The Winanjjikari Music Centre was established as a music training and recording centre on September 9th, 2006. It is one of Australia’s first and most successful Shared Responsibility Agreements (SRA) designed to teach and assist Barkly musicians in developing their skills in musicianship/music production. The SRA was a signed agreement between the Aboriginal Community of Tennant Creek, the Australian and Northern Territory Governments, Papula Apparr-Kari Aboriginal Corporation (PAK), Julalikari Council Aboriginal Corporation (JCAC), the Tennant Creek Town Council and the Barkly region.

The Winanjjikari Music Centre employs a Music Project Officer. The music centre is governed by a committee of respected Aboriginal persons. They provide advice and support to the Project Officer Jeffrey McLaughlin.

In co-operation with Barkly Regional Arts, the Winanjjikari Music Centre has ten permanent part time employees who are advancing their skills as both musicians and production technicians. They work at everything from playing instruments to recording, mixing and mastering. This unique project provides the musicians with “hands on” learning experience and involves the entire community at every stage of the process, from the youth trainees to the Elder mentor positions.

The music centre has commenced the Winanjjikari Outreach Program that will service eight remote Barkly Communities with the generous contribution of $100 000 USD from the Christensen Foundation in the United States. The Outreach Program will help develop musicians’ networks, promote the services and accessibility of the Music Centre, establish important community contacts and assist with putting touring circuits in place for bands in the future. In particular it will provide focused activity for remotely located young people who will work with experienced Aboriginal musicians as role models and mentors. All of the experienced musicians currently working at the centre have stated that one of their primary goals is to pass on skills to their young people so that they can express their culture in their own way and use music as a tool for language retention.

The music centre has evolved into a CD production plant, capable of fully producing Audio CD’s and DVDs. Everything from the original idea/concept, writing the music, filming the video and recording same right through to the mastering of the final product can be organised in-house. With a state of the art, Pro-tools recording studio and a highly trained sound engineer and producer at hand, it’s time Tennant Creek was heard! The Music centre has its own Public Address sound company that works for the local rock and roll performances, through to running corporate sound, lighting and event management. Winanjjikari staff have gained valuable experience working with numerous local, Territory wide and Federal Government agencies and business sectors.

Along with this development, Winanjjikari Music Centre has also liaised with Tourism NT in marketing the music centre as a wonderful opportunity for visitors to engage with local traditional Aboriginal people. Winanjjikari provides a profound grass-roots cultural experience that perfectly fits the targeted ‘Spirited Travellers’ identified as those coming to the NT to experience ancient and authentic traditional Aboriginal culture. As the only centre of its type in the entire NT, Winanjjikari presents a unique experience, giving visitors the rare opportunity to listen to live music, experience contemporary Aboriginal music in the making and speak to the musicians themselves about their culture and history. CDs are available for sale to visitors, providing a wonderful souvenir of their time in the Barkly. The name ‘Singing for Belonging’ says it all, with the musicians representing a variety of different Aboriginal languages from across the Barkly Region, yet working together in harmony and presenting their diverse stories and languages in the form of original music, the history and culture of these men is kept alive and fresh.

The Music Project Officer (MPO) at the Winanjjikari Music Centre is Jeffrey McLaughlin who has spent the last 3 years in the bush and has been there all the way facilitating programs and day to day operations. Jeff has worked with numerous acts for the Last 10 years Australia Wide and enjoys passing skills around to his fellow musicians. The Music Centre has a pod-cast site. www.winanjjikari.podomatic.com
Email: winanjjikari@barklyarts.com.au

52 Peko Road (PO BOX 259), Tennant Creek, NT, 0861
P/F: 08 8962 2799