Government approves WE ARE HERE! Foundation as a cultural organisation

WE ARE HERE! Foundation is now on the Register of Cultural Organisations (ROCO), having been approved by the Australian Federal Government’s Office for the Arts.

WAH!’s work was first recognised by Lisa Marino at the US consulate in Perth in 2018. Our Human Rights and social justice program for Upstanders received a generous funding grant from the US Government. This enabled WAH! to bring US educator, Nance Adler to Australia in 2019. WAH! ran a week of inspiring events at WA universities, schools, and multi-cultural centres. WAH! focussed on the indigenous Australian Upstander, William Cooper, and highlighted the Partisans’ Song in a world premiere performance in Yiddish, Hebrew, English and Noongar, sung by the joint choir of Ellenbrook Secondary College and Carmel School.

Our team included Professor Lynne Cohen, Jesse Fleay, Suzanne Kosowitz, and Stuart Rhine-Davis. Former governor of WA, Malcolm McCusker highlighted the Foundation’s work at the Kristallnacht commemoration at Perth Modern School.

Earlier this year, WAH! partnered World ORT and HAMEC, in a global program, Witnessing Holocaust History, at both International Holocaust Remembrance Day and Yom Hashoah. Our “Ties That Bind” lesson plan has been included as a resource for the Victorian Government’s Holocaust Curriculum.

WAH! has also received generous support from the Federal German Government through their Perth Consul, Gabriele Maluga, and from Gandel Philanthropy.

CEO Eli Rabinowitz said: “WAH!’s Public Fund is now eligible to receive tax-deductible donations from individuals or organisations that support WAH!’s programs in the promotion and performance of Australian created cultural activities such as music, literature, poetry, arts, film, video & radio.”