UWA Rock Art Partnership
"The rock art of the Kimberley needs to be understood, studied, catalogued and preserved"
WA Premier Colin Barnett, 24 November, 2010
The Foundation has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of Western Australia (UWA). The partnership between KFA and UWA’s Centre for Rock Art Studies (CRAS) was launched by the Premier of Western Australia, Hon Colin Barnett on 24 November, 2010. The two organisations will work towards collaborative programs of research in dating and chemical characterisation of rock art; documenting and interpreting the spatial, stylistic and representational variations in the rock art; archaeological excavations and associated chronology; studies of palaeolcimatology, palaeoecology, palaeofauna, palaeolinguistics and ethnology.
The following principles will govern the engagement:
• Close collaboration at every stage in the development of a substantial Kimberley rock art research capability and research program within the UWA Rock Art Research Centre, including appropriate representation on any relevant bodies established for governance and advice.
• Collaboration with indigenous groups as part of joint research activities.
• Joint financial commitment to Kimberley research projects and to building Kimberley research capability and research leadership within the UWA Rock Art Research Centre.
• Joint commitment to seek support for Kimberley-related research from the corporate and Government sectors in Western Australia.
• Joint commitment to build on the existing UWA Centre for Rock Art Research to establish a national ARC Centre of Excellence for Rock Art headquartered at UWA, which includes KFA as a foundation participant with representation on governance and advisory bodies, whenever appropriate.
Each party to be free to seek private philanthropic support towards research in the Kimberley, and therefore be free to pursue such projects as it wishes, provided that each informs the other of the nature and timing of such projects.
• Advocacy of the heritage value of Kimberley rock art and the importance of the associated research questions at State, national and international levels.
It is proposed that the two organisations work towards collaborative programs of research in areas such as: dating and chemical characterisation of rock art; documenting and interpreting the spatial, stylistic and representational variations in the rock art; archaeological excavations and associated chronology; studies of palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology, palaeofauna, and palaeolinguistics; ethnology; and other areas that are mutually agreed.
