Arts News
STAFF UPDATE: Arts NT Brokers
Earlier in the year Arts NT welcomed two teams of ‘Arts Brokers’ to be based in the Top End and Central Australia. The ‘Brokers’ will work in close partnership with artists, arts organisations as well as other stakeholders at all levels of government and community. They also provide advice and support to strengthen the role of arts in the broader community and provide equitable access to the arts across the regions.
Alice Springs based Arts Brokers
- Kieren Sanderson, Acting Senior Arts Broker Central Australia.
- Darren Pfitzner, Regional Arts Broker Central Australia
- Kieren and Darren represent Alice Springs, Barkly, Central Desert and MacDonnell
Darwin based Arts Brokers
- Angela Hill, Senior Arts Broker for Darwin, Palmerston, Litchfield and Tiwi
- Christine Colton, Regional Arts Broker for East and West Arnhem Land
- Lorna Martin, Regional Arts Broker for CoomalieKatherine, Victoria Daly and Roper Golf
MINUTES AVAILABLE: Arts NT Theatre and Performance Community Meeting
Minutes from the Arts NT hosted community meeting discussing Central Australian priorities and ideas for the development of theatre and the performing arts held in Alice Springs on Monday 5 October 2009 are available on the Conferences and Forums page on the Arts NT website.
TWO NEW SEGMENTS: Arts NT introduce….
Arts NT ‘Out & About’
This segment will provide snippets and links to photographs from events, exhibitions, workshops and conferences visited by Arts NT.
This month Arts NT were present at the Public Art Theory and Practical Workshop presented by Positive Solutions, an international specialist design consultancy, and Urban Art Projects that provided an overview of international public art practice and processes. Positive Solutions and Urban Art Projects (UAP) have been actively involved in commissioning public art through the Waterfront Redevelopment in Darwin and ‘Gatherings’ in the Territory.
The workshop was an initiative of the Darwin City Council in partnership with the Northern Territory Government. The first phase offered an informative public art lecture provided by Positive Solutions Consultant Renai Grace who has over 10 years experience in public art practice gained from her involvement in projects throughout Australia and overseas.
The practical all-day workshop was designed by Jerko Starcevic, Senior Pattern Maker at UAP to expand the participant’s art practice and introduce pattern-making techniques used to create permanent public artworks. Jerko works in close consultation with Australia's leading artists to realise projects ranging from architectural commissions to gallery exhibitions. The practical workshop was later followed by a critique of the participant’s work by Renai Grace and offered artists the opportunity to develop concepts for new Public Art for The Smith Street Mall to be commissioned in 2010.
Arts NT would like to thank the talented artists who attended and wish them all the luck in the future for the public art submissions and endeavours. For photographs of the workshop visit the Arts NT Out & About page on the Arts NT website.
Extra! Have you discovered…?
This segment hopes to share new exciting resources and links for your reading. This issue shares: ArtsYakka at http://artsyakka.com/
ArtsYakka is an online resource of practical tools and templates, information and ideas to take some of the 'hard yakka' out of developing community arts. Not just another weblink site, it's filled with practical ideas, tried and tested templates, made by community arts champs for community arts champs. It's also a place to have a yak yak yak with other like-minded people.
The site is a Queensland Arts Council initiative, which was made possible through the Australian Government’s regional arts program, Regional Arts Fund (RAF), which gives artists and communities throughout regional, rural and remote Australia better access to opportunities to practice and experience the arts. The foundation information for the site is from Ideas Into Action, another RAF funded QAC initiated project.
Co-writers Audrey Hutchison, Sylvia Langford, Shelley Pisani and Judy Pippen have combined their experience and research to create this practical guide. To read the message from The Hon Peter Garrett, Minister for the Arts AM MP visit: http://artsyakka.com/about_artsyakka/ministers_message
The expressions of interest and call for presentations for Regional Arts Australia’s 2010 national conference ‘Junction 2010’ are now open. Junction 2010 follows on from the Art of the Heart conference held in Alice Springs and hosted by Arts NT in 2008. Expressions of interest are invited for creative concepts, projects, ideas, workshops, interactive events and presentations that respond to the conference core themes.
Types of presentations - Ideas, practice, events or research that is presented in creative ways that are inclusive, innovative and fun. Presentations can range from five to 90 minutes and could include debates, panel discussions, skills and development workshops, networking events, performances, exhibition/installations, staged events, interactive acts of expression or collaborative events.
Proposals - Proposals should include a one page brief, a budget and a one page CV or biography of participants. You may submit photographs or DVDs to support your submission. Submissions will be assessed by the conference management committee who may create sessions that merge several proposals. This will be done in consultation with the applicants.
For further information please visit http://www.junction2010.com/
REGIONAL ARTS AUSTRALIA VOLUNTEER AWARDS 2010: Preliminary announcement
Nominations will open on 19 February and close on 26 March 2010.
The Regional Arts Australia Volunteer Awards Program is supported by the Australia Council for the Arts, the Australian Government's arts funding and advisory body, through its Community Partnerships section.
The Regional Arts Australia Volunteer Awards recognise, reward and encourage regionally-based artists and cultural volunteers who have made a substantial contribution to the arts in regional communities in Australia. The awards will be presented at Junction 2010 - connecting the future, Regional Arts Australia’s national conference to be held in Launceston, Tasmania from 26-29 August 2009. Nominate yourself or someone you know who has made a difference in your community. Young people are particularly encouraged to apply.
Nominations open 19 February and close 26 March 2010. To join the RAA mailing list and stay updated, visit: http://www.regionalarts.com.au/raa1/join-the-mailing-list.asp?action=join&Email=pauljoey@adam.com.au
For eligibility criteria and further information visit: http://www.regionalarts.com.au/raa1/volunteer-awards-.asp
2009 NATIONAL CONSULTATION FORUMS - Regional Arts Australia Release Findings
During June and July 2009 Regional Arts Australia (RAA) consulted widely across the nation with people engaged in the arts and cultural development, allied regional organisations, national organisations with significant regional interests, state, territory and local government representatives. The forums were designed to inform future directions for our work aimed at strengthening regional communities through arts and culture.
RAA estimates that the total number of people represented during this consultation, via surveys, community meetings and forums, was over 85,000. The key issues raised have now been summarised under five goals:
- Building a strong sense of purpose and identity
- Developing inclusive and resilient communities
- Engaging young people in creating regional futures
- Health and wellbeing
- Environmental sustainability
To read the RAA 2009 National Consultations Outcomes visit: http://www.rav.net.au/assets/regional-arts-australia-national-consultation-outcomes.pdf
RAA has already begun to take these issues forward and will host a national roundtable in Canberra on Mon 23 November. Key representatives from other national peak bodies have been invited to explore how the RAA can more collaboratively create a better life for all those who live in regional Australia. W: http://www.regionalarts.com.au
