KickArts 2006 Annual Report 2006 Annual Report CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS Danny ABOOD Vernon AH KEE Malachi AIRD Belinda ALLWOOD Gen ANDERSON Sue ANDREWS Alison ARNOLD Thierry AURIAC Sarah AUSTIN Sally-Anne BADCOCK Robyn BAKER Lynda BARRATT Slim BARRIE Richard BELL Gordon BENNETT BONEMAP Priscilla BRACKS Nicola BRYARS Mark BUTTROSE Sophie CADMAN Deborah CAMERON Elaine CAMPANER David CAMPBELL Eugene CARCHESIO Wendy Jean CARROLL Vidi CHANDRA Deb CLARKE Sammy CLARMONT Gabrielle COONEY Judith-Anne CORRIGAN Wendy COWAN Sam CREYTON Ray CROOKE Clinton CROSS Peter DABAH Cindy-Lee DAVIES Shirley DAWSON Declan DELARGY Elvis DI FAZIO Geoff DIXON Susan DOHERTY Sally DONALD Barbara DOVER Ann DOYLE Annemie DU PLESSIS Françoise DUPRÉ Robert EAKIN Kerry EATON Shaun EDWARDS KALK Anna EGLITIS Nino ELLISON Melville ESCOTT Christine EYRES Peter FAY Amanda FEHER Danka FISCHER Louise FITZGERALD Honor FREEMAN Sally GABORI Hayley GILLESPIE Julia GOLZAR Elizabeth GOWER Jan GRAHAM Gwyn HANSSEN PIGOTT Sue HAYES Silas HOBSON Dottie HOBSON Ingrid HOFFMANN Anna HOLAN Ian HORN Sonja HORN Helen HUME Nicole HUNTER Terri HURRELL Dominic JOHNS Liana KABEL Adrian KING Peter KINGSTON Craig KOOMEETA Billy KOORAUBUBBA Edward KOUMANS Joey LAIFOO Janette LAVER Russell LEONARD Ruby LUDWICK Deanna MAICH Ruth MALLOCH Sandy MANGAN Claudine MARZIK Victoria MASON Kevin MAYO Julie MCENERNY Jumba-Jimba Brodie MCINTYRE Laurel MCKENZIE Euan MCLEOD Keith MCMILLAN Arone MEEKS Samantha MEEKS Tijn MEULENDIJKS Angela MEYER Lisa MICHL Rebecca MIKITA Norman MILLER Nicholas MILLS Martin MISCHKULNIG Billy MISSI Tracey MOFFATT Shane MORRIS Caroline MUDGE Rosella NAMOK Gary NAMPONAN Roland NANCARROW Dennis NONA Janie O’BRIEN Fiona OMEENYO Kathryn OSMOND Jandy PANNELL Vanda PARKER Neil PARKER Marie PENNY Lamicky PITT Susan PLOS Simon POOLE Julie POULSEN Milena QUANSAH Kim RAYNER Scott REDFORD Robyn RESSOM Theresa RICHARDSON Buck RICHARDSON Christine RITCHIE Deborah ROBERTS Luke ROBERTS Brian ROBINSON Mel ROBSON Joan ROSS Jolene ROUGHSEY David RUTHERFORD Mona RYDER Gavin SADE Joel SAM Diane SANT Zane SAUNDERS Keith SCANLON Pamela SEE Beth SHORTER Glen SKIEN Claire SOUTER Trevor SPOHR Renae STEVENS Cara STEVENS Judith Jewel TAYLOR Kristin TENNYSON Peter THOMPSON Alick TIPOTI Lex TOBY Kerry TRAPNELL Theodore TREMBLAY Samuel TUPOU Ingrid TURNER Christine TURNER Margaret UPTON Jenny VALMADRE Marcel VARNA Anne WALLACE Daniel WALLWORK Melissa WATERS Judy WATSON Joseph WATT Gordon WATT Horace WIKMUNEA Daryl WILLIAMS Bradley WILSON Donna WILSON Julie WILSON FOSTER Carole WORLDANGEL Tracie WORTH Judith WRIGHT Philomena YEATMAN & KNITKNIT MAGAZINE. 1 KickArts 2006 Annual Report Cover: List of participants Contents 1. Introduction 2. Chair’s Message 3. Director’s Message 4. Program Review 5. Industry Development 6. Statistical Report 7. Supporters 8. Financial Statements 2 KickArts 2006 Annual Report 1. Introduction KickArts Contemporary Arts is the leading contemporary visual arts organisation in regional Queensland and one of the most innovative in the state. Based in Cairns, with a demographic encompassing Tropical North Queensland and extending into the remote and regional communities of Cape York and the Torres Strait, the organisation is dedicated to facilitating and promoting contemporary arts and extending the experience and cultural life of northern Australians and visitors to Cairns. In April 2004 KickArts, in partnership with JUTE Theatre, opened the Centre of Contemporary Arts (CoCA), a unique and innovative new multi-purpose contemporary arts facility, located at 96 Abbott Street in the central business district of Cairns. KickArts animates the centre on a daily basis with a professional exhibition program presented in two A Class galleries and unique, high quality art, craft and design in the KickArts Shop. Behind the public eye KickArts supports artists within the program through the Artist In Residence program, allowing artists to access the KickArts Studio and support from staff. These activities form a catalyst and hub featuring Australian and international artists in one of Australia’s top international gateways. Professional development programs for artists and ‘KidsArt’, a program of workshops especially designed for children, provide an interactive opportunity that enhances visitors’ experience and depth of knowledge about contemporary art. These activities have become a recognised benchmark and a link for the local and transitory tourist community alike to experience the vital and distinctive contemporary visual culture of northern Australia. Development and sustainability is the key to a vibrant cultural future and KickArts supports this through its industry development program, working with business, industry and individuals to enhance opportunities. The Bachelor of Creative Industries and KickArts Shop are ongoing projects that support this development. KickArts is also driving the opportunity to develop a KickArts Printmaking Studio to provide ongoing financial sustainability. KickArts welcomes everyone and guarantees a new experience with every visit. 3 KickArts 2006 Annual Report 2. Chair’s Message 2006 was a great year for KickArts, with the following significant achievements: • A record number of visitors, with over 15,000 people enjoying our galleries, shop, foyer/exhibition, and workshop spaces. • Our income has nearly doubled, with revenue from business units (KickArts Shop, exhibition sales, sponsorships, donations etc) exceeding our grant income for the first time. • Our program included 23 exhibitions designed to suit a broad range of audiences and interests • Our relationship with the community of Far North Queensland was enhanced through strong relationships with other galleries and spaces, support for a number of Indigenous community partners, as well as other local groups such as the Cairns Art Society. Each year the KickArts board and staff develop and grow our organisation, improving our financial position and developing our program and business opportunities. The Board’s activities provide overall management direction for KickArts staff, who in turn offer a professional and comprehensive program of contemporary visual arts to the diverse community of the tropical north. The KickArts exhibition program continues to develop through our professional team of staff and supporters, with increased sales and numerous commissions for artists. The KickArts Shop has continued to grow and prosper, featuring high quality new work by professional and emerging artists. Marketing of our programs will be a key issue for future planning to bring our company to the forefront of contemporary art across Australia and internationally. With financial support from Arts Queensland and the Department of State Development, Trade and Innovation, KickArts has produced a feasibility study which investigates the establishment of a KickArts Printmaking Studio. The report has been presented to State and Federal Government for consideration in 2007. Once a decision has been made as to whether we will proceed with the project, KickArts will then review our new strategic plan in line with this decision. The current goals for KickArts are to: 1. Facilitate a program of activities that supports a professional platform for contemporary artists from TNQ, Australia and overseas. 2. Establish a KickArts Printmaking Studio. 3. Develop the KickArts Shop as a financially successful retail experience of unique, high quality art, craft and design. 4. Exhibit Internationally. Our major achievement for 2006 has been to generate more income through our programs than we have received from Arts Queensland, the Australia Council for the Arts and all other grant incomes. This has been achieved through strong management and the great work of KickArts staff supported by the KickArts Board of Directors. This substantial increase in operational activity has maximised the capacity of our limited financial resources, with core activity reliant on extended trading hours, additional staffing requirements and costs associated with the presentation of a public program. Any further activity augmenting the KickArts program will therefore require additional funding to cover expenses including staffing costs. Staff salaries are an issue that the Board has made inroads to address in order to bring them in line with industry standards. Some progress has been made and we intend to continue to reward staff for the significant results constantly being achieved. The KickArts Board of Directors will focus on securing additional funds to support any new initiatives, thus committing to providing stability so the company can concentrate on long-term development strategies that will be essential to the future of KickArts. On behalf of the KickArts Board of Directors and Staff I would like to thank and acknowledge Arts Queensland and the Australia Council for the Arts through the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy for their ongoing commitment to support KickArts. Special recognition and appreciation goes to all of our sponsors for 2006 - a record year for 4 KickArts 2006 Annual Report sponsorship, kicked-off by our ‘anonymous’ donor whose generosity will allow KickArts to support development opportunities for artists. KickArts would not be here today without the help and generosity of the many volunteers who kindly support us with their time and expertise. It is the generosity, energy and commitment of our many dedicated supporters that has contributed to making 2006 a great year and a wonderful success. The KickArts staff have again been