Emu Projection wins NSW National Trust Heritage Award

Published on 19 May 2023

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The Building Bridges Emu Projection has won the 'Events, Exhibitions and Tours' category in the NSW 2023 National Trust Heritage Awards.

The projection was part of Clarence Valley Council's Building Bridges project, which is funded by the NSW Government's Stronger Country Communities Fund. It involved projecting artworks by local First Nations artists celebrating the endangered coastal emu onto the Sunshine Sugar building in South Grafton throughout the Jacaranda Season. Council worked with local First Nations artists, Sunshine Sugar, Esem projects, Transport for NSW and Australian Rail Track Corporation to bring the project to fruition.

 

The NSW National Trust Heritage Awards celebrate excellence in the conservation of Aboriginal, built, natural or cultural heritage, and were presented by former ABC newsreader Richard Morecroft at the heritage-listed Doltone House in Pyrmont, Sydney on Friday 12 May.

Community Project Officer Sarah Nash led the project and was proud to accept the award on behalf of Clarence Valley Council.

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"It’s fantastic to be recognised by The National Trust as a celebration of our natural heritage as well as the historically significant Grafton Bridge precinct," Ms Nash said.

"This projection is part of a project that celebrates public art in the Clarence. Public art tells stories about the places where we live, and the emu projection tells the story of our much loved, endangered coastal emu through the eyes of local Aboriginal artists."

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Photo: InFocus2022 Compact Category winner Coastal Emus Walking, by Joy Hayman, depicts the emu projections with the Clarence River in the background.

 

The Building Bridges Emu Projections was joint winner alongside Orange Regional Museum's entry Mulaa Giilang: Wiradjuri stories of the night sky in an Events, Exhibitions and Tours category comprising eight finalists.

A total of 17 winners across 15 categories recognised at this year's awards, including the restoration of Sydney's iconic Bondi Pavilion, and a gleaming six-metre sculpture by Aboriginal artist Judy Watson.

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