Art Connections - A Creative Journey Through the New England North West

Nestled in the mountains of the New England and scattered throughout the plains of the North West are numerous hidden gems waiting to be discovered. Creatives busily working away on their kitchen tables, in the garden shed, a shop in the main street, converted shipping containers or a purpose-built studio, drawing inspiration from the landscapes and environments that surround them in the beautiful New England North West to make and produce unique and diverse works.

Our latest project, Art Connections, has been developed to capture the creative venues of the New England North West, from the larger-scale venues such as commercial galleries and volunteer-run museums to the quirky artists run initiatives and studios off the beaten track, compiling a comprehensive database disguised as the North West Arts Trail Directory and Open Weekend.

Art Connections is more than one event – it is, in fact, a series of over 50 destinations across almost 100,000km2. It will bring visitors into the smaller villages and towns of the New England North West, to explore and experience regional NSW. This project connects communities and highlights the significant contribution made by artists and cultural workers to the region’s economy and community identity.

These trails will reveal what we locals have known all along, there is something special and unique about our region and the self-drive Open Weekend on the weekend of the 31 October to 4 November provides the perfect opportunity to meander through the picturesque changing landscapes of the New England North West, the environment in which creativity and inspiration is drawn from.

Arts North West covers an enormous part of the New England North West. From bustling regional centres, to rural towns and remote villages, the vast differences between these communities include the obvious; size and location but there is an overarching similarity between them all, individuals and collectives building community identity through the power of creativity.

Online and hard copy directories will be launch on the 14th of October. Visit www.artsnwconnect.com.au for further information.

Narrabri Community Consultations!

Narrabri Aquatic Centre Multi Purpose Room
Tibbereena Street, Narrabri

Friday, 27 September 2019
10am – 3pm
Light lunch provided

Arts North West are committed to delivering consultation, professional development and mentoring to Aboriginal artists and organisations in the Narrabri Shire. We are seeking input from community to allow us to effectively provide outcomes for the Narrabri community. This workshop will help Arts North West develop a program of services to be offered to Aboriginal people and organisations from the Narrabri Shire and will also contribute towards the Arts North West Regional Aboriginal Arts and Culture Strategy.

Aboriginal artists, arts workers and organisations are especially encouraged to attend.

For further information please contact Pene Riggs on 0428 406 744 or Lorrayne Riggs on

0467 668 977

Country Arts Support Program Ready for Applications

Do you have an arts project idea that needs Arts North West’s help to get off the ground? Country Arts Support Program (CASP) is open for applications.

“If you, or someone you know, has an idea for a short term, locally initiated arts project in 2020? you may be able to access a little extra support through CASP,” said Caroline Downer, Executive Director  at Arts North West.

CASP is a Create NSW initiative that supports locally initiated projects by not-for-profits, local government authorities and collectives in regional NSW. The small grants fund supports a creative, vibrant and resilient NSW arts and cultural sector that engages with diverse audiences and communities.

“In previous years, groups have been successful in securing CASP funding for a diverse range of really interesting activities, ranging through classical music, oral histories, pottery kiln building, community choir and craft workshops and graffiti art,” Ms Downer said.

The Deepwater Cool Choir, a community choir for the people of Deepwater and surrounds, received a boost from the 2017 CASP round.

“The choir came to life after a chance meeting in an Arts North West grant writing workshop in 2017. The connections and experiences of the individual people in the room that day feed the idea of creating an opportunity for the Deepwater community to benefit from the joys of singing together” said Christine Davis, the Cool Choir coordinator.  “From my own experiences, I know music is a great way of connecting with people and singing together has many benefits, both physical and psychological. Most people like to sing but lack confidence and a community choir is the perfect environment for people to feel safe to develop their skills” continued Ms Davis.

Call us today to have chat about your eligibility to apply for the Country Arts Support Program or book into a free one-on-one session near you with our Executive Director to discuss your application. More information can be found here on our website www.artsnw.com/artandabout

Applications close 5pm, Monday 29 July 2019.

Expression of Interest for Aboriginal Videographer and Post Production Editor

Arts North West are seeking expressions of interests from a suitably qualified Aboriginal videographer and post production editor to work on an exciting new project.

Yesterday Today Tomorrow is a professional development program for six Aboriginal artists in the Arts North West region. The project will equip Aboriginal artists with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to draw inspiration from their region to create and exhibit contemporary works based on their local region. Further to this, the project will support and preserve traditional and contemporary Aboriginal stories through documenting culturally appropriate stories from three key sites in the Arts North West boundary. The six Aboriginal artists will be mentored to develop a portfolio of new works inspired by Country, culminating in a small exhibition in 2019.

The videographer will be required to attend 3 sites, 1 each in the Tamworth, Inverell and Moree Local Government Areas to film stories as told by local knowledge holders and a short clip on the participating artists.

OUTPUTS

3 x 3-5 minute short film on the chosen location

6 x 1 minute grabs on the participating artists

Arts North West will provide a project manager / creative consultant to coordinate and produce the project including locations, artists, themes etc.

SCHEDULE DATES OF FILMING

Tamworth 6 - 10 May 2019

Inverell 29 April to 3 May 2019

Moree 20 - 24 May 2019

PLEASE NOTE

Rough cuts must be provided to the project manager on the last day of each filming date.

Films must be provided to the project manager completed by 7 June 2019 for review and required edits.

Final films with all changes made must be provided to the project manager by 14 June 2019.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY