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COMMUNITY, SPORT, EVENTS AND CULTURAL SERVICES COMMITTEE 2 9 JUNE 2021

GENERAL MANAGER COMMUNITY SPORT AND CULTURAL SERVICES UPDATE

Stephen Foster | 79/4/1 | #6449271v9

RECOMMENDATION:

It is recommended that Council notes the report.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT:

National Reconciliation Week 2021 National Reconciliation Week 2021 kicked off with a formal address at Council’s Ordinary Meeting on Wednesday 26th May 2021. Proceedings were emceed by Louise Hunter from Council’s First Peoples Advisory Committee and included a Welcome to Country from both Gimuy Wallubara Yidinji (Hendrick Fourmile) and Yirriganydji/Djabugay (Gavin Singleton). Luke Wenitong from the Queensland Human Rights Commission presented the keynote address on “Reconciliation from a Human Rights Perspective”. The event received television media coverage on Win Local News and was positively received by all Councillors and staff present.

Luke Wenitong & Louise Hunter Gavin Singleton

On Thursday 27th May Mayor Bob Manning and Chief Executive Officer Mica Martin attended the annual Reconciliation Week Breakfast, hosted by Reconciliation Queensland Incorporated at Pullman International Hotel. The Mayor addressed the sold- out breakfast which was primarily attended by state and local government representatives and local community services.

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Depot Breakfasts A series of Reconciliation Week breakfasts were held at Council depots engaging the outdoor workforce in conversations about Council’s commitment to progressing reconciliation and more broadly what reconciliation is and why it’s everyone’s responsibility. The events provided an opportunity for Council staff to discuss with senior management and Community Development, First Peoples Advisory Committee and Reconciliation Action Plan teams the history, importance and relevance of reconciliation as it relates to Council, staff and the wider community.

On Friday 28th May the Gordonvale breakfast was attended by approximately 70 staff from Gordonvale and Babinda Depots, and on Monday 31st May 100 staff attended a breakfast at the Martyn Street depot. A further two breakfasts were held 1st – 2nd June at Stratford Depot with over 100 staff in attendance.

Clontarf Academy students were invited to host the BBQ breakfasts as well as gain exposure to Council operations and the different career pathways Council offers.

Students of Gordonvale State High School Clontarf Academy, with Stephen Foster A/GM Community, Sport and Cultural Services

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Erin Barnett, Workforce Development Officer with Ray Rosendale, Community Services Officer – First People

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Youth Urban Art Bentley Park The Sinclair Miller Bridge in Bentley Park is now a transformed site and the new Youth Urban Art mural has certainly encompassed the ethos of the program. This site was a graffiti hot spot and now looks fantastic with strong participation from local Bentley Park College and Holy Spirit College students in completing the artwork. The facilitator artist developed sketches by the school students into the final mural design with the young artists also learning new painting and design techniques.

Community Partnerships Tanks Markets for 2021 commenced in April, with the most recent May 23rd markets fully booked by 91 stallholders displaying everything from baby clothes to plants. The May markets featured new street signage, more buskers and an improved layout. Holloways Beach, Gordonvale, Woree and Palm Cove Markets are now in full swing with the community attending in large numbers.

The delivery of Council-supported community events, activities and projects has increased as the weather improves and COVID regulations are managed. These have represented a broad section of the community; youth, multicultural, indigenous and sporting groups and include Big Fish Young Starters Weekend, Indigenous Youth in Innovation, International Pi Day, Indian Association’s Festival of Colours – HOLI, Harmony Day, Australia Arakanese Traditional New Year Water Festival, Artists First Print Workshops, Chinese New Year, Waitangi Day, Barrier Reef Big Bash Cricket, QLD Country Women’s and Under 19 Colts Rugby Union Competition, HAMBO Tens Rugby Union, Athletics Showcase and Athletics Twilight Carnival and the Freshwater Food Festival.

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Eleven community groups received funding through the most recent Community Events, Activities and Project Grant round to deliver events, activities and projects between 1 June 2021 and 30 June 2022. Grant round 4 is currently open.

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Welcoming Cities Launch: Welcoming Cairns Welcoming Cities was successfully launched on May 22nd at Council’s Civic Reception Rooms. The event was well attended with many cultural groups represented including Cairns African Association, Australia Japan Society FNQ, Cairns Bhutanese Magar Samaj, Australian Arakanese Community Cairns, Pacific Council, Bavarian Dance group, Filipino Community and Cairns and District Chinese Association.

Mayor Bob Manning opened the event with a brief speech about the importance of retaining culture in Cairns, followed by a Welcome to Country by Traditional Owners. As part of the activities participants conversed about “What does a welcoming city look like for you and your family?” helping to support the Welcoming Cairns program’s objectives and to seek to further understand the community’s aspirations.

The launch was followed by a community capacity building workshop Revenue Generation hosted by Ethnic Communities Council Queensland. The workshop provided opportunities for community members to seek advice and support from facilitators and many of the attendees asked questions in reference to their community groups.

Feedback received included; recurring workshops throughout the year to build capacity of community leaders, a centrally located hub for people from cultural communities to drop in, a multicultural sports day, food festival and a directory-type booklet in language for community groups to refer to.

LIBRARIES:

Resumption of Homebound Library Services Cairns Libraries is working toward the resumption of the popular Homebound service where library resources are delivered to community members unable to visit the library independently. Stage one will prepare library volunteers to meet COVID compliance requirements and see deliveries begin to local aged care facilities from late June 2021. Stage two will expand the Homebound services for delivery to residences.

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First 5 Forever at Cairns Children’s Festival Cairns Libraries participated in the Cairns Children’s Festival at the Botanic Gardens on 16th May 2021. The First 5 Forever team provided storytelling stations and Story Walks featuring The Little Queenslanders’ Alphabet Book - a huge success with over 330 participants.

Above: A family enjoying the F5F Story Walk

Right: F5F Storytelling Station

Library and Information Week 2021 – Adventures in Space and Time Australian Library and Information Association’s national celebration of libraries falls under the banner of Library and Information Week. It’s an opportunity for libraries to showcase their resources and services to the community through special events, displays and opportunities to connect as a community.

This year the promotion was held from the 17th to 23rd May and Cairns Libraries provided a range of activities for the Cairns community: • National Simultaneous Storytime with NASA astronaut Dr Shannon Waker reading this year’s title ‘Give me some Space’ from the International Space Station. Sessions were delivered at City Library and also facilitated by library staff in select local schools – 245 participants • Outreach events and library tours – 360 participants • Author talks in-branch and online – 13 participants and 271 views • Film Club – 17 participants • Technology sessions including how to use library eResources, Tech Savvy Seniors and Deadly Digital Communities, including two Auslan facilitated sessions – 17 participants • Storytime and Baby Rhyme Time • Borrow and learn with robots and discovery kits

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Auslan facilitated Deadly Digital Session at Manunda Library Library and Information Week display at Earlville Library

Babinda Museum Walk – Plaque for Babinda Library Babinda Library has been included in the Babinda Museum Walk project coordinated by Babinda Museum. A plaque has been installed at the front of the building and as an adjunct to the walk, will encourage people to visit the library. The history of the library and the district, including a touchscreen of historical photos can be found inside.

Meeting Room Upgrades The public meeting rooms at City, Manunda and Stratford Libraries have received technology upgrades. The upgrades were aimed at resolving connectivity issues and to include web conferencing facilities in response to the increase of online meetings due to the COVID pandemic. City Library now has web conferencing facilities, Manunda library has a smart TV and web conferencing facilities, and Stratford Library has a new and larger smart TV. The project was initially projected to cost $45,000 however, an adjustment to scope, a decrease in market equipment costs and the technology selected, was completed for $15,000.

CULTURAL SERVICES:

Tanks Arts Centre Minister Enoch visit The Hon Leeanne Enoch, Minister for the Arts visited Cairns and stopped in at Tanks Arts Centre for a social media opportunity and to announce that Tanks Arts Centre has scored another $80K in Live Music Support funding. Whilst at the Tanks she met local singer songwriter originally hailing from Mena Creek, Greta Stanley, who has been nominated for QLD Music Awards through QMusic multiple times and is the recipient of Arts Queensland’s emerging artist award, the Billie Thorpe Award.

Minister Enoch also met Arc Disability Services Inc. participants who had just completed their successful season at Tanks with their collaborative work Beyond The Waves with Brisbane based Dead Puppets Society for the Cairns Children’s Festival - also part funded by Queensland Arts Showcase Program through Council.

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Tank 5 While the Tanks Arts Centre contemporary music program is still subject to the national and international flow-on effects of lockdowns, the shows that have been presented have been well attended and high level - including iconic songwriter and performer Ben Lee, local singer songwriter now ‘made good’ Hannah (Eves Karydas) and Sydney band The Rubens. All were finally able to make the Tanks show after approximately 12 months of dodging lockdowns and associated postponements.

RADF The Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) Major Round and City of the Arts Hero Project grant round closed on May 7th with a large number of applications received. The recent RADF Roadshows have been a success with some applicants handing in drafts well ahead of closing dates and liaising with Council’s Arts and Cultural Grants Coordinator over a number of weeks to strengthen applications and ensure the best chance for their applications within the competitive funding round. This round also marked the first time submissions were accepted through an online platform in order to streamline processes and make grants more accessible to creatives in the region.

Eddie Oribin Award for Building of the Year The Cairns Performing Arts Centre has taken out the top award at the 2021 Far North Queensland Architecture Awards. Designed by CA Architects and Cox Architecture in collaboration, it was named the Eddie Oribin award for building of the year, as well as being one of five projects that received regional commendations at the awards on 28 May. The Far North Queensland Architecture Awards jury stated: “CPAC and associated Munro Martin Parklands create a benchmark in regional performance arts space. “The intensely tropical response with cloaking landscape, filtered sunscreen, lofty public space opening to both inside and out, below the fly towers and theatres clad in a pallet of cloud- like colours always reflecting the changing tropical skies.” The recipients of awards and regional commendations will advance to the Queensland Architecture Awards, which will be announced via a live broadcast on 24 June.

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Arts Sector Information Session Council was invited to present at Arts Queensland’s Arts Sector Information Session at Bulmba-ja Arts Centre on May 4. Fleur McMenamin, Council’s Acting Senior Cultural Planner, spoke on behalf of Cultural Services and presented information on current and upcoming funding opportunities such as the Regional Arts Development Fund and the Arts and Cultural Assistance Grants alongside presentations from Arts Law, Department of Tourism Innovation and Sport, Gambling Community Benefit Fund, Creative Partnerships Australia, Arts Queensland and APRA AMCOS.

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Cairns Summer Sounds The final two Cairns Summer Sounds performances rounded out May 2021 with a sell out crowd of 2,000 turning out to Tones and I at Munro Martin Parklands The show was complete with fireworks and a 20 piece vocal choir. Two weeks later this time with a 1,700 strong crowd, John Butler performed for two-and-a-half hours, reminding audiences why they love living in Cairns!

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The Court House Highlights for The Court House include the launch of Boats of our People which was attended by around 80 visitors made up of students and their parents.

Cairns Children’s Festival, for the first time at the Court House, was a wonderful experience including an exhibition by children in the region, curated by Sorami Ochi who’s practice was developed through the FLAME mentorship program. The exhibition and her boat-making activity was greatly enjoyed by the children and families who participated.

Cairns Children’s Festival The Cairns Children’s Festival, a two-day annual celebration for children aged 12 and under, this year welcomed a record 5,000 daily festival goers!

Regurgitator’s Pogogo Show brought a smile to long-term fans, as well as the miniature people in their lives at both of their free pram-packed festival slots at Tanks Arts Centre. The punk rockers performed all the favourites from their tongue-in-cheek record The Really Really Really Really Boring Album including Pillow Fight and aptly named Mr Butt. Joining forces were ARC Disability Services Inc, Dead Puppet Society and Cairns Regional Council to stage Beyond the Waves, a free theatre show appealing to all ages. Along with cautious Finn and his free-spirited dog, audiences were taken on an imaginary magic carpet ride from a Far North Queensland beach into the colourful underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef.

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From budding Beyonces to aspiring Justin Biebers, 5 Minutes of Fame encouraged kids from around the region to acknowledge their inner rockstar and shift shapes on the fully produced professional pint-sized stage. Complete with a technician, PA, microphones, lights and The Young Company crew, the red carpet was rolled out for these mini headliners who yearned for the full superstar backstage experience.

Over at the Minecraft workshop, superheroes created their own skins for a virtual fashion parade finale that would have impressed the judges from Project Runway. Acclaimed Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo show returned and had parents in the stalls scratching their heads and marvelling at the gigantic prehistoric animals roaming the stage.

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There was loads of activities happening over the two-day festival to keep ankle biters busy – arts, craft, theatre, music, dance and active workshops for the whole clan to enjoy each day. For preschoolers to preteens, The Cairns Children’s Festival was a whole world of wonder for the entire family.

The COVID friendly Cairns Children’s Festival 2021 was a huge success for young and old, and we can’t wait for next year’s event!

Flame.Roadtrip - Flame Stage 2021 Aspiring stage professionals from the Cassowary Coast, Tablelands, Etheridge, Douglas Shire and Cairns areas were recently invited to apply for an opportunity to get hands-on experience working alongside the many technical professionals and coordinators of this year’s Cairns Children’s Festival held in May. Five successful applicants from the regions were provided with free travel and accommodation to Cairns and a mentoring experience working across many of the planned events and venues during the two-day festival. The experience included; a behind the scenes tour of Tanks Arts Centre and Cairns Performing Arts Centre, working front-of-house, shadowing technical staff in sound and lighting, workshops in production management and online event coordination, and talks with our region’s leading production and technical staff as well as producers of the recent Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo touring production.

The team of five worked tirelessly setting up PA’s and event furniture, assisting workshop facilitators and shadowing technical staff at Regurgitator’s Pogogo Show and Arc Disability Services’ Beyond the Waves production.

The Flame Stage experience was the fifth installment in the Flame Roadtrip project which has been funded by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland’s Regional Arts Services Network.

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Stephen Foster A/General Manager Community, Sport and Cultural Services

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