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ARTS NORTH WEST NEWSFLASH

Published 09/02/2024

‘REFLECTIONS’ & ‘TO MY RETURNING…’ ON EXHIBITION AT BAMM, MOREE

Arts North West celebrated the opening of the combined exhibition’s of ‘Reflections’ and ‘To My Returning…’ last Friday Night at BAMM. The opening was accompanied by a beautiful contemporary cultural dance by Yulugi Maramali, choreographed by Shae Duncan and it was a chance for many of the artists and contributors to see their creations on public exhibition.

‘To My Returning' is a collection of creative recovery responses addressing the 2021/2022 flood events through the power of letter writing. Arts North West engaged artists across the New England North West to produce a body of work reflecting the letters addressed directly to the flood waters. These letters contributed letters and resulting artworks will be included as part of the exhibition.

The 'Reflections' Project focused on fostering professional networking through a mentor-mentee process and involved documenting arts workshops across the New England North West. The resulting digital stories have been curated into an exhibition, capturing the traditional and contemporary methods of papermaking and the journey its use as a medium, while exploring our regional identity.

The exhibition will continue until 9 March, 2024.

‘To my Returning…’ will then tour to Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Gallery and Wee Waa Arts and Cultural Community Centre. See dates below:

Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Gallery:
Opening Night - Friday 15th March
Exhibition continues: 15th March - 28th April, 2024

Wee Waa Arts and Cultural Community Centre:
Opening Night - Friday 3rd May
Exhibition continues: 3rd May - 1st July, 2024

We thanks everyone who has been part of these projects and we hope you get a chance to see the exhibitions. We also thank our funding partners FRRR, Regional Arts Fund and Create NSW.

FIND OUT MORE HERE

ARTS NORTH WEST TO CONDUCT COMMUNITY CONSULTATIONS FOR TAMWORTH REGIONAL COUNCIL’S CULTURAL PLAN

Arts North West is conducting Community Consultations to help shape Tamworth Regional Council’s priorities to reflect, enrich and enhance the lives of people in their region through their 2024-2029 Cultural Plan.

COMMUNITY CONSULTATION SESSION TIMES ARE BELOW:

• First Nations Session at The Bumbira Wellbeing Space, Tamworth - 6.00 pm – 8.00 pm, Thursday 15 February, 2024

• Tamworth Lands Building – Goonoo Goonoo Room, Tamworth - 10.00 am – 12.00 pm, Friday 16 February, 202

• The Craft Shed, Tamworth - 10.30 am – 12.30 pm, Saturday 17 February, 2024

• Manilla Small Town Hall, Manilla - 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm, Saturday 17 February, 2024

• The Playhouse, Barraba - 6.00 pm – 8.00 pm, Saturday 17 February, 2024

• The Nundle Library, Nundle - 10.00 am – 12.00 pm, Sunday 18 February, 2024

• Kootingal Hotel, Function Room, Kootingal - 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm, Sunday 18 February 2024

• Tamworth City Library, Tamworth - 6.30 pm – 8.30 pm, Sunday 18 February, 2024

• The Tamworth Hotel, Dining Room, Tamworth - 6.00 pm – 8.00 pm, Monday 19 February, 2024

Can’t make it to an in-person consultation session?
Have your say by completing the Cultural Survey online!

ARTS NORTH WEST'S FIRST NATIONS COMMUNITY CONSULTATION SESSIONS

Arts North West is working on our 2024 - 2028 Aboriginal Arts Strategic Plan and we want to hear from you. We want your help to inform how we curate our Aboriginal Arts and Cultural programming and projects for the next four years!

We will be working with our Aboriginal Arts Steering Committee to bring our consultation to your community. Beginning in 2024, we will be announcing more opportunities to participate as well as additional dates and locations.

Come and meet with us to contribute to the Arts North West Aboriginal Arts Strategic Plan!

The next consultations will take place at:

✨ 10.00 am to 1.00 pm Monday 19 February 2024, at Indigico Creative Studio, 68 Brisbane Street, Tamworth

✨11.00am to 1.00pm Friday 23 February, 2024, at the Dhiiyaan Aboriginal Centre Moree, 38 Albert Street Moree

Complete the online questionnaire
on the Arts North West website

EOIs ARE NOW OPEN FOR INDUSTRY MENTORS!

Interested in becoming a Mentor for this exciting Regional NSW Youth Project?
We’re looking for practicing artists based in regional NSW who have a passion for supporting the next generation of creatives.

Selected mentors will be expected to complete mandatory online training (scheduled for March 2024) with the mentoring program running from April to October of 2024 (approx. 7 months).

Interested artists and and industry professionals can register via our website. A Mentor EOI Info Pack is also available on our website.

Mentor EOIs close at midnight Wednesday 21 February 2024

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Announcing the Successful Applicants from the New England North West

Arts North West is pleased to announce our five successful mentee participants selected as part of the Horizons program from the New England North West!

We are excited to welcome Jack Fuller (Narrabri), Sophie Rogers (Pallamallawa), Matilda Morse (Armidale), Belle Meyer (Armidale) and Thomas Burnett (Armidale) to the program! These creative individuals will be paired with industry mentors for the duration of the 7-month program due to kick off in March.  

GRANT WRITING WORKSHOP – FOR NOT-FOR-PROFIT, COMMUNITY AND CREATIVES

This workshop is ideal for local not-for-profit organisations, community groups, and creative organisations. You'll not only gain valuable skills in grant applications, but you'll also have the opportunity to meet and network with locals.

The workshop will be facilitated by Arts North West's Executive Director Lauren Mackley and will cover a range of topics, including available grants, where to find them, how Arts North West can assist with your application, understanding grant guidelines, eligibility criteria, writing an application, answering grant questions, providing evidence and supporting information, budgeting, and obtaining letters of support.

The workshop will take place from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm, with a half-hour morning tea break. Additionally, one-on-one consultations with Lauren can be made to assist with community grants after the workshop if you’d like to book a time via Calendly.

Tuesday, 27 February 2024
9:00 am 12:30 pm

Social Co. House, 67 Balo Street, Moree

BOOK YOUR SPOT

Tickets are just $10 and include morning tea.

Funded by the Federal Government Murray–Darling Basin Economic Development Program and the NSW Government Accelerating Regional Innovation Fund in association with Moree Plains Shire Council and hosted at Social Co House.

LIFE DRAWING WITH A COMEDIAN
COMING TO REGIONAL NSW IN 2024

Arts North West On Tour (ANWOT) is excited to present Life Drawing with a Comedian from Laugh Mob, an original hilarious show that seamlessly merges the worlds of art and comedy for a one-of-a-kind entertainment experience. This ANWOT Pocket Production promises a chance to bring people together through art and laughter. 

Life Drawing with a Comedian is an Interactive comedy experience that welcomes artists of all abilities. You'll be laughing so hard you won't be able to keep your pencil straight.
It's cheeky, yet classy with a lesson with a lesson of fine art thrown in there. 

👨‍🎨 MULTIPLE DATES AND VENUES 👩‍🎨
ACROSS THE REGION AND BEYOND
FROM 28 FEBRUARY TO 28 MARCH

28 February - Pallamallawa I 29 February - Mungindi I 1 March - Garah, 2 March - Moree I 3 March - Coonamble I 4 March - Warren I 5 March Nyngan I 6 March - Cobar I 7 March - Bourke I 8 March, 2024 - Brewarrina I 9 March, 2024 - Lightning Ridge I 14 March - Uralla I 15 March - Gunnedah I 16 March - Armidale I 21 March - Coonabarrabran I 22 March - Tamworth Community Centre I 23 March - Wee Waa & Boggabri I 26 March - Murrurundi I 27 March - Muswellbrook I 28 March - Dungog

No artistic skills required – bad drawers are more than welcome!

HERITAGE NENW’S 2ND ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Arts North West is a proud member of Heritage NENW established in 2022. Heritage NENW aims to promote a vibrant and innovative heritage sector in the New England and North West regions of NSW through:

• advocacy for the valuing and importance of heritage collections, sites, organisations and events;

• supporting the promotion, development, preservation and effective management of heritage collections and activities in the region;

• facilitating networking, collaboration, and skill development between heritage organisations and individuals in the region;

• promoting heritage tourism in the region;

• developing and promoting heritage events to engage locals and tourists within the region (e.g. Heritage Festival, Lost Trades Fair, Regional Heritage Conference, Heritage Week, etc)

In 2024, Arts North West is helping to support Heritage NENW to increase connectivity in this sector with their annual conference. The conference theme will be The Future of Regional Heritage with a program that will explore the innovations and success stories of heritage organisations and activities around the region, as well as an opportunity to discuss the issues and challenges that we face.

The conference will be held on Saturday 2nd March 2024, at NOVA, 122 Faulkner Street, Armidale. The conference is generously supported by Arts North West and the UNE Smart Region Incubator. Tickets are now available via  TryBooking and are $25, which includes lunch, refreshments, and membership to Heritage New England North West for the remainder of the financial year.

GATHER AND TRADE AT NARRA-BRIGHT

After the ongoing success of our ‘Gather & Trade’ markets throughout the region, Arts North West is excited to announce that we are collaborating with Narrabri Shire Council to bring ANW’s ‘Gather & Trade - Aboriginal Artisans Micro Markets’ to Narra-BRIGHT in 2024!

On Friday 15 March, 2024 from 6.00 pm, Narrabri’s CBD will come to life for Council’s CBD street party, Narra-BRIGHT.

Narra-BRIGHT is the annual illuminated street party of the Narrabri Shire. This is a huge event for the region, with over 5000 visitors coming to be part of the CBD activities that celebrate the vibrant community, CBD and businesses of Narrabri.

This year, Arts North West have been invited to host our ‘Gather & Trade - Aboriginal Artisans Micro Markets ’ as part of the event. We would like to invite any First Nations Aboriginal Artisans from across the New England North West, to be part of the event.

Arts North West will provide all the marquees, tables, tablecloths, chairs and signage for the event. As well as assist in developing artist biographies and promotional collateral, leading up to the event and any ongoing support required. Each First Nations Stall Holder will be paid a fee of $200 per site, to assist with accommodation and travel expenses.

If you would like to be part of this great opportunity to showcase the creativity of our region’s First Nation’s creatives, please fill in the application below complete with your insurance information to secure your site. There are limited sites available, so submit your application today!

This project has been made possible with funding from the Australian Government’s Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support program.

UNDERSTANDING OUR AUDIENCES:
EVENT EVALUATION AND DATA COLLECTION

Arts North West is pleased to introduce our new pilot program ‘Understanding Our Audiences: Event Evaluation and Data Collection’ in 2024. During a three-month trial period, Arts North West will be offering to collect and collate valuable data from events across the New England North West region. The data collection process includes engaging with attendees via customised surveys designed to capture relevant data from your event including the number of attendees and demographic insights. This information can be utilised by organisers for future events to highlight successes and areas for improvement and to inform decision-making.

Complete the Understanding Our Audiences EOI form to register and event!

CURRENT GRANT FUNDING IN 2024:

February 2024 - Live Performance Venue Grant Program
Eligible hospitality venues can access grant funding up to $80,000 to purchase essential equipment to help start programming and promote live performance.
Applications will open mid February 2024.

19 February 2024 - Annual Funding for Organisations 2023/24

Program objective

Annual funding for arts and cultural organisations including local government authorities supports innovation, vibrancy and creativity within the NSW arts and cultural sector. 

Annual funding objectives:

• deliver a dynamic and diverse range of arts and cultural experiences to communities across NSW

• contribute to the development of a vibrant and accessible arts and cultural sector

• support the employment and development of professional NSW-based artists and arts/cultural workers (including museum workers).

19 February 2024 - Individuals and Groups Project Funding 2023/24

Project funding objectives:

• deliver a dynamic and diverse range of arts and cultural experiences to communities across NSW

• contribute to the development of a vibrant and accessible arts and cultural sector

• support the employment and development of professional NSW-based artists and arts/cultural workers (including museum workers).

19 February 2024 - Annual Funding for Organisations 2023/24

Program objective

Annual funding for arts and cultural organisations including local government authorities supports innovation, vibrancy and creativity within the NSW arts and cultural sector. 

Annual funding objectives:

• deliver a dynamic and diverse range of arts and cultural experiences to communities across NSW

• contribute to the development of a vibrant and accessible arts and cultural sector

• support the employment and development of professional NSW-based artists and arts/cultural workers (including museum workers).

19 February 2024 - Project Funding for Organisations 2023/24

Project funding objectives:

• deliver a dynamic and diverse range of arts and cultural experiences to communities across NSW

• contribute to the development of a vibrant and accessible arts and cultural sector

• support the employment and development of professional NSW-based artists and arts/cultural workers (including museum workers).

19 February 2024 - Creative Koori - Individuals and Groups 2023/24

Creative Koori Projects Funding for Individuals and Groups(2023/24) supports innovation, vibrancy and creativity within the NSW arts and cultural sector.

Creative Koori Projects objectives:

• invest in Aboriginal NSW-based artists and arts/cultural workers (including museum workers) to engage in professional development opportunities

• enable Aboriginal NSW-based artists in the development and/or presentation of new work related to career development

• increase the capacity of Aboriginal NSW-based artists and arts/cultural workers (including museum workers) in becoming arts and cultural leaders

• increase cultural capacity and promotion of First Nations stories that provide community collaborations and share cultural ownership, including leadership roles

26 February - Aboriginal Affairs NSW Cultural Grants Program
This program provides funding to Aboriginal community organisations across NSW to celebrate Aboriginal culture and hold key cultural events and activities.

26 February 2024 - Strengthening Rural Communities — Small & Vital
The Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) Small & Vital stream gives small remote, rural and regional communities across Australia the opportunity to access funds for a broad range of initiatives that directly and clearly benefit local communities. Grants up to $10,000 are available for a broad range of grassroots, community-led initiatives that directly and clearly benefit local communities that strengthen local people, places and climate solutions, with a preference for smaller communities (populations under 15,000).

26 February - Arts and Cultural Funding Program - Regional Arts Touring
These grants support projects that provide access to arts and culture for audiences living in regional NSW. Funding is available for tours of all artforms, including performing arts, music, visual arts, literature, history, museums and multi-arts.
Application opened: 15 November 2023
Application closes: 26 February 2024, 5:00 pm

5 March - Contemporary Music Touring Program
The Contemporary Music Touring Program supports national touring activity undertaken by Australian musicians performing original Australian contemporary music.

9 April - Translation Fund for Literature
Support for international publishers to translate Australian works by living authors of creative writing, and Australian publishers to translate non-English works into English by Australian translators.

If you require assistance in applying or reviewing your grant submissions, please reach out to our Executive Director, Lauren Mackley at rado@artsnw.com.au or 0493 316 463.

Hosting an event or workshop? Arts North West wants to know!

Arts North West hosts an online calendar for advertising events, workshops, and exhibitions in the New England North West. Additions to this calendar are shared in our ANW Newsflash and social media platforms.

Click here to view the
Arts North West Arts and Cultural Events calendar.

CAREERS