Fall of The Roman Umpire Charms Local Communities

Arts North West’s new initiative POCKET PRODUCTIONS launched in the New England North West in March and was a huge success!

Small communities in Emerald Hill, Walcha, Breeza, Warialda, Barraba, Bundarra, Deepwater and Ben Lomond were delighted to host the one man show The Fall of the Roman Umpire, directed & performed by Dennis Coard.

This autobiographical show was charming, cheeky, fascinating and very very funny. 

For many of these New England North West communities, it is the first time theatre has been performed in their wonderful halls.  True country hospitality was on show with organisers offering suppers, nibbles and drinks making the event a great night out.

These beautiful halls are at the heart of their communities, and provide a much needed place for people to get together.  In some cases, it is not the first time that Arts North West has visited with an arts project – in 2016 Breeza, Bundarra, Deepwater and Ben Lomond played host to the eco-dyeing textile workshops Creativitea.

The overwhelming feedback from the communities is “what’s next?!  We want more!”   Pocket Productions aims to offer affordable and professional theatre and musical productions to suit smaller community venues  based on the successful Arts North West ON TOUR model to established performing arts venues across the region.
 
For more information about Pocket Productions contact Nicci at Arts North West touring@artsnw.com.au

What, Why, Wow! Project Planning Workshops

Arts North West is offering a full day program of advice, networking and professional development for anyone interested in creating an arts-based event. The day will have a focus on eco-arts but has been designed to cater for anyone with an arts project or event idea including artists, council managers, volunteer organisations and community groups.  It could be in any art form for example theatre, film, visuals arts, music, festivals etc.
 
After running a successful series of these workshops in 2016, Landcare New England North West approached Arts North West to run a series of eco-arts based workshops in Uralla, Walcha, Deepwater, Bingara and Bundarra as arts have proven to be a very successful way to explore and address environmental issues and build and strengthen regional communities.
 
The day is a great opportunity to network and find synergies with others that you might not have known about – sometimes it means a new collaboration, or just a different way of looking at a problem. It is also a great opportunity to see what projects are happening around our region. In 2016, participants in our project planning workshops had ideas from stargazing to stand-up comedy – and many of these ideas became concrete with the assistance of our project planning guides.

You can be at the very beginning with just a germ of an idea that we can explore, or you might have things more concrete… this workshop caters for both.

$50 FULL DAY PROGRAM
(inc all sessions, hand outs, lunch & refreshments)
9:30am-12pm The Project Brief
12-1pm The Project Budget
2-3:30pm The Project Plan

Uralla 11 May
Walcha 12 May
Deepwater 25 May
Bingara 6 June
Bundarra 7 June

Book in online www.artsnw.com.au/#/whatwhywow/

Classrooms get CHARGED!

Arts North West has been successful in securing $15,600 from Australian Government’s funding for CHARGED!  Exploring the Story of the Battle of Beersheba, part of the Australian Government’s national Anzac Centenary commemorations.

This week the Arts North West team have taken over the classroom at Kentucky Public School to launch the first workshop of a series of CHARGED! workshops being delivered to small communities across the New England North West.

The charge of the 4th and 12th Australian Light Horse at Beersheba late in the afternoon of 31 October 1917 is remembered as the last great cavalry charge. This strategic victory has great significance to our region as many of the units and soldiers were drawn from the New England.

Arts North West Executive Director Caroline Downer was there to join in the fun. “Some very keen kids at Kentucky Public School have been learning all about the story of the battle of Beersheba which happened 100 years ago. They have made ID tags, created their own poster for the Light Horse, heard about men who were there. They have even made their worn hard tack biscuits. A big thank you to the committed teachers at these smaller schools for allowing us to come into their classrooms and takeover”

For more information about the Anzac Centenary Arts and Culture Fund and a full list of recipients visit www.arts.gov.au/anzac. For more information on the Battle of Beersheba project, contact the Arts North office@artsnw.com.au

Job Opportunity Moree

Do you love children, art and have a creative approach to teaching? Are you looking for a rewarding role with flexible hours and lots of fun? Are you Moree Plains Gallery’s next Education Officer?!

Moree Plains Gallery is seeking a part-time Education Officer to fill a two year contract. Experience in Education and delivery of creative programs essential. For an information pack please call Vivien Clyne on (02) 6757 3320. Applications close 14 April 2017.

Click here to download Information for Applicants