,842

30,074

80,638

78,410

189,122

During the year 2010, Information and Cultural Exchange

Inc applied grants and funding revenue for relocation

and establish a Digital Arts Centre at 8 Victoria Road

Parramatta. The full sum of unexpended grant has been

recognised as a non-current liability to be applied in the

year the asset is amortised. The carrying amount of

assets are presented in the balance sheet as a non-current

assets. The reclassification of deferred income to non-

current liability is adopting a uniform presentation of the

unexpended grant and the unexpended depreciable assets.

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Total

Total

Total

Total

Total

Total

66

STATEMENT BY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD

The Board have determined that the association is not a reporting entity and that

this special purpose financial report should be prepared in accordance with the

accounting policies outlined in Note 1 to the financial statements.

In the opinion of the board the financial statements:

1. Present a true and fair view of the financial position of the Information and

Cultural Exchange Inc. as at 31 December 2011 and its performance for the

year ended on that date.

2. At the date of this statement, there are reasonable grounds to believe that

Information and Cultural Exchange Inc. will be able to pay its debts as and

when they fall due.

This statement is made in accordance with the resolution of the board and is

signed for and on behalf of the Board by:

Jennifer Widjojo, Treasurer

Date: 22 February 2012

Associate Professor Susan Green, Co-Chair



Report on the Financial Report

We have audited the accompanying report, being a special purpose financial report of Information and Cultural Exchange Inc. which comprises the committee’s report, the assets and liabilities statement as at 31 December 2011, the income and expenditure statement for the year then ended, notes comprising a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information, and the statement by members of the committee.

Board’s Responsibility for the Financial Report The board is responsible for the preparation of the financial report and have determined that the basis of preparation described in Note 1 is appropriate to meet the requirement of the Association Incorporation Act NSW 1984 and the needs of the members. The board’s responsibilities also include such internal control as the committee determines is necessary to enable the preparation of financial report that is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. Auditor’s Responsibility Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial report based on our audit. We have conducted our audit in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. Those standards require that we comply with relevant ethical requirements relating to audit engagements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial report is free from material misstatement. An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial report. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial report, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial report in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting

Chartered Accountants Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional

Standards Legislation

TELEPHONE (02) 9715 1555 FACSIMILE: (02) 9715 1566

C M PITT & CO

Chartered Accountants

2 PHILIP STREETSTRATHFIELD NSW 2135 PO BOX 580CHARLES M PITT B.BUS FCA E-MAIL [email protected]

68

policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by the Committee as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial report.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion. Independence In conducting our audit, we followed applicable independence requirements of Australian professional ethical pronouncements. Audit Opinion In our opinion, the financial report presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Information and Cultural Exchange Inc as at 31 December 2011 and its financial performance and cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with the accounting policies described in Note 1 to the financial statements, and the Association Incorporation Act NSW 1984. Basis of Accounting Without modifying our opinion, we draw attention to Note 1 to the financial report, which describes the basis of accounting. The financial report has been prepared for the purpose of fulfilling the directors’ financial reporting responsibilities under the Corporations Act 2001. As a result, the financial report may not be suitable for another purpose.

Charles M Pitt ICCA Membership No. 20180

C M PITT & CO Registered Company Auditor No. 2944

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS Unit 6 & 7, 2 Philip Street Strathfield

Date: 22 February 2012

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards LegislationAll correspondence: PO Box 580, STRATHFIELD NSW 2135


Inc.which

B.BUS

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

ANNUAL REPORT - ice.org.auice.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Annual-Report-2011-.pdf · Executive Director’s Report 9 Organisational Chart 10-11 CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM