April 2016 Issue #2

A newsletter for members of Arts North West

ARMIDALE DUMARESQ - - - GUYRA - GWYDIR - - MOREE PLAINS - NARRABRI - TENTERFIELD - TAMWORTH - URALLA - WALCHA

WELCOME LOTS OF CREATIVE ACTIVITY!

It has been a particularly busy start to the year - with the roll- out of our professional development workshops (ANW Creative Roadshow), as well as the start of ‘CreativiTEA’ - our series of workshops in small villages around the region. It has been wonderful to get and about, and to see what is happening on the ground. Check out what is happening in your area at the Arts North West arts calendar! Caroline Downer Executive Director (RADO)

ARTS AND MENTAL HEALTH SMALL VILLAGES IN THE NEW ENGLAND/NORTH WEST

Using art as a tool for conversation for women in isolated communities, the CreativiTEA textile workshops have been highly successful attracting capacity attendance. In partnership with Centacare New England, Ascent Group, Carers NSW and Schizophrenia Fellowship, this Arts North West initiated project is funded through the Federal Government’s drought- assistance package, bringing rural women together for a full day of conversation, creativity and companionship.

There has been much positive feedback from sessions held in Deepwater, and Urbenville, in February. Further workshops will be held in April, May and June in Ben Lomond, Ebor, Bundarra, Mungindi, Gravesend, , Pilliga and Maules Creek. More info www.artsnw. com.au/creativitea/

CREATIVE INDUSTRIES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Arts North West welcomed Monica Davidson, an award- wining expert on the creative industries to the region as the guest workshop facilitator for our Creative Roadshow. Making money from creativity is an exciting challenge and the workshop covered the ten most imporant things that any creative person needs to address when managing an art-based business. Sessions were held in Armidale, Tamworth and Gunnedah and also included one-on-one arts/business advice and networking opportuniies for artists, arts and community organisations. Further workshops will be held in Tenterfield and Glen Innes later in the year.

Arts North West is assisted by the NSW Government through Arts NSW and the partnership of twelve local government authorities in the New England North West.

Arts North West acknowledges Aboriginal people as the traditional custodians of the lands we work on; we recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of Aboriginal people and respect the Aboriginal Elders past and present.

PO Box 801 Glen Innes NSW 2370 P: 02 6732 4988 M: 0428 042 622 e: [email protected] • artsnw.com.au • fb.com/artsnw • @artsnorthwest ABN 13 294 582 557 IN BRIEF ABORIGINAL CULTURAL SUPPORT PROGRAM CONVERSATIONS AND NETWORKING SUPPORT, ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE FOR ABORIGINAL ARTISTS AND COMMUNITIES

The Executive Director assisted a number of young artists with their applications to NSW Regional Arts Youth Scholarships.

A Community Arts Forum was held in Uralla on 23 March. Further forums are scheduled for Glen Innes, Bingara and Armidale in the first half of the year.

Caroline attended Tamworth Regional Arts and Cultural Advisory Committee and Armidale Public Art Advisory Panel meetings

Caroline attended the RADO network meetings in in February and also assessed grant applications for Accessible Arts.

The ANW Board meeting was held in Glen Innes in March, followed by its Annual General Meeting.

Events continue to be uploaded to the Arts North West Arts Calendar www.artsnw.com.au

ARTS AND DISABILITY The major event for this quarter was the Aboriginal Cultural Showcase at the BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE NETWORK FOR ARTS AND DISABILITY IN THE REGION Tamworth Country Music Festival. 2016 saw the highest attendance numbers on record of over 3000 people, due largely to the improved location of the A Heading West Steering Committee event on Peel Street making it more accessible in the footprint of the Country met in Glen Innes in February to Music Festival. develop and source funding for creative arts and disability projects. CULTURAL LEADERS DAY ARTS NW ON TOUR Arts North West also ratified its PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP PERFORMING ARTS NETWORK Disabilty Action Plan which is on the The inaugural Cultural Leaders Upcoming in ANW website. www.artsnw.com.au Network for the New England/North June Melbourne West met in March in Armidale Comedy Festival for a professional development in venues at Glen day. Participants include directors Innes, Gunnedah, of key cultural institutions in our Narrabri, region - theatre, galleries, museums, and Tenterfield. conservatorium. Leaders from Quirindi, Armidale, Tamworth and Gunnedah attended. COUNTRY ART ESCAPES CULTURAL TOURISM FOR OUR REGION A new subscriber to Country Art Escapes - Art Studio. Quarterly enews distributed. Increase in engagement on Facebook.

More information at: www.countryartescapes.com.au