All things new at Arts North West

May 2018 has been a busy one for Arts North West. Following a comprehensive review of its governance structure, Arts North West elected a new skills-based Board at its AGM held on 11 May. The new Board of Management consists of nine members with the 2017 Chair Anna Watt (Glen Innes) re-elected to the position of chair, Sandy McNaughton (Inverell) as Vice-Chair, Sue Price (Moree) as Treasurer and Chris Newbigin (Inverell) as Secretary/Public Officer.  Previous board members Hayley Ward (Armidale) and Vivien Clyne (Moree) will continue in 2018 and new to the Board are Peter Ross (Tamworth), Len Waters (Tamworth) and Sally Blackwood (Quirindi).   We are delighted to have a diverse set of skills on the Board, from financial to legal as well as arts management in music, visual arts and theatre.  The new Board structure also includes a second tier, the Strategic Advisory Council, which comprises a delegate from each of our contributing Local Government Authorities as well as four community arts organisation representatives.  Arts North West is looking forward to working together to drive creativity in our communities.

And there have been more changes.   After more than ten years above the Glen Innes Tourist Information Centre you can now find Arts North West at 16 East Avenue, in the beautiful Glen Innes King George Parklands. The new move will give Arts North West a more noticeable presence in the Glen Innes community and a more accessible location for staff and visitors.   Our contact details remain the same.

Finally we would also like to welcome a new member of staff – Christine Davis as our new Admin Assistant.

Christine brings with her a wealth of experience in not for profit organisations and administration tasks, previously working for New England North West Landcare and Queensland Murray-Darling Committee.

Cultural Tourism Workshop for the Aboriginal Community

Dhiiyaan Aboriginal Centre
Balo Street, Moree
5 June @ 10am - 3pm

Do you need help converting your idea into an action? This is an entry level workshop for Aboriginal entrepreneurs who are considering entering the cultural tourism industry.

Lorrayne Riggs, Arts North West Aboriginal Arts Officer, will take you through the basic steps on how to make the most out of your cultural tourism idea.

If you have a specific idea in mind we recommend you contact Lorrayne on 0467 668 977 to have a chat before the workshop to discuss your idea.

Arts North West is changing its Governance Structure

Arts North West is changing its Governance Structure to a skill based board.  Expressions of Interest are currently sought from arts and cultural organisations who would like to be part of the Strategic Advisory Council, which reports to the Board of Management of Arts North West.   There are up to four vacancies for independent cultural organisations in the New England North West.

The Strategic Advisory Council comprises eleven (11) representatives from contributing LGAs and up to four (4) independent cultural organisations providing strategic input and feedback into programming and direction.

Conditions:

Strategic Advisory Council positions are all voluntary and each appointment is for an initial two-year term. The Strategic Advisory Council will meet in August to provide input into the following year program and in November to provide feedback and comment on the proposed program for the following year. Advisory Council delegates are also welcome to observe Board meetings.

Role of the Strategic Advisory Council

• Council delegates will provide input into programming and strategic direction.

• The Strategic Advisory Council will receive regular updates from the Executive Director and may receive requests for feedback or input on policy development and potential projects.

• Strategic Advisory Council delegates will also act as champions and advocates for Arts North West in their own region.

Key selection criteria:

• Representative of a key independent community cultural organisation in the New England North West.

• Ability to apply strategic thought to key issues

• Prepared to question, challenge and critique, and be an active contributor

• Interest in the arts and or the role that the arts can play in regional communities

• Effective interpersonal and communication skills

If you are passionate about regional arts and would like your community organisation to have a voice in arts and cultural development in our region, then please consider putting in an application by 1 APRIL 2018.

Download EOI here

CASP Projects Ready to Roll Out in 2018

Arts North West extends a massive congratulation to the 2017 Country Art Support Program recipients from the New England North West region.  As you can see from the list below, this year’s recipients are excitingly diverse in both medium and subject and we look forward to seeing these projects roll out throughout the year. 

CASP is an annual small grants program administered by Regional Arts NSW (RANSW) on behalf of Create NSW with the main objectives of supporting a creative and vibrant NSW arts and cultural sector, engagement with diverse audiences and communities and the building of a resilient NSW arts and cultural sector and cultural activities. 

Enliven: the beginning of a street art explosion Armidale Regional Council

Council is working hard to revitalise its CBD and central mall. A concrete building owned by council is a perfect blank canvas to showcase street art. Council will employ a street artist in summer to create a vibrant mural that will eventually become part of a street art walking tour.
 
Marsupials and Birds Sculpture Techniques Barraba Potters and Craft Guild Inc.

Maggie Brockie, well known potter/sculpture, will tutor a 3 day workshop in Barraba early in 2018 focusing on 'Marsupials and Birds - Sculpture Techniques' to enhance the skills of regular potters and introduce new potters to sculpting in clay. The workshop will include support for new potters and hand building techniques
                                                                                
Arts Gunnedah Visual Arts Workshops Arts Gunnedah Inc

To hold visual art workshops, encouraging local artists of all ages, from Gunnedah & surrounding areas. These workshops will assist beginners & experienced artists from all backgrounds, in Printmaking, Oil, Acrylic Painting, and Life Drawing. This program run by professional artists, and will be held at the Creative Arts Centre, Gunnedah.
 
Walcha Sculpture Symposium Walcha Tourism C/- Walcha Council

4 Artist Demonstration Workshops are a component of a wider sculpture symposium to be held in Walcha in April 2018. Our professional artists will engage with the community, promote and demonstrate their work, collaborate and network as part of a sculpture event for, Walcha's Open Air Gallery.
 
Cool Choir Christine Davis

Cool Choir is a series of four community choir workshops to be held in Deepwater February/ March 2018. The choir will be facilitated by professional choir conductor Cathy Welsford, who will also conduct four separate training sessions to upskill a local person to take over as choir leader after the workshops
 
An Orchestral Celebration Armidale Youth Orchestra

The Armidale Youth Orchestra turns 50 in 2018 - and it is celebrating by commissioning a work by local composer Paul Marshall to be performed at a special celebratory concert in Armidale in August 2018 by current members and alumni of the orchestra.

For more information please contact the individual organisation.