Arts North West will embark on another busy and creative year in 2018 with a suite of projects and programs ready to be rolled out in the New England North West.
Country Art Escapes, a Regional Arts Trail managed by Arts North West will see a refresh early this year with a complete rebrand including a new website. The rebrand will happen in time for two open days that are scheduled for Tenterfield, Glen Innes, Armidale and Uralla later in the year.
Arts North West’s highly successful professional development workshops will start rolling out across the region in March. Glen Innes, Armidale, Tamworth and surrounding communities will have the opportunity to learn helpful tips for arts projects, event planning and useful hints for how to write arts grant.
Arts North West will be working with the Ben Lomond community starting in March to deliver a series of creative workshops. This project aims to provide a catalyst for community members to meet on a regular basis and engage in the therapeutic benefits of art-making. This project was made possible through funding received by the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal.
Pocket Productions, established last year as an Arts North West initiative to deliver high quality productions to smaller communities and villages, will welcome the Bloodwood Quartet who will play their way throughout the network during April. The Arts North West ON TOUR Network will be hosting a suite of performers and performances in 2018, the first being the Australian Tour of The London Klezmer Quartet in February and March.
Rivers to Ridges and the Stories In Between project will enter into its second year after a highly successful first year. The project will continue to gather and document the stories of Elders, artists and the Aboriginal history of the New England North West in multimedia format. After 3 years, The Making Old Markings New project will finish in May with an exhibition at Armidale Cultural Centre and Keeping Place, the works are the result of Aboriginal artists connecting with traditional markings from the New England North West region. 2018 will see the launch of a new project with Yaama Ganu in Moree. Our Plains - Our Hills - Our Home will showcase the excellence of Aboriginal arts created by the Kamilaroi people. Arts North West is also looking forward to working with the UNE Oorala Aboriginal Centre in 2018.
The Stuff of Tales project will also enter its second year in 2018. The project is a strategic partnership to develop and promote access in, and engagement to, small museums in the New England North West and will focus on creative writing for High School students and volunteers at the museums in 2018.