The conference, held over a three day period, attracted 1000 of the country’s artists, art workers and volunteers.

Federal Minister for the Arts, former Midnight Oils vocalist, Peter Garrett opened the conference, in what was described as a moving arrival ceremony, on the banks of the Todd River, hosted by local residents including members of the Central Arrernte community, who played a pivotal role in the conference.

Mrs Kempen said that, among the many members of the artistic community of SA, other delegates from the Mid and Upper North Regions, included Country Arts Board members Samantha Yates of Port Augusta and Kristy Jameson of Port Pirie, and John Voumard of Jamestown who was the recipient of National Volunteers Award for his sterling work with the Bundaleer Forest Weekends.

The three day conference included a packed timetable of workshops, forums and question and answer panels on a number of related topics including interviews with a number of the country’s philanthropic organisations, conducted by Jeff McMullen.

The message delivered, according to Mrs Kempen, was that were very large sums of money available through grant funding for major projects.

Mrs Kempen said that evidence was shown how art projects, across the spectrum, are able to assist communities, no matter how small, to achieve progress and some remarkable results – with one instance being a small aboriginal community, being able to attain a higher attendance rate in their school by offering drum workshops to students with the highest attendance rates.

The results have been amazing with increased confidence among the students who now

are travelling, self-funded, performers who enjoy what they do, and spread the magic among others.