Reconciliation
Musica Viva Australia’s first Reconciliation Action Plan was launched in 2021 (and extended into 2022 due to COVID-19 impacts). The Reflect RAP engaged leadership, staff and artists in appreciating the importance of reconciliation. We worked on understanding strengths, weaknesses and opportunities in this area, developing relationships with First Nations stakeholders, and asking ourselves how we can make the greatest impact within our sphere of influence.
We spent 2023-2024 developing MVA's next Reconciliation Action Plan, our Innovate RAP for 2024–2026. As we enter the next stage of MVA's reconciliation journey, it is important to acknowledge not only how far we have come, but also how far we have to go. MVA's new Innovate RAP sets out ambitious actions for the organisation and reaffirms our commitment to drive change within MVA's sphere of influence.
RAP Working Group
Musica Viva Australia's RAP Working Group meets bi-monthly and reports to the Board and staff regularly through the year. It brings together a wide range of MVA staff led by MVA’s RAP Champion, CEO Anne Frankenberg. We benefit from the generous contributions of Dr Chris Sainsbury, Associate Professor of Composition at the Australian National University, founder and director of the Ngarra-Burria First Peoples Composers program and Dharug man of the Eora Nations, and Don Christopher, Gunggari man and retired baritone who is currently an Executive in the Australian Public Service and an Observer to the MVA Board, who join us as First Nations contributors.
In addition to regular meetings to drive progress, the RAP working group members act as champions for reconciliation, embedding many small but meaningful changes in our day-to-day work practices, from acknowledgement of Country when we meet, to regularly sharing, reflecting on and encouraging further exploration of First Nations art and culture, to creating a culture of challenging assumptions and checking on privilege.
In partnership with Reconciliation Australia, we are committed to turning good intentions into action and to supporting the national reconciliation movement.