Phil Pittman’s interest is in community facilitation and is Executive Officer of Nazca Dreaming. Phil first became involved in community regeneration projects as National Coordinator of Kids Earth Fund, an International organisation established in Tokyo in 1988 and then in Sydney in 1998, where he held the post from 2000 to 2007. His current projects enhance children’s ecological consciousness and creative expression whilst also showcasing Peruvian and Australian cultures. They involve three small rural NSW schools and two schools in Wentworth Falls, Blue Mountains NSW in an exchange with Peruvian Communities. Chroma has been proud to be involved with these projects through donation of paint, making the art production possible. .

This years’ program was launched with a fund raising event Wentworth Falls School of the Arts in May at a Peruvian themed festival. May also saw the start of collaborative painting projects with art programs on a class basis, all of which had an ecological theme. Those involved were Temora West PS, 418 km south west of Sydney – 28 students, Red Range PS, Glen Innes area, 39 students, Quaama PS, Bega - 70 students, Wentworth Falls Primary School- 100 students and Korowal in the Blue Mountains, near Sydney NSW.

The programs build environmental knowledge, cultural understanding,creative expression and skills development. The children were provided with an opportunity to learn about local and global ecology, whose schools may otherwise not have been able to deliver the breath of program resources. Nazca Dreaming organised a local environmentalist to introduce the program to the schools. At each of these schools a local rural artist was then employed to deliver the art programs, supporting and collaborating with the class teacher over different stages, to facilitate the desired outcomes. The artist was funded by Regional Arts NSW, a program running within Arts NSW.

Canvases from each school are now being loaned to Nazca Dreaming while Phil Pittman takes these to Peru as part of cultural exchange program with Peruvian schools and communities. Peruvian schools will also produce artworks and letters which will be brought back to participating schools as part of the exchange.

The project culminates with a showcase at the 2010 Footbeat Festival, 30th- 31st October in the Blue Mountains of NSW.