The Hon. Simon Crean MP, Minister for the Arts announched on Monday 21 May 2012 the appointment of
Ms Lee-Ann Buckskin as Chair Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board.
The Division offers its congratulations to Lee-Ann on her appointment for three (3) years effective 16 May 2012 and we look forward to working with her and the Board in this new era. It is an historic appointment as Lee-Ann is the first female Chair appointed to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board since its establishment in 1973.
Lee-Ann is a Narungga, Wirangu, Wotjobaluk woman from South Australia and Victoria respectively and who is well known throughout the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island and broader arts communities. Lee-Ann has worked with the 1996 and 1998 Adelaide Fringe, 1996 Festival of the Sun, 2002 Adelaide Festival of Arts and the Adelaide Festival Centre as well as the Yeperenye Festival (Alice Springs) 2001. Lee-Ann was Program Coordinator for the Indigenous Program of the 2004 Adelaide Festival of Arts and the Brisbane Festival of Arts.
Lee-Ann’s current position is with Carclew Youth Arts in Adelaide as Manager of the Community Program. She has produced from 2005 to 2001 ‘Blak Nite’ South Australia’s leading Indigenous Youth Arts showcase as part of the Come Out Festival. Carclew Youth Arts has a strong Indigenous-programming component, and in her role, Lee-Ann oversees the Indigenous Program, working closely with Indigenous communities across metropolitan, regional and remote South Australia.
Lee-Ann has a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of South Australia. In 2002, Lee-Ann was selected as a future Indigenous leader and graduated from the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre Program (Canberra). In 2003, Lee-Ann was the winner of the inaugural Gladys Elphick Award for her work in raising the profile of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and culture in South Australia. The late Gladys Elphick was a Kaurna elder who spearheaded the formation of the Council of Aboriginal Women of SA.
In 2005, she was awarded the prestigious internationally recognised Sidney Myer Facilitator Prize. The Prize recognises Lee-Ann’s tremendous contribution to Indigenous arts in this country.
Lee-Ann also completed the Adelaide Institute of TAFE Indigenous Film Course producing a short documentary film about the Aboriginal flag titled; Red, Yellow, Black. Lee-Ann was the Deputy Chair of Tandanya the National Aboriginal Cultural Institute and was appointed as Co-chair to the Adelaide City Council Reconciliation Committee.
In 2007, Lee-Ann was appointed to the National Indigenous Reference Group (NIARG) advising the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board of the Australia Council on current and future opportunities and developments for the future of Indigenous arts in Australia.
Lee-Ann was appointed as a member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board for the Australia Council from 2010 to 2012, and the South Australian Museums Aboriginal Advisory Committee.
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