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COWRA VOICES is a geolocative storytelling app exploring Cowra’s unique history of peace and friendship with Japan.
Winner of the Oral History NSW Community History Award 2020.
Honorable Mention in the History Council NSW Awards 2020
Highly Commended in the National Trust Heritage Awards 2020
Cowra Voices storytelling app was launched in Cowra as part of the 75th anniversary commemorations of the Cowra Breakout in 2019.
Stories about ten key locations of symbolic importance in Cowra history as well as personal stories of five people buried in the Cowra Japanese War Cemetery are included in this app, enabling a more intimate engagement with history. Cowra Voices brings to light stories that remain unknown or unacknowledged, yet belong to all Australians.
The app was nearly four years from inception to completion.
Six design students from Tokai University’s Sapporo campus visited Cowra in 2018 to work on Cowra Voices.
A huge congratulations from Arts OutWest to the Cowra Voices team, especially Mayu Kanamori and Jacque Schultze who brought us into the project as partners. Art OutWest has been delighted to be a partner on this important cultural tourism initiative.
More on the Cowra Voices blog: https://cowravoices.wordpress.com/
The app
Stories about ten key locations of symbolic importance in Cowra history as well as personal stories of five people buried in the Cowra Japanese War Cemetery are included in this app, enabling a more intimate engagement with history. Cowra Voices brings to light stories that remain unknown or unacknowledged, yet belong to all Australians.
DOWNLOAD the app to your smart phone
Photos by Helen Carpenter, Mayu Kanamori, Sana Hyuga
A project auspiced and partnered by Arts OutWest
Strategic area: Cultural tourism
Location: Cowra
When: 2016- 2019
Partners: Cowra Shire Council, Cowra Tourism Corporation, Arts OutWest, and Nikkei Australia.
Funded by: The Australian Government through the Australia-Japan Foundation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Cowra Council; The Bruce and Margaret Weir Trust; The Nancy Shelley Bequest Fund (Quakers Australia); The Japan Foundation, Sydney; and The Cowra Breakout Association.
Artists: Mayu Kanamori and Jacque Schultze. Cowra Voices was created by members of Nikkei Australia, in partnership with Cowra Council, Cowra Tourism Corporation, Arts OutWest, and Japan’s Tokai University design students from Sapporo (Hokkaido) campus. Audio recording support was provided by ABC Central West. App developer was Sazae Pty Ltd.