Seventeen New England North West Creative Projects Funded By Arts North West

Seventeen creative endeavours have been successfully funded through the fourth round of the Arts North West Micro Grants program.

The first round of Micro Grants was announced in 2020 as direct response to the Coronavirus pandemic. Due to their popularity, Micro Grants have continued to be a regular fixture in Arts North West programming ever since. Currently, the fund has expended approximately $40,000 directly to supporting locally-determined community arts and cultural practice as the region continues to face uncertain times, most recently experiencing extensive flooding.

Arts North West recognises the effects of disaster on creatives and their arts practices, therefore this funding aims to be as flexible as possible, and projects do not require a specific outcome but can focus on skills development or capacity-building.

“We are still finding ourselves in very unusual times in the New England North West but our arts and cultural community is as vibrant as ever,” said Arts North West Executive Director, Lauren Mackley.

“We are absolutely thrilled at the response to this funding round. We received numerous quality applications from an incredibly talented and diverse group of people.”

The successful applicants are as follows:

Professional development

• Bronwyn Clarke (Armidale): The grant will enable attendance to a writing retreat/landscape research locale visit.

• Helena Pastor (Armidale): Professional development attending an ASA Professional Mentorship with Lee Kofman.

• Janna Hayes (Armidale): Attend an artist workshop with Julia Ross Allcorn to inform her first solo exhibition.

• Leah Bullen (Armidale): Undertake two online professional development opportunities.

• Tamworth Dramatic Society (Tamworth): TDS will fund up to three members to attend NIDA short courses to build their skills in directing, costume design, stage management, sound design and make up.

Music, performance, and theatre

• Barney Street Band (Armidale): Record an album at Al Heeney’s Keystone Recording Studio.

• Iter Novum Pty Ltd (Tamworth): 'You'll Miss the Tide Productions' will be developing and delivering a theatre production.

• Sarah Leete (Baan Baa): Venues hire, payment for support acts for local performances and marketing show for upcoming tour.

• Yulugi Marumali (Moree): 5 participants to attend Winangali Infusion’s Gamilaraay Gathering event in Boggabilla.

Materials and supplies

• Brigitte Brummell (Glen Innes): Purchase arts supplies to extend and refine arts practices.

• Beatriz Alvarez (Armidale): Purchase arts supplies to extend and refine arts practices.

• Ebanita Sewa Emojong (Tamworth): The purchase of a new laptop.

• Edgar Alvarez Fine Art (Tamworth): Purchase arts supplies to extend and refine arts practices.

• Glen Innes Pottery Club (Glen Innes): The purchase of a vacuum to remove silica dust from studio area.

• Julie Harris (Armidale): Purchase arts supplies to extend and refine arts.

• Mona Fernando (Moree): Purchase arts supplies to extend and refine arts practices and deliver community workshops.

• Siobhan O'Hanlon (Armidale): Production and materials to develop a new collection of jewellery.

For more information, contact Lauren Mackley via rado@artsnw.com.au

Arts North West Micro Grants Ready to Roll

New England North West creatives are set to benefit directly from Arts North West, with the announcement of another round of Arts North West’s Micro Grants opening in early August.

The first round of Micro Grants was announced in April 2020 and saw a range of artists and arts projects boosted during the COVID-19 pandemic, including musicians, textile artists, visual artists, performing artists and more. Since then, the fund has expended around $25,000 directly to New England North West creatives.

“Announcing the opening of the Micro Grants Funding round is one of my first tasks as the new Executive Director of Arts North West” said Arts North West Executive Director Lauren Mackley.

“It has been an incredibly challenging couple of years for our arts community in the New England North West, from droughts, bushfires, Covid and now floods, and it gives me great joy to know that we have the opportunity to financially assist creatives and their practice as they navigate these unprecedented times.” Ms Mackley continued.

Designed to support the continuation of locally-determined community arts and cultural practice in uncertain times, this funding aims to be as flexible as possible. Projects can be outcome-focused or be designed around skills development or capacity-building.

“The main reasons why this fund is so well prescribed, is the simple application and the quick turnaround, something you do not get when applying to other funds. Applications open first week of August and closing on 5 September, and each applicant can apply for up to $1000. Successful applicants will be notified on 19 September. Previous unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to reapply.” Concluded Ms Mackley.

To apply to the Arts North West Micro Grants Round, visit the Arts North West website www.artsnw.com.au or contact the Arts North West office for more information (02) 6732 4988.

Country Arts Support Program Investment into New England North West

Six organisations from across the New England North West region will be starting off the second half of the year on a high after successfully securing a Country Art Support Program grant (CASP).

CASP is an annual small grants program administered by the Regional Arts Development Organisations, providing grants of up to $3,000 to support a creative and vibrant regional NSW arts scene.

“CASP is a significant investment directly into the New England North West region and announcing six successful CASP applications has been a great start to my new role at Arts North West.” Said Arts North West Executive Director, Lauren Mackley. “We received numerous applications to the fund this year, which is a fantastic indication that the New England North West arts and cultural landscape is bouncing back after a difficult couple of years.” Ms Mackley continued.

The successful applications are as follows:

Moree Cultural Art Foundation Ltd ($3,000)

BAMM will partner with TAFE Moree to deliver capacity building workshops for local artists. Selected Indigenous TAFE artists and Moree-based artsworkers will collaborate to train each other in arts practices, learn teaching skills, and create weaving kits. Artists will then lead a series of classes for the public at BAMM.

Black Gully Printmakers ($1,980)

Artist Dr Renata Buziak will conduct a 3-day workshop. Educators, children and families will explore one of the earliest historical photographic processes: the cyanotype. Using botanical specimens, found objects and sunlight, participants will create unique photograms on cotton with flat natural vegetation within the preschool/children’s homes to use in their own composition.

High Country Theatre and New England Bach Festival ($3,000)

This project plans to commission two local composers, Matthew Minter and Benjamin Thorn to compose new works to be performed in next year’s New England Bach Festival. The composers will also present a seminar at NECOM for high school students later this year introducing their new works and compositional processes.

Glen Innes Pottery Club Inc ($3,000)

4-day workshop over two weekends in August 2022 at our club rooms at Glen Innes TAFE with artist/ceramicist Max Powell. Focusing on making a series of different plaster moulds using 3 different techniques, developing skills in the commercial, experimental and creative use of plaster moulds.

Arts Gunnedah ($3,000)

Three advanced level printmaking workshops to be conducted by three leading printmakers, two from New England North West and one from Sydney at the studio, Bicentennial Creative Arts Centre, Gunnedah between October 2022 and June 2023.

Walcha Handmade Community Co-Operative Ltd ($3,000)

Workshops to learn new skills in photography or art by highlighting and showcasing their favourite image of Walcha.

For more information on each of these project, please contact the organisation directly.

GIVE YOUR CREATIVE CONCEPT A KICK-START

Have you got a workshop, project, or creative initiative which needs some funding to give your community an opportunity? The Country Arts Support Program (CASP) is an annual small grants program funded by Create NSW and managed by Regional Arts Development Organisations. Arts North West is offering grants under the Country Arts Support Program of up to $3,000 for arts community groups and arts organisations in the New England North West to support their creative endeavour.

To be eligible to apply, you must be a group, a not-for-profit arts-based organisation on an LGA within the Arts North West footprint: Armidale Regional, Glen Innes Severn, Gunnedah Shire, Gwydir Shire, Inverell Shire Council, Liverpool Plains Shire, Moree Plains Shire, Narrabri Shire, Tamworth Regional, Tenterfield Shire, Uralla Shire and Walcha Council. Please send any enquires to our Executive Director, Caroline Downer: rado@artsnw.com.au

Guidelines and link to the application are found at: artsnw.com.au/casp-2022

Applications close 30 May 2022.

A UNIQUE CREATIVE OPPORTUNITY: WHAT DOES OUR REGION'S FUTURE LOOK LIKE?

What do you think the future of the New England North West will look like, or more importantly, what would you like it to look like?

How can you, as an artist, share that vision through creativity?

Arts North West is pleased to be able to provide our regional artists working in every genre, a chance to represent our region in a 2-year transformative statewide project, managed by the NSW Regional Arts Network and funded by Create NSW, with built-in professional development.

Artists may submit individual EOIs, or work collaboratively across genres.

In the process of developing your project concept, you are encouraged to reach out beyond the arts industry to environmental and community groups, scientists and researchers, First Nations community and Elders, schools, farmers, and businesses which represent our region. and In the first year, you will develop your project. In year two, you will share your project in the Western Sydney Artist Exchange through presentation and exhibition.

For all the information about the project timelines, and EOI process: artsnw.com.au/regional-futures-program

NENW Aboriginal Arts Strategy to be rolled out after funding boost

Arts North West are delighted to receive funding from the Federal Government to support and foster Aboriginal artists in the New England North West by engaging Lorrayne Fishenden and 2 Rivers Pty Ltd to implement the NENW Aboriginal Arts Strategy.

This supports strong participation by Aboriginal artists in a professional, sustainable visual arts industry including exhibitions, art fairs, professional and skills development through mentoring and workshops, online resource development and networking opportunities. The strategy focuses on training and resources to inform investment and best practice that will result in positive outcomes for the region by strengthening capacities for self-determination, transmission of culture to future generations and increasing sustainable career pathways through arts and cultural pursuits.

"We are thrilled that this funding will allow us to get back out there and reengage with the incredible Aboriginal artists in the New England North West. We will be focusing on creating economic outcomes for visual artists through a series of different opportunities, designed around the needs and the wants of our community." said Lorrayne Fishenden, 2 Rivers Pty Ltd Managing Director.

For more information please contact Lorrayne Fishenden on 0467 668 977 or email lorrayne@2rivers.com.au

Second Arts Grant Funding Round a Success

MICRO GRANT ROUND ONE SUCCESS STORY:

CARRYING ON from the huge success of the first round, Arts North West are pleased to announce that thirteen creative endeavours have been successfully funded across the New England North West region, through the second round of Arts North West Micro Grants. Due to COVID 19, cutbacks were made on normal spending, giving Arts North West the opportunity to offer the funding to the New England North West region.

The application process was identical to the first round, with a tight turnaround time for applications, but the New England North West responded enthusiastically, submitting numerous applications, for an array of creative project and also creative needs.

“It was evident after the first round of Micro Grants that there was a strong demand in our region for assistance during these difficult times” Arts North West Executive Director, Caroline Downer

“More often than not, grant applications come with a lot complexities and processes. The beauty of our Micro Grants is that we are able to assist creatives from our region in a myriad of ways including the purchasing of equipment, professional development, creative workshops, through an incredibly simple and quick application process.” Ms Downer continued.

The successful applicants are as follows:

Sally Alden Photography, Liverpool Plains
Purchase of portable LED lighting for use in photography business

Art Life Studio, Inverell
Camera purchase for high res documentation, reference library

Bronwyn Clarke, Armidale
Camera purchase for video development and audience engagement

David Allan, Armidale
Home-base residency to design patterns for fantasy creatures

Isabelle Devos, Armidale
Working en plein air – New England National Park

Gunnedah Eisteddfod Society Inc, Gunnedah
Website management and technical support for online portal

Roger (Buddy) Knox, Tamworth
Online mentoring and teaching

Rams Gully Workshops, Walcha
Workshop studio furniture

Loren Ryan Music, Tamworth
Contribution to studio time and production for 2 original songs

The Musicians of Armidale Inc, Armidale
Live-streaming Black Gully Festival

New England Writers’ Centre, Armidale
A series of 2-3 minute videos by local writers, illustrators, editors and publishers.

Maryanne Piper, Tamworth
Musical compositions based on interactions with nature in the New England North West region

Tamworth Art Collective, Tamworth
Supporting covid-safe collateral for the “Blind spot” exhibition

The Arts North West Micro Grants were designed to support the continuation of locally determined community arts and cultural practice in uncertain times, this funding aims to be as flexible as possible. Projects do not require a specific outcome but can focus on skills development or capacity-building.

Subscribe to the Arts North West eNews via the www.artnw.com.au for announcements of future Arts North West Micro Grants funding rounds.