July 2016 Issue #3

A newsletter for members of Arts North West

ARMIDALE REGIONAL - - - GWYDIR - - MOREE PLAINS - NARRABRI - TENTERFIELD - TAMWORTH - URALLA - WALCHA

WELCOME A DIVERSE AND CREATIVE REGION

A quarter filled with creative activity - eco-dyeing workshops, comedy in our theatres, not to mention developing IT skills to highlight objects in our museum collections. Arts North West has had a diverse and fascinating couple of months, visiting towns and villages across our wonderful region. We have exciting new projects to roll out over the coming months in our arts and disability, youth and Aboriginal programs. We continue to build strong networks with artists and artsworkers, as well as key collaborations with our local government partners. Caroline Downer Executive Director (RADO)

ARTS NW ON TOUR PERFORMING ARTS NETWORK Stones in His Pockets by Critical Stages toured to Roxy Theatre, Bingara, Royal Theatre, and TAS Hoskins Theatre, Armidale, high quality production with broad appeal, excellent ticket sales and loved by audiences.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow hit 5 venues across the New England North West region Glen Innes, Gunnedah, Narrabri, Quirindi and Tenterfieldafter a two year negotiation process through Arts North West ON TOUR. It is the first time to this region and was an immensely popular tour many of the shows selling out and venues expressing an interest in getting the show back in 2017.

ANW Projects Officer has also secured major productions for the network next year, and is on the advisory panel for Arts on Tour devolved funding touring grants.

SUCCESS! GRANTS FOR PROJECTS IN OUR REGION Arts North West has been successful on a number of project grants: 1. CHARGED! The Story of Beersheba: (Anzac Centenary Fund) - A study of the battle through primary sources - objects, maps, diary extracts, letters, and photographs as well as digital content will be assembled in a small travelling suitcase, and will travel with an arts educator to 5 small schools in , , Armidale Regional, , and . 2. Putting the Pieces Together (Accessible Arts NSW) - an arts and disability project in Armidale Regional, Tamworth Regional, Narrabri Shire and Moree Shire. 3. Making Old Marking New (Aboriginal Regional Arts Fund) to support professional and skills development of four artists, observed and supported by a Kamilaroi Elder and an Aboriginal Project Manager, to re-connect with cultural artefacts and re-build cultural identities. 4. NAIDOC Week Celebrations A print media exhibition in local newspapers, a photo book and postcards celebrating the NAIDOC week theme Songlines. 5. Speed Dating for Aboriginal Artists - 9 professional Aboriginal Artists across the region with 3 commercial galleries, 3 regional galleries and 3 funding bodies to connect, network and develop strategic relationships and linkages.

Arts North West is assisted by the NSW Government through Arts NSW and the partnership of eleven 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 ARTS AND MENTAL HEALTH CONVERSATIONS AND NETWORKING SMALL VILLAGES IN THE NEW ENGLAND/NORTH WEST The Executive Director has continued to provide assistance to a number of individuals across the region on a range of issues, including reviews of funding applications to Arts NSW and Federal Government.

ANW hosted Arts NSW in Tamworth and Armidale for Q&A sessions on their funding programs.

A Community Arts Forum was held in Glen Innes on 20 April which will assist in informing the review of their Cultural Plan. ED is also working with Council on the deveiopment of their Public Art Strategy and Cultural Plan.

Caroline attended Tamworth Regional Arts and Cultural Advisory Committee and Peel River Public Art Assessment Panel and Armidale Public Art Advisory Panel meetings. and UNE Arts Advisory Committee.

The ANW Board meeting was held in Using art as a tool for conversation for women in isolated communities, the Bingara in June. Events continue to CreativiTEA textile workshops have been highly successful attracting capacity be uploaded to the Arts North West attendance. In partnership with Centacare New England, Ascent Group, Carers Arts Calendar www.artsnw.com.au 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.

COUNTRY ART ESCAPES In the past three months, Arts North West has run workshops in Ben Lomond, CULTURAL TOURISM FOR OUR REGION Ebor, Bundarra, , Gravesend, , Pilliga, Maules Creek and Armidale. These have been hugely successful and ANW is currently looking at new sources of funding to continue these vital community arts projects.

ABORIGINAL CULTURAL SUPPORT PROGRAM SUPPORT, ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE FOR ABORIGINAL ARTISTS AND COMMUNITIES

Aboriginal Community consultations were held in Tenterfield, Tamworth, Narrabri and Moree in May to discuss the development and implementation of ANW’s program. Following this, ANW has developed a project to gather and document the stories of Elders, Artists and the Aboriginal history of our region in A highlight of the multimedia format. Funding applications have been quarter was Arts North submitted. West’s partnership with ABC Open to deliver ANW Aboriginal Arts Officer is currently managing Hidden Treasures - the three successful projects - Making Old Marking two free video/social New, NAIDOC Week Print Media Exhibition and Speed media workshops with six Country Dating for Aboriginal Artists. (Image: Adele Chapman- Burgess, Glen Innes) Art Escapes museums. Participants included McCrossin’s Mill Uralla, History House Museum Glen Innes, ARTS AND DISABILITY Saumarez Homestead Armidale, BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE NETWORK FOR ARTS AND DISABILITY IN THE REGION Powerstation Museum, Tamworth, Armidale Folk Museum, UNE Watch this space... Putting the Pieces together - an arts and disability creative project will be delivered by ANW to our region from July. Through a series of museums Armidale. workshops and activities, participants will use large blank puzzle pieces as a canvas to express their own artistic experience. This artistic collaborative result More information at: will be realised as an art installation of 20 cubes made from 80 individual www.countryartescapes.com.au puzzle pieces, representative of building blocks of an inclusive arts sector.