$25,000 Breakthrough funding for Indigenous musicians

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander contemporary musicians and bands are invited to apply for $25,000 from the Cultural Ministers Council's Breakthrough initiative to produce a commercial quality music CD for public release. Applications close on 19 February 2010.

Resale royalty rights for visual artists

Artists will receive 5 per cent of the sale price of their works when they are resold, following the passage of the Resale Royalty Scheme for Visual Artists Bill 2009 through the Senate.

Indigenous program funding for 2010-11 now open

Applications are open from 16 November 2009 to 5 February 2010 for funding opportunities under the National Arts and Crafts Industry Support, Indigenous Heritage, Indigenous Culture Support, Maintenance of Indigenous Languages and Records, and Indigenous Broadcasting Programs.

The programs are supporting professional arts practice, ensuring culture and language are kept strong and passed to future generations, and protecting heritage sites.

For more information, visit www.arts.gov.au/indigenous.

2009 Prime Minister's Literary Award winners announced

The Boat by Nam Le, House of Exile: The Life and Times of Heinrich Mann and Nelly Kroeger-Mann by Evelyn Juers and Drawing the Global Colour Line by Marilyn Lake and Henry Reynolds have won the 2009 Prime Minister's Literary Awards.

Minister Garrett's address to the National Press Club

Arts Minister Peter Garrett has delivered a speech on Australia's cultural policy to the National Press Club. He has asked for help from the public to create a policy that "strengthens and celebrates our culture" through a web forum www.nationalculturalpolicy.com.au