ANNUAL REPORT 2012 EASTERN ARTS SUITE 2/252 BAYLIS ST NSW 2650 P. 02 69216890 F. 02 69258154 [email protected] easternriverinaarts.org.au ABN 93 195 464 075 CONNECTING ARTISTS COMMUNITIES COUNCILS ...

... FOSTERING A VIBRANT CREATIVE REGION WHO WE ARE Eastern Riverina Arts is one of fourteen Regional Arts Boards in NSW, each providing strategic direction for sustainable arts and cultural development in their region. As a member of Regional Arts NSW we are part of a powerful network able to lobby and advocate for regional arts.

2012 BOARD OF EASTERN RIVERINA ARTS STAFF Julie Briggs Chair, REROC nominee Scott Howie Andrew Robbins Dep. Chair/Treasurer, Temora nominee Regional Arts Development Officer 1.0 Sarah Last Secretary, nominee Sarah McEwan Communications and Project Coordinator 0.4 Jenelle Becker nominee John Heine Adele Casey Bland nominee Accounts Office 0.1 Marilyn Gilbert nominee Jordan Bryon David Gilbey co-opted Community Producer Multistory Project 0.5 [until October] David McCann Coolamon nominee [until September] Vic McEwan Wagga Wagga nominee [until July] Kathy Maslin Coolamon nominee [from September] Tracie Miller Wagga Wagga nominee [from September] Connie McFadyen Harden nominee Ursula Jones Lockhart nominee OUR REGION

STAFF SNAP SHOT OF OUR REGION BLAND Scott Howie AREA: 41,129 km2 Regional Arts Development Officer 1.0 YOUNG Sarah McEwan POPULATION: 126341 (2011 CENSUS) TEMORA Communications and Project Coordinator 0.4 COOTAMUNDRA John Heine POPULATION CHANGE SINCE 2006 COOLAMON HARDEN Accounts Office 0.1 -3.6% [NSW +5.6%]

Jordan Bryon MEDIAN AGE: 42 [NSW 38] Community Producer Multistory Project 0.5 WAGGA [until October] % OF POPULATION OVER 65 LOCKHART WAGGA 16.5% [ NSW 14.7%] TUMUT

% OF POPULATION IDENTIFYING AS ABORIGINAL 4.1% [NSW 2.5%] TUMBARUMBA 2011 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES ACCESS AND PARTICIPATION Eastern Riverina Arts aims to increase the participation for all people in the arts and cultural activities across the Eastern Riverina region. Eastern Riverina works collaboratively to identify and implement arts and cultural projects that target young people, children, people with disability, older people, women and children. We also aim to support local bodies who deliver cultural and arts activities. The following are some of our successes this year.

SIMON TEDESCHI & IAN COOPER Eastern Riverina Arts organised a micro-tour by opportunity to discover each other’s visual language acclaimed virtuousos, pianist Simon Tedeschi and violinist through the creation of a collaborative artist book. Ian Cooper. Three concerts in Tumut, Cootamundra and An intensive two day workshop allowed the artists West saw over 450 people attend. The concerts to explore methods to collaboratively make work. The were presented in partnership with Musica Viva, the Arts workshop culminated in an open studio to display work in Centre Cootamundra, Montreal Theatre and the Bland progress attended by over 60 people. Shire Cultural Advisory Committee. The presenting model ensured no risk to community presenters and DRAMATIC MINDS demonstrated striong demand for future tours in the Eastern Riverina Arts sits on the Dramatic Minds Regional region. Advisory Group assisting in providing strategic direction for rthe Dramatic Mind Festival. It is a drama festival 8 ARTISTS for high schools that encourages the creation of short 2012 saw the commencement of the development phase of plays around themes of mental health. It is a partnership an arts project featuring emerging and established artists between Murrumbidgee Local Health District, the NSW with and without disabilty. The project, in partnership with Department of Education and the Rural Adversity Mental the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, will result in an exhibition Health Program. Now in its fifth year Dramatic Minds as part of the Gallery’s Annual program in 2013. Artists has expanded to three events in Temora, Wagga Wagga come from across the region. and . 2012 saw over 18 schools and 180 students participate. 8 Artists was one of six projects funded in 2012 under “Simon and Ian left us feeling privileged to have been the Delineate program and allowed the artists the part of something very special.” - Debbie Jarvis COUNTRY ARTS SUPPORT PROGRAM Eastern Riverina Arts managed the assessment of these grants in our region. The assessment panel consisted of board members Andrew Robbins and Jenelle Becker and Tony Curran, a local artist. Ten applications were received and nine projects shared $17,455 in funding. Successful projects were: Riverina Regional Library: Techniques In Cartooning E-Artist In Residence Tumbarumba Artists on Parade: Co-Opera Performance Of Die Fledermaus Adelong Alive Museum: Millinery Workshops Wagga City Rugby Male Choir: Development Workshop For Choir Cootamundra Arts Centre:Coota Beach Sand Sculptor St Andrews Anglican Church: Resident Artist Workshops Harden Murrumbarrah Arts Council: Workshops In Visual And Performing Arts For Young People & District Country Education Foundation: Choral workshops by Co-opera Temora And District Visual Arts Community: artist workshops

Kellie and Angela work on a shared painting as part of 8 Artists Photographer:Chris Orchard 2011 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES ACCESS AND PARTICIPATION

FANNY LUMSDEN AND THE THRILLSEEKERS CARBOOT GALLERY Eastern Riverina Arts supported the Country Halls tour by Towards the end of the year we initiated a project designed Fanny Lumsden & the Thrillseekers. After the 2012 floods to showcase visual artists from across the region. One Fanny, a Tallimba gal, wanted to raise some spirits and artist from each of the member shires were selected to some money for her home community and others like it. take part in an exhibition to tour throughout the region in Successful concerts were staged in Tallimba, 2013. The twist? All the work had to fit in the boot of our and providing great entertainment and car. raising money for BlazeAid. The artists are a mix of professional and emerging artists CRITICAL STAGES - THE JINGLISTS and the exhibition is designed to show the diversity of Eastern Riverina Arts brokered relationships between practice in the region. Artists included in the exhibition are: two commnunity volunteer presenters and Critical Jordy Bos (Coolaman), Graham Cossey (Cootamundra), Stages. Critical Stages tours outstanding independent Peter McDade (Tumbarumba), Sue McDonald (Tumut), productions from to the community presenter Amanda Gay-McCrone (Temora), Amanda Levett (Harden), network throughout NSW. Coolamon Up-to-Date Store Raeleen Pfeiffer (Lockhart), Demi Smith (Urana), Ralph and the Arts Centre in Cootamundra. Tikerpae (West Wyalong), Hayley Wheaton (Wagga Wagga).

HIP-HOP WORKSHOPS Visit carbootgallery.tumblr.com for more info Eastern Riverina Arts co-ordinated hip-hop workshops in Lockhart and West Wyalong with Centennial Tuvale. Demand for this type of activity triggered a partnership between us and the Councils of Bland, Coolamon, “Patrons were impressed with the whole production [the Cootamundra, Lockhart, Urana and West Wyalong to Jinglists] and want to have them back next year” develop a two-year program to be delivered in 2013-2014. - Isabel Scott , The Arts Centre Cootamundra

Fanny Lumsden & The Thrillseekers onstage at Tallimba Hall Photograph supplied by Fanny Lumsden

2011 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES INDUSTRY AND SECTOR DEVELOPMENT Eastern Riverina Arts aims to provide opportunities for artists, arts & cultural workers, volunteers and local Councils to increase their capacity to deliver arts and cultural programs in the region.

DREAM BIG We partnered with Western Riverina Arts to present Dream in the workshop for one person residing in our region Big, a one day conference and workshop on the theme outside of Wagga. The workshop was held at Charles of Arts and Regional Festivals. The conference focussed Sturt University. We look forward to working with AFTRS on how to include creative projects in your festival, and in 2013 to deliver more great workshops. how to fund these projects. Speakers included Ian Pidd (Artistic Director Junction Festival), Joey Ruigrok van der FITZMAURICE ST GALLERY Wervan (Spectacle maker), John Harvie (Deni Ute Muster) Eastern Riverina Arts auspiced funding and provided and Gabrielle Eade (Arts NSW). Nearly 60 of the regions guidance and publicty for the set up of a pop-up gallery festival organisers and development, tourism and event in Fitzmaurice St Wagga. Jacob Raupach curated two staff from Councils attended. exhibitions in the space over its 8 week exisitence featuring photography and mixed media work from emerging LOW COST NO COST MARKETING artists. Eastern Riverina Arts delivered a workshop targetting community groups and artists who had yet to explore REGIONAL ARTS NSW an on-line presence. The workshops looked at low cost Eastern Riverina Arts hosted workshops from Regional websites, social media and evaluation tools available ARts NSW. Access All Areas was a one day workshops online. Workshops were held in Harden, Coolamon, West for arts organisations and disability service providers Wyalong, Temora, and Tumbarumba. generating new projects and partnerships. We also hosted Funding Manager Ben Sibson delivering a seminar on SCREENWRITING WORKSHOP specific NSW arts funding programs. Eastern Riverina Arts hosted a workshop in Screenwriting “Ian and Joey [at Dream Big] were inspirational with delivered by Australian Film, Television and Radio School their creative ideas. I wish I could have them in my local at . We also subsidised a place community for just one weekend... !” - Bernie Bodel PROMOTION OF ABORIGINAL ARTS & CULTURAL ACTIVITY

Eastern Riverina Arts aims to work collaboratively with Aboriginal artists, groups and support organisations across the region to promote Aboriginal arts and cultural activities.

ASHMONT ARTSPACE As part of our contribution to the Ashmont Placemaking Group, Eastern Riverina Arts have taken possession of an empty shop in Ashmont to operate as a shopfront gallery. The first exhibition opened in December and featured portraits of members of the Ashmont community expressing their hopes and dreams for 2013. The portraits were taken by Dave Maloy. The exhibition space is available for people who live in or have stong connections to the community.

NGIYAGINYA FESTIVAL Our community producer Jordan Bryon gave workshops at the festival in digital music making, as well as documented performances for the Multistory website.

NSW ABORIGINAL CULTURE, HERITAGE & ARTS ASSOCIATION Eastern Riverina Arts attended the Wagga consultation meeting for the formation of a new association and the Travelling Places workshops scheduled for 2013.

Amanda Levitt Beings of Perception (Detail), Etching on perspex, wire, multimedia Photograph: Jacob Raupach 2011 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS Eastern Riverina Arts aims to raise awareness of our work through the promotion of activities as well as promote the work of local arts organisations across the region and the State. We aim to create opportunities to encourage networking between artists, arts and cultural organisations, and Councils operating in the Eastern Riverina region. FEATURED ARTIST Each month Eastern Riverina Arts features an artist on its webpage and e-bulletin. The artists featured in 2012 were visual artists Roger Bennie (Wagga), Amy Urquhart (Wagga), Lucy Buttenshaw (West Wyalong) and Melanie Evans (West Wyalong), designer Jeff McCann (Wagga), writer Derek Motion (Wagga Wagga), video producer Laticia Gibson (Lockhart), sculptor and public artist John Wood (Wagga)and photographer Chris Orchard

WEBSITE / SOCIAL MEDIA / E-BULLETINS Eastern Riverina Arts sends out a monthly e-bulletin artEfacts promoting our activities, upcoming events in the region, news stories, opportunities for artists and arts workers as well as funding opportunities. Through this and our newsflash and artEfacts extra we have promoted hundreds of events throughout the region.

Our social media presence continues to grow. While our following is modest on Facebook and Twitter they both increased over 2012.

Six stories and events were picked up for featured stories in the Regional Arts NSW e-bulletin and website.

Featured artist Melanie Evans Photograph: supplied by Melanie Evans GOVERNANCE Eastern Riverina Arts is committed to developing and implementing sound governance policies and practices that guide the organisation’s decision-making.

STRATEGIC PLANNING BOARD DEVELOPMENT The board of Eastern Riverina Arts worked closely with the The Regional Arts Development Officer and board Regional Arts Development Officer and Accounts officer in members Andrew Robbins and Ursula Jones attended a the development of the 2013-2015 strategic plan. The plan one day workshop on governance by Better Boards. This outlines clear goals and strategic priorities underpinned was an invaluable, informative experience. by a strong sense of purpose, values and artistic rationale. Following on from the workshop the board has formed two Eastern Riverina Arts’ decision making and operations new sub-committees, one dealing with Governance and will be driven by the key values of connectedness, Policy and one dealing with Finance and Administration. inclusiveness and professionalism. The Governance sub-committee developed a new The strategic plan was at the core of the negotiation auspicing policy while the Finance sub-committee worked of a new triennial funding agreement with the NSW with staff to revise the chart of accounts to better align our Government through Arts NSW. Coupled with effective financial reporting to all stakeholders. lobbying from Regional Arts NSW, Eastern Riverina Arts, along with the other thirteen regional arts boards The board met five times throughout 2012. Two board successfully negotiated an increase of 33% in its core members stepped down in 2012. funding.

“OUR PURPOSE: Eastern Riverina Arts enriches, inspires and connects our region by fostering arts, culture, creative industry and community that reflects and celebrates our people’s vibrancy, diversity and creativity.“ Eastern Riverina Arts 2013-2015 Strategic Plan 2011 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES REGIONAL ARTS DEVELOPMENT Eastern Riverina Arts aims to promote the interests of arts organisations and communities in the region to State, Federal and Local governments and agencies, promote the importance of arts and cultural activities in creating liveable communities, promote the creative industries as a tool for economic and tourism growth, identify opportunities for the arts to participate in economic and tourism based activities, support the growth and development of arts and cultural activities and identify the facilities and services that are available in the region to support arts and cultural development. CONSULTATIONS NETWORKS AND INTERAGENCIES Staff from Eastern Riverina Arts were invited to attend Eastern Riverina Arts contributed to the REROC Youth community consultations for the development of the Network, the Interagency, Riverina Regional Action Plan as part of NSW 2021 and Interagency, Multicultural Interagency Network, and with the Independent Local Government Review Panel. Riverina Communities Rural Network.

Staff engaged in a Regional Arts Network teleconference REGIONAL ARTS NSW VISIT to develop a response from the arts sector in regional NSW The CEO of Regional Arts NSW, Elizabeth visited the to those developing a Creative Industries Action Plan for region in October at the invitation of the Spirit of the Land the NSW government. This Action plan will be presented Festival in Lockhart, where she judged the National Farm to the Minister with actions and recommendations to drive Art prize. While in the region she visited the Coolamon growth, innovation and productivity in the State’s Creative Up-to Date Store and Temora Rurual Museum, met with Industries Riverina Institute of TAFE to learn about the the effect of funding cuts to art courses and attended the Ngiyaginya CONFERENCES Fesitval in Wagga Wagga. Eastern Riverina Arts staff attended the Community Economic Development Forum in Cessnock, Kumuwuki,the PROJECT SUPPORT Regional Arts National Conference in Goolwa, Eastern Riverina Arts supported applications for over and Groundswell Muliticultural Forum in twenty projects in the region by seventeen organisations Sydney. and auspiced two grant applications by individual artists.

CEO of Regional Arts NSW Elizabeth Rogers and Eastern Riverina Arts RADO judging at the Spirit of the Land Festival in Lockhart Photograph: Sue Schneider

2011 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES ARTS IN A CULTURALLY DIVERSE SOCIETY Eastern Riverina Arts aims to work collaboratively with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse bodies and support organisations across the region to promote CALD arts and cultural activities. MULTISTORY PROJECT featured video work from the website and some large The Multistory Project was our largest project in 2012. format prints documenting the Harmony Day event taken JOrdan Bryon, a skilled community arts worker and by Shona Pratt. filmmaker was engaged throughout the year to delevop an on-line portal that provided an opportunity for the As part of Refugee Week, the community producer ran co-ordinated documentation of culturally diverse activity workshops in uploading photographs to popular social across the whole of community. Cultural groups were networks and gave away over 85 family portraits at the to have the space to promote, celebrate and share their Refugee Week celebrations. cultural activities with the wider community. During the Fusion Multicultural Street Festival, an The Multistory Project attempted to build the skills and exhibition of work generated during the project including capacity within the community to engage with new social over 160 photographs was held. Alongside this was an media tools. exhibition by a Brazilian photographer Rafael di Lima, who worked closely with the community producer to PUBLIC EVENTS create a photo and video exhibition engaging migrants As part of Multistory Project four public events were held. to Wagga from Sudan, Chile, Indonesia, China, Germany, Everyone Belongs was a Harmnony Day event featuring Afghanistan, Hong Kong and Slovenia. Over 150 people poetry, music and dance performances, as well as attended the exhibition in a five hour period. screenings of material from the MultiStory Project and short films from around the world. Over 150 attended. CONTENT GENERATION The Multistory website contains over 35 videos, interviews Over 50 people attended the launch of the Multistory photos and ten feature stories about the community. Website at the HR Gallop Gallery, Charles Sturt University. These were generated in twelve specific workshops as The website was launched by the Hon. Kate Kundy and well as a number of one-on-one sessions with a number

Zohab Khan performing at the Harmony Day event Everyome Belongs at the Wollundry Lagoon Amphitheatre Photograph: Shona Pratt of community partners include Headspace, Wafrica, Riverina Community College, Bridges to Learning, Ngurra Youth Hub. Approximatelty 105 people participated in these specific content generation workshops.

The website also contains links to personal blogs, and work done by Heap Decent and Booranga Writer’s Centre’s Riverina Multicultural Voice project.

DIGITAL LITERACY/USE OF THE PORTAL/SOCIAL NETWORKING Over 120 people gained insights into how they might use social networking, blogging and basic computing skills that would enable them to better particpate in a digital society. Over 35 people received specific instruction in adding material to the Multistory website.

Multistory project also offered small group and indivdual assistance in computer literacy. Workshops and lessons were tailored to meet individual needs including emailing, attaching photos/documents to emails, Facebook, Microsoft word; general computer skills, downloading music/videos, online banking; searching on the internet; using communication applications like Skype and Viber.

Amazing!! Terrific work. Really shows just how multicultural Wagga Wagga really is. - Sachi 2011 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES FORMING STRATEGIC REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS

Eastern Riverina Arts aims to liaise regularly with the local government members and arts organisations operating within the Eastern Riverina Arts region to identify opportunities to create and implement collaborative projects. The Regional Arts Development Office travelled some CONNECT THE DOTS 30,000 km throughout 2012 and was a constant presence Working with the REROC youth network, we successfully throughout the region, attending events, meeting with applied to the Telstra Foundation to deliver a program Council staff, commnunity groups and artists, attending providing young people in the region with access to a interagency networks and designing and delivering portable digital creative studio. A series of modules will be projects. developed exploring the potential and pitfalls of creating in the digital, social and online world. The portable studio 2012 was a year dominated by planning and consultation. will be available to members to use when programming A number of collaborative projects were developed and their own youth activities, creating an exciting new received funding this year for implementation in 2013. resource for the region.

FRESH | DANCE | FILM SHORT + SWEET RIVERINA This is an exciting two year project commencing in 2013. Eastern Riverina Arts will be working with the Arts Centre Working across six towns in the region, Eastern Riverina Cootamundra next year to host Short + Sweet Riverina, Arts will provide workshops in contemporary hip-hop Short+Sweet is the biggest festival of ten minute theatre dance and video making culminating in a series of short in the world. The festival will provide incredible skills dance films which will be screened around the region. development and performing opportunities for Riverina- based professional and emerging writers, directors and RIVERINA CONSERVATORIUM OF MUSIC actors. Eastern Riverina Arts have formed a partnership with the Riverina Conservatorium of Music to assist in touring “[Eastern Riverina Arts] consistently offer our parts of the RCM concert series to Temora, Tumut, community opportunities to engage in skills-based Cootamundra, Coolamon, Tumbarumba and Lockhart in workshops and further develop our cultural network” 2013. - Bronwyn Hatty , Coolamon Shire Council Eastern Riverina Arts acknowledges the following organisations we worked with in 2012 to deliver our program

ABC Riverina Council Accessible Arts Montreal Theatre Arts NSW Multicultural Council of Wagga Wagga Australia Council Museums and Galleries NSW Australian Film Television Radio School Musica Viva Bland Shire Council Ngurra Youth Hub Bland Shire Council Cultural Advisory Committee Regional Arts NSW Booranga Writer’s Centre Regional Development Australia – Riverina Charles Sturt University School of Creative Industries REROC Youth Network Coolamon Shire Council REROC Coolamon Up-to-Date Store Riverina Community College Cootamundra Creative Arts & Cultural Centre Riverina Conservatorium of Music Council Riverina Institute of TAFE Critical Stages Spirit of the Land Festival Department of Education and Training Council Department of Immigration and Citizenship Council dLux media arts Council Murrumbidgee Local Health District Wagga Africa Association Council Wagga Wagga Art Gallery Heaps Decent Wagga Wagga City Council IDEAS Western Riverina Arts Kurrajong Warratah Youth of Bland Shire FINANCE Eastern Riverina Arts financial situation has strengthened generated from higher box office returns than expected over 2012. Consistent retained funds over the last 4 years from presenting performing arts in the region, increased is ensuring the organisation’s sustainability. In 2012 the earned interest, an increase in contract fees for service total income increased by 17% on 2011 total income while and savings in office administration. total expenses increased by 15% on 2011 total expenses The recent trend of earned income increasing as a Eastern Riverina Arts retained a surplus of $22,977 well percentage of total income is projected to continue in 2013 over the budgeted surplus of $5281. This income has been as the organisation seeks to diversify its revenue sources.

Earned Income 1% Earned income 8% Earned Income 17%

Arts NSW 69% Councils 30% Arts NSW 62% Councils 30% Arts NSW 55% Councils 28% 2010 2011 2012 The Financial Report for the Year Ended 31 December 2012 as independently audited by HMA Twomey Patterson Audit Pty Ltd. is available from the Eastern Riverina Arts website or by emailing [email protected] Eastern Riverina Arts is supported by the NSW Government through Arts NSW

Eastern Riverina Arts is a member of Regional Arts NSW

The Multistory Project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship through the Diversity and Social Cohesion Program

Eastern Riverina Arts acknowledges the support of our member Councils

Arts NSW 55% Councils 28% www.easternriverinaarts.org.au