History about History being made
Vince Lovecchio, Creative Director writes:
Vince and Paul would like give a big end-of-year shout-out to our wonderful network of schools, museums, and historical societies, and to each of the amazing communities that have been involved in yet another big year of History Here films. We feel very privileged to have this opportunity to work with schools and communities across regional NSW to unearth and interrogate local stories and micro-histories, research, brainstorm, script and film to create quality short films.
Highlights this year included winning the 2019 National Museums and Galleries Award (MAGNA) and receiving a Highly Commended (2nd place) in the 2019 IMAGinE State Awards. These awards came on the back of our 2018 success with History Here capturing a National Trust Heritage Award. Another big stand out was our broadcast Bigger than Ben Hall featuring our schools' films which won us the MAGNA award.
We have been awarded a fresh round of Community Heritage funding and are busy growing the program into 2020, creating a new series of historical-comedy films with schools across Central and Far-Western NSW. None of which would have been possible without the abundance of enthusiasm, talent and commitment these young people bring to our projects.
We aim to redress and rebalance accepted versions of Australian History Here by focussing on Wiradyuri stories, women’s’ stories (through an off-shoot of History Here called History Her) and migrant stories, including colonial Chinese history. This will be the continued focus of our work in 2020.
We would like to thank all the hard-working, students, teachers, and parents who have greatly assisted in the frenetic schools-based activities that ultimately become the History Here films.
Many thanks to the Department of Education’s videoconference hub, DART Connections, and in particular David Foley, whose generous technical support and visionary application of technology allows us to reach rural and remote schools via videoconference, to develop scripts, discuss logistics of filming, and catch up after the projects have finished.
As always, we’d like to thank the Bathurst Wiradyuri and Aboriginal Community Elders group for their deadly advice and assistance in all things cultural, especially when it comes to redressing the shocking social imbalances between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australia and trying to close the gap. We could not have made inroads into this area without the wisdom and advice of the Elders.
If you’re part of a school that would like to inspire students to take a deep dive into history, or an organisation willing to support kids and communities across regional NSW tell their stories via a History Here film project please call Vince Lovecchio on M: 0407 454 832 or email vlovecchio@optusnet.com.au
We are also delighted to announce that the History Here program, was one of three projects recently chosen by Heritage NSW to showcase the heritage outcomes and the positive impact projects can have on communities. Please click on the image below to watch our the 4min promo film.
History Here films are proudly funded by the NSW Government through the NSW Heritage Grants Program.
We wish you all a safe and wonderful Xmas and New Year.
Short History Here Promo (4min) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE1HK9gTJgs