Delineate is offering a small arts grant program, which aims to support disability-led projects that build capacity, leadership skills, and artistic networks for artists with disability as well as create cultural change. Delineate applicants can apply from anywhere in NSW, a total of 6 grants will be offered.

There were many great insights from these meetings but the most important one was an ongoing commitment from ANR to work with ANW next year as a part of Heading West on an exchange residency project with the idea of a musician with disability visiting our region from the North West to undertake a residency and mentorship with Tralalablip and then a musician with disability from the North Coast travelling to the North West as a part of a music showcase project that they already undertake as a part of the Tamworth music festival.

2015 has been a successful first year for the Heading West Project. The strategic partnership with Accessible Arts, NSW peak body for arts and disability has allowed us to deliver a suite of professional and networking opportunities for the New England North West Arts and Disability Sector. These opportunities have included two regional arts and disability forums in Armidale and Gunnedah, arts and disability awareness training and disability action plan workshops for key organisations within our region, project funding for organisations through Accessible Arts Artist Run Initiatives and the development of projects ideas for 2

Approximately fifteen people attended the forum that was held in Gunnedah on Tuesday, 26 October, 2015. At this forum we followed a slightly different agenda than the usual community forums that Accessible Arts usually facilitates in regional centres. Gunnedah is a smaller community hence we had a smaller group and we thought it was important to manage this forum more like a round table discussion to foster inclusivity within the group. As a half day forum we were much more focused on discussion and outcomes of ways to move forward in the region rather than having presentations and videos etc.

A common theme from the groups was the importance of having an annual community forum in the North West as a way of networking, project updates, sharing information about latest technologies and as an ongoing conversation into issues around Disability Awareness. All of the participants requested to be sent some Disability Action Plan samples from other arts organisations to assist them in the development of their own plans.

This forum is a great opportunity to have your say. We want to know what the opportunities should be, and how we can work together to overcome physical distance between artists in regional areas. We also want to discuss how we can increase professionalism and partnerships, as well as promote more inclusive practice in the region.

The team at Arts North West is committed to providing creative opportunities in the New England North West. The upcoming series of creative days is open for all of our region's arts practitioners and will be held in Walcha, Narrabri and Quirindi.

Offering a full day program of advice, networking, and professional development for artists, arts organisations and community groups, this is a great opportunity to connect with fellow artists in the region. Come for the whole day or half day sessions.

As part of Heading West, a partnership between Accessible Arts NSW and Arts North West, a Disability Awareness Training and Disability Action Plan Workshop will be held at the Tamworth Regional Gallery in October.

"Imagine Me is a creative awareness-raising project for people who have experienced a spinal cord injury and aims to foster greater community understanding toward people living with disability. Individuals are invited to participate in workshops where they create an artwork using digital photography and creatively explore their experiences of spinal cord injury." Workshops in Tamworth and Armidale.

For more info email imagineme@royalrehab.com.au