Annual Report 0 5 Tasmanian Regional Arts CONTENTS: PRESIDENT'S REPORT 2 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT 4 ORGANISATIONAL OVERVIEW 5 2005 ACTIVITIES SUMMARY 7 TRA PEOPLE 8 2005 IN REVIEW 11 PROGRAMS 14 ARTS PLUS Youth 14 Wellbeing 16 Community 19 ARTS 2U Performing Arts 26 Visual Arts 30 ARTS ASSIST Creative Volunteering 32 Regional Arts Fund 33 TRA ROLL OF HONOUR 41 LIST OF PARTNERSHIPS 42 LIST OF ARTISTS 45 Tasmanian Regional Arts receives program funding from the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body and from the Tasmanian Government through Arts Tasmania. CONTACT: Lucy Kenneth Executive Director, Tasmanian Regional Arts PO Box 172 Latrobe 7307 Ph: 03 6426 2344 Fax: 03 6426 2889 Email: [email protected] Web: www.tasregionalarts.org.au COVER IMAGE: Choices Lindi Gee from Art Ability Exhibition 2005. PRESIDENT'S REPORT ordinated and managed by Cultural / conclusion during 2005. Initiated by Touring Officer Teresa Beck-Swindale in former Executive Director, Siobhan conjunction with Pip Stanley and Arts Reid, it has generated many successful Deloraine. The mountain of organisation arts projects and we thank her required for such a successful weekend most sincerely for her strategic was enormous and tribute must be paid concept development and inaugural to everyone involved. implementation. Another highlight of the year was the Branch activity has again been visit of the Board of Regional Arts inspirational and one only has to Australia, the thirteen members of refer to the statistics later in this which came from all states to attend a report to appreciate the commitment, springtime meeting in Launceston. We energy and passion our volunteers 2005: a year of consolidation proudly hosted the meetings at Inveresk pour into their local activities. It is alongside further expansion – the impressive regional arts complex true to say that the addition of a that includes the University of Tasmania new communities’ activities grants Driven by Executive Director, Lucy Fine and Performing Arts Centres in category (CARS) to the Regional Arts Kenneth, we have seen a range of addition to the Museum and Art Gallery Fund in Tasmania has been an exciting very successful community based arts building. TRA continues to be an development and is reaping great projects and experiences generated by active member of that organisation as benefits through projects in regional staff and volunteer branch members demonstrated by the large number of communities. throughout the state. We welcome Tasmanian responses received for the two new branches (Windmill Village nationwide community consultation. Jenni Sharman, appointed to the TRA Regional Arts Oatlands and TRA Kentish) The 2006 National Directions: Regional staff early in the year has successfully enlarging our network to 26 branches Arts publication resulted from this led the Arts & Health network. in all - demonstrating the changing impressive consultation. Significant partnerships have been demographics within our communities established with the Department of and the thriving energies that continue In 2005 TRA became the first arts Health and Human Services, Local to pulsate through all layers of our organisation to become a partner Government, arts@Work, Women contemporary society. of Tasmania Together. It has been Tasmania, Anglicare, Womens’ Health worthwhile for us to consider our and Housing Tasmania. There is great Without doubt, from my perspective, diverse activities within the existing interest and energy in this area of arts the September TRA Biennial Conference framework and reflect on the future of practice and it is very pleasing to see entitled the REAL Event was a Tasmania Together through a written the leading role being taken by TRA significant milestone in the history of submission to the review process. under Jenni’s enthusiastic leadership. our organisation. Conceived by the staff team after a suggestion from a An Island Life project that commenced Reports show highly successful touring volunteer Board member, it was co- 3 years ago reached its successful program in both the Performing Tasmanian Regional Arts - Annual Report 05 3 and Visual Arts programs. With an Our involvement in the arts and fortunate in securing the services of increase of 17% in audience numbers disability sector continues to expand two highly regarded members of the for Performing Arts tours we must and flourish. The opening of the Art Tasmanian community: Catherine congratulate Teresa on her skilful Ability exhibition at The School House, Fernon, Community and Recreation management. Of significance in these Clarence: a collaboration of Serpentine manager, Burnie City Council (a link to statistics are the partnerships formed Studio, Burnie, Cosmos, Hobart and local government), and our “old” friend that enabled us to get maximum Arts Roar, Launceston gave us the Rick Rockliff (industry and corporate value for our touring product eg. opportunity to congratulate many of management). The complexities of Ten Days on the Island, Tasdance and the artists who were able to travel modern existence have meant that Neil Cameron’s inaugural Festival to share the celebration of their teleconferences are increasingly part of Voices. We look forward to impressive work. of our governance process and we maintaining and developing this aspect thank Board members for making of our activities. The staff team at Head Office has themselves available for consultation expanded as needed to manage the and discussion. In particular I would like Material Girl 2005 was once more increasing activities of the organisation. to pay tribute to treasurer Steve Allen outstandingly successful. This Felicity Harris joined initially as who, despite professional international exhibition of selected artworks by administration officer but rapidly commitments keeps – with the female artists continues to inspire demonstrated her considerable skills to scrupulous support of finance officer and empower women statewide. We be given the responsibility of managing Keith Duncan – a stringent eye on all congratulate the State Government the RAF program. Her competent, our financial responsibilities and Carol through Women Tasmania for its vibrant personality was evident at the Charlton (Lilydale Branch) who acts as commitment to this ongoing gem of Deloraine Conference when she became Public Officer. community arts access and thank the more than just a voice on the telephone corporate sponsors who joined forces to those who attended. Catherine Stark In conclusion I pay tribute to all branch to keep it financially afloat. The also served us well in publicity and members, associated personnel and our Exhibitionists, a partnership with CAST marketing in the lead up to that event dedicated, patient and long suffering toured artworks by practising school but unfortunately could not continue team at Head Office. To Lucy I give teachers, had an added dimension beyond that point owing to other work heartfelt personal thanks for the that involved training in exhibition commitments. We are still hoping that tireless commitment she makes on our curation. This was well received by ten in the not too distant future one of behalf to maximise the full potential of schools around the state. our funding bodies will recognise our our community based organisation. desperate need in this area and make The current enhancement of its profile TRA Youth Projects have continued to provision to enable us to make an and status on the state and national forge ahead under the creative and appropriate appointment. scene is a tribute to her vision, committed direction of our Youth and perseverance and commitment. Communications Officer Karlee Foster. The revision of our constitution (a The future is full of promise! Not only has Karlee worked tirelessly recommendation of the Matrix Review on our behalf but she has developed 2004) took place early in the year and LYNNE PRICE her own state and national profile as altered the structure of our Board an innovative and competent youth to enable wider representation from arts practitioner. co-opted members. We were very EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT The review made recommendations in TRA, we have ‘team spirit’ in the real the areas of: sense and I feel very privileged to work > organisational vision, focus and with such a wonderful group of friends structure who like me are equally passionate > program focus and reach about the power of the arts to enrich > resources, promotion and branding communities. > staffing structures and remuneration, and LUcy KenneTH > governance activities. The review recommendations were approved by the TRA State Executive Committee in December 2004 and have been integrated into the TRA 2005/6 Business Plan. With a refreshed vision and more strategically 2005 was a very exciting year to be focused programs 2005 was filled with working for Tasmanian Regional Arts. partnership building and dynamic We started the year with a gusto project activities. This annual report of advocacy and networking due to is filled with hundreds of fantastic organisational changes at the Australia activities and arts experiences Council for the Arts, one of TRA's main conducted by TRA communities and funding bodies. through our head office in Latrobe. So many that I will not go into detail here This came at a time when we were but let you discover them for yourself. implementing recommendations of the organisational review conducted I would however like to thank our during 2004. The review included an funding bodies for having confidence in in-depth evaluation of the community our long standing organisation. I would cultural development program and also like to pay tribute to all those organisational structures. The review dedicated volunteers who make arts was conducted by Sydney based magic happen every day in their local consultants Matrix on Board and communities, especially to our hard supported by the Australia Council for working State Executive Committee the Arts and Arts Tasmania. who are always willing to think big and look beyond their local patch at the wider state and national scenes.