FREE Creativity Workshop for Aboriginal Artists
Mon 3 Dec 10am - 3pm (lunch provided)
Moree TAFE Art Room
Mark making is a term used to describe the different lines, patterns, and textures we create in a piece of art. It applies to any art material on any surface, not only paint on canvas or pencil on paper. Join Aboriginal Arts Officer Lorrayne Riggs to explore the creative possibilities of mark making.
RSVP to Lorrayne via 0467 668 977
Artstate is coming our way in 2019!
On Saturday 3rd November, Minister for the Arts, the Hon. Don Harwin MLC announced Tamworth will be the next host city for Artstate, Regional Arts NSW’s celebration of arts across the state. The event will take place from Thursday, October 31st to Sunday, November 3rd 2019.
Minister Harwin said, “Tamworth is an authentic Australian heartland beating with rhythm and talent. With its deep roots in music and live performance, it was only a matter of time before it was sighted as the perfect host for Artstate.
“As the conference enters its third year, I’m more eager than ever to see the light shine on the local Tamworth community as New South Wales once again offers up an exquisite line-up of regional, national and international speakers to share with us their knowledge and experiences.”
Tamworth is a major regional centre in the New England region. The city has a thriving arts scene and is home to the world’s second largest country music festival, the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Tamworth Cr Glenn Inglis said, “Tamworth Regional Council is thrilled to be announced as the hosting region for the 2019 Artstate Conference. We look forward to joining the conversation, showcasing Tamworth’s cultural heritage and enriching our future through the expression of arts and culture.”
Regional Arts NSW CEO Elizabeth Rogers said, “Regional Arts NSW is delighted to welcome Tamworth Regional Council as our local government partner and Arts North West as our co-presenter for Artstate 2019.”
Artstate is a four-year program presented by Regional Arts NSW which aims to shine a light on excellence in regional arts practice and to explore the exciting possibilities for arts and cultural development across the state. Artstate kicked off in 2017 in Lismore before moving to Bathurst in 2018.
Artstate features a conference program with keynote speakers from around Australia and overseas which runs alongside an extensive arts program highlighting artistic talent from around the region.
Doors Opening Across the New England High Country for Arts Trail Open Weekend
In celebration of all that the New England High Country has to offer, the second North West Arts Trail Open Weekend for 2018 is shaping up to be a wonderful weekend of culture and creativity.
The Open Weekend will give visitors and locals the opportunity to explore artist studios, galleries, museums and cultural venues in the Armidale, Uralla and Walcha region on the weekend of 27th and 28th of October.
Steph McIntosh, Communications Officer with Arts North West explains that “anyone visiting the area on the Open Weekend can create a personalized route and stop off at the various venues on the map. Whether you are interested in arts, crafts or history there is huge diversity in the range of wonderful and welcoming venues including artist studios and workshop spaces where visitors can see artists in action either painting, printing or potting.”
The hardcopy map has been distributed throughout the region and an online map can be downloaded here www.artsnw.com.au/open-weekend-map
Creating Creative Careers for Aboriginal Curators in the New England North West
Arts North West is excited to announce another successful project rolling out in the coming months. Create the Curator is a professional development program aimed at providing emerging regional Aboriginal curators with an opportunity to build on their skills and establish themselves as curators living and working in regional NSW.
Four regional Aboriginal emerging curators will participate in a three part professional development project to build their skills, experience and networks and gain significant insight into the various environments curators work in.
Professional and renowned curators Sandra McMahon, Caroline Downer and Sharni Jones will work with the participants through a series of workshops and site visits. These visits will include a variety of creative spaces from, Aboriginal owned and run galleries, regional galleries, commercial galleries to community spaces throughout the Armidale, Tamworth and Moree region.
Arts North West has contracted the management of this project to 2 Rivers Pty Ltd. “This is an excellent opportunity for experienced arts workers to develop into regional Aboriginal curators enabling them to promote not only their own skills but also that of other regional Aboriginal Artists” said Project Manager Lorrayne Riggs, “This project is the result of community consultation and identifying a real gap in the market for regional Aboriginal curators, it will promote long term cultural, social and economic outcomes”.
The emerging curators will use their new skill set in a practical way as they work towards presenting a group curated exhibition in 2019. The exhibition will be held at Weswal Gallery in Tamworth and will be a wonderful opportunity to begin building their portfolio of experience.
This project aims to engage and promote regional Aboriginal artists, arts and culture by introducing more Aboriginal people to curatorial positions in regional New South Wales. By doing so, long term collaborations and exciting exhibitions can be developed along with boosting audience development and innovative projects that possibly have not been considered before.