First Peoples engagement and cultural protocol

All activity funded by Creative Victoria must follow cultural protocol. Cultural protocols are responsible, ethical, and respectful ways of engaging with First Peoples communities and cultural and intellectual property. They are based on First Peoples cultural values and can vary across communities.

Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP)

ICIP may refer to artistic work, stories, languages, tangible and intangible cultural property, and contemporary and historical records. Please refer to the Arts Law  ICIP Information Sheet for more detailed information.

Applicants must follow correct protocols when working with First Peoples artists, activities, and/or communities. Please refer to Creative Australia’s Protocols For Using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property In The Arts. In particular, the project checklist (pages 168 to 172) can be used as a resource to guide considerations when engaging with ICIP, creatives and cultural heritage.

Appropriate documentation must be submitted if applicants propose to work with First Peoples stories/cultural material that are not their own. This requirement protects First Peoples arts practice from misappropriation, moral and copyright infringement.

Relevant documentation may include:

• Letters of confirmation from the First Peoples community member/s or group/s the applicants are working with.
• Protocols applicants will put in place to ensure cultural safety.
• A First Peoples budget line detailing the funding amount allocated for First Peoples collaboration or engagement.
• Cultural safety protocol strategies.
• First Peoples community engagement plans.

First Peoples Cultural Protocol Review process

Eligible applications to Creative Victoria funding programs that contain First Peoples activity may undergo a Cultural Protocol Review. Applications are reviewed by a First Peoples panel of creative industries peers.

Cultural Protocol Review panels consider:

• Whether the use of cultural knowledge in the proposed ideas, concepts, research/experimentation, creative output, or presentation is appropriate, and whether the creative practitioner(s) or organisation has relevant permission to use this.
• The validity and cultural appropriateness of activity that includes partnerships with or is targeted toward First Peoples community.
• The applicant’s experience and capacity in working with First Peoples community and whether any First Peoples creative practitioner fees or community consultation demonstrates best practice and appropriate cultural competencies.