MUSICNSW REGIONAL MUSIC OFFICER POSITION

MusicNSW's highly-successful Regional Music Officer program is gearing up for its next instalment. Having recently successfully confirmed for four-year funding for the program, MusicNSW is kicking off 2023 with the addition of five regionally-based roles to its team. The five positions will provide on-the-ground tailored support for regional musicians, venues and live music professionals to grow regional touring capacity and opportunities.

There are five positions available - one manager position and four part-time coordinators. Applicants should have great project management experience, a love of music and their finger on the pulse of what's happening in their local music community. 

Key Dates:

29 Nov 2022 - Applications open

31 Jan 2023 - Applications close

1 Mar 2023 - Jobs commence

For more information and to apply follow the link.

UNE and Arts North West First Nations exhibition and musical performances coming to Tamworth during County Music Festival in 2023

UNE and Arts North West First Nations exhibition and musical performances coming to Tamworth during County Music Festival in 2023

‘Ngaarr, Wandabaa, Thanbarran - Strong Spirit Connection’

The University of New England, Arts North West, and The Tamworth Youthie are thrilled to present a showcase of the incredible homegrown talent of the New England North West First Nations community, during Tamworth’s Country Music Festival in January 2023.

The partnership presents the exhibition ‘Ngaarr, Wandabaa, Thanbarran’ meaning Strong Spirit Connection in the language of Gamilaraay, a morning of cultural creativity from Gomeroi Country.

The exhibition will present top-tier works from some of the New England North West’s extraordinary First Nations visual artists, and performers, with an opportunity to meet exhibiting artists during the exhibition.

EOIs to participate in the exhibition are currently open to all first Nations visual artists within the Arts North West service area including Armidale Regional, Glen Innes Severn, Gunnedah Shire, Gwydir Shire, Liverpool Plains Shire, Moree Plains Shire, Narrabri Shire, Tamworth Regional, Tenterfield Shire, Uralla Shire and Walcha Council. Please visit the Arts North West website www.artsnw.com.au for more information.

UNE, Arts North West, and the Tamworth Youthie extend a warm invitation to join them for the opening of ‘Ngaarr, Wandabaa, Thanbarran’ from 10.00am on the 16th of January at the Tamworth Youthie as an invite only event If you would like to attend the event, please contact office@artsnw.com.au or phone 0493 3156 463.

Accompanying the exhibition opening will be the spirited talents of local First Nations creatives Uncle Roger Knox, Buddy Knox, the Gomeroi Dance Academy, and Uncle Len Waters presenting the Welcome to Country for all of community to enjoy.

This event has been supported through the Australian Government’s Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support program, The University of New England, Arts North West, and the Tamworth Youthie through the Tamworth Regional Council.

Arts Trail Live Workshop Winding up in Wee Waa

Over the weekend, we braved the rain and finally delivered the last workshop of our Arts Trail Live project with Narrabri local Robert Dunn from Abs-Al-oot Horizons Photography at the Wee Waa Community Arts and Cultural Centre.

Under the direction of Robert, a talented professional photographer, workshop attendees fine-tuned their photography skills, with the workshop covering a myriad of concepts involved in digital photography. It was a spectacular day of amazing photography, excellent achievements and great company.

A huge thank you to workshop facilitator Robert, Lisa from the Wee Waa Community Arts and Cultural Center, Marinda Nursery Cafe for catering and the wonderful workshop attendees for their ongoing dedication to proceed with our final Arts Trail Live workshop.

The project was made possible by funding from the RAF Cultural Tourism Accelerator program and was designed to encourage arts tourism across the New England North West region, allowing people a chance to take part in a creative activity in one weekend.

Arts North West CreativiTEA project returning to the region

Drake participant Jacqui Cee admiring her print with Lizzie Horne. Photo: Michèle Jedlicka for Arts North West.

Creating, talking, learning, and listening with others can be healing. The Arts North West CreativiTEA project is returning for a third round to small New England communities, offering regional women chance all these elements through free workshops.

This project’s third round will return to Torrington and Drake, and launch in Bundarra and Ben Lomond over 17-20 October.

The workshops provide women a day of beginning-level drypoint printmaking with Armidale artist Lizzie Horne, and time spent with familiar faces from the HNEH Rural Adversity Mental Health program (RAMHP). Local HealthWISE nurses have volunteered to be available for routine health checks as an added benefit.

CreativiTEA’s project officer Michèle Jedlicka has been on-board for all the workshops. She said the results have been delightful and inspiring.

“The drypoint process is so accessible, and provides women who have never tried a printmaking process a really beautiful entry-point. Plus, having the mental and physical health support not only on site, but taking part in the workshop alongside the participants has been special,” Michèle said.

Workshop facilitator Lizzie Horne said the buzz of excitement in the room as people’s ideas became images was like magic, and appreciated the energy among the women in the room.

“I just love the gasps of delight when someone pulls that first print off the press and sees the amazing art they have created!” Lizzie said.

“The camaraderie that is shared in the process of creation is like gold…the low ripple of laughter and chatter and satisfaction of making something beautiful.”

Lizzie stressed the printmaking project was more about expression than mastering the process.

“We aren’t looking for perfection, we’re looking at something that belongs uniquely to each person. And for that day, they are all artists!” she said.

All CreativiTEA workshops, materials, and catering are provided free, and RAMHP team members will be available for support beyond the workshop sessions for more support.

For workshop and booking information, go to www.artsnw.com.au/creativitea-2022 or phone Arts North West on 6732 4988.

The CreativiTEA project is supported by funding from the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal through The Yulgilbar Foundation Fund.

Arts Taster Day Planned for Manilla

Arts North West is hitting the road and setting up shop in the Manilla Town Hall from 10am to 1pm Thursday 29 of September for a FREE community ‘Arts Taster Day’. This is a fun opportunity for participants to get their hands dirty and their minds immersed in creative offerings from local artists.

The event is aimed at young people and members of the community to experience and take part in different art practices and activities, with local artist Hilary Morten hosting blind contour drawing, a collaborative painting activity with Sharyn Jones, Evelyn Alvarez conducting a lino stamps workshop, Jodie Herden facilitating eco-dying activities and extending on their Regional Futures Project, Joanne Stead and Tania Hartigan will be offering papier-mâché and weaving workshops. The activities will be accompanied by a live music performance from Manilla’s own three-piece rockabilly sensation, The Thunder Cats Band, and dance performances from Manilla’s very own Rising Stars Dance Company.

Throughout the event, participants will have an opportunity to provide feedback to the Arts North West team. This feedback will assist in informing the Arts North West Strategic Plan that is currently being developed for 2023-2024.

“We look forward to using this creative opportunity to spend more time in the community to gain a greater understanding of community’s vision and aspirations for the future of arts and cultural landscape in the New England North West.” Arts North West Executive Director Lauren Mackley said.

“We are asking all of community, creative or not, to take part in our Arts Taster Days, our online questionnaire, or book in for a one-on-one session to generate innovative idea sharing and a clear pathway to help Arts North Nest better service, support and advocate for our region.”

If you would like more information regarding Arts North West’s Arts Taster Days or the Arts North West Strategic Plan, please contact Lauren Mackley directly via rado@artsnw.com.au or 0493 316 463.

Get on the Road to Creativity with Arts North West this September

Image: Wee Waa Arts & Cultural Centre Coordinator Lisa Almagro with Workshop Facilitator, Robert Dunn. Photo, courtesy of Robert Dunn.

Arts North West invites the region to get on the road to creativity for Arts Trail Live, a weekend of free creative workshops over the weekend of 17-18 September 2022.

Venues based in the western portion of Arts North West footprint will be hosting four artists, providing workshops in ceramics, songwriting and performance, photography, and eco-dyeing, as with funding from the Australian government's Regional Arts Fund.

“It’s an initiative to support our regional artists, give people a chance to learn a new skill, or hone their passion, and encourage people across our region to get on the road, and explore these really great arts venues,” Arts North West project officer Michèle Jedlicka said.

Artists were chosen through an expression of interest process, and Michèle said submissions reflected the extraordinary level of talent in the region.

“The selection process was tough. So many incredible artists put their hands up for this project. The final four are no different - passionate about what they do, and their dedication about sharing that knowledge is evident.”

Ceramic Break Sculpture Park at Warialda will host Tenterfield textile artist Kay Gray for an eco-dyeing workshop, Tamworth blues legend Buddy Knox will give a songwriting and performance workshop at Moree’s Yaama Ganu Gallery, Narrabri photographer Robert Dunn will hold a digital photography workshop at the Wee Waa Arts and Cultural Centre, and Uralla ceramicist and community arts advocate Andrew Parker will visit the Barraba Fuller Gallery and Clay Pan Studio for a ceramics workshop.

All workshops are free, and materials will be provided for workshops where needed. Spaces are limited to ensure all participants get great support, but family members, friends, and spectators are welcome to watch and learn.

“And also to take time to browse the work on display at these venues,” Michèle said.

“All these locations are not just creative spaces, but real destinations, and they change their exhibitions all the time. Most offer classes, and all of them are based in terrific communities. Definitely worth booking a place, and taking a road trip to learn something new, and meet like-minded creative people.”

To learn more and find booking information, go to www.artsnw.com.au/arts-trail-live-2022

New Creative Work Launched at Arts North West

Arts North West’s Seven Sisters Project has come to spectacular finale with the launch of a new creative video work, Miyaay Miyaay. 

The work has been developed by key Gamilaroi artists. Writer Cathy Craigie's story formed the basis of the Miyaay Miyaay film, with dance choreography from Katie Leslie and Shae Duncan, and the illustration by Tania Hartigan.  

Miyaay Miyaay is based on the Gamilaroi version of the Seven Sisters songline, and inspired by Country, and landscape of the New England North West.  

The Seven Sisters songline is an epic narrative that spans across a vast area of Australia from the West coast through Central Australia to the North West of NSW and to Gamilaroi country. Miyaay Miyaay celebrates the Gamilaroi version of this Aboriginal story. 

A recipient of the prestigious 2016 New South Wales Aboriginal Arts Fellowship, Cathy is from the Gamilaroi and Anaiwan nations. She is the founding director of Koori Radio and First Nation Australia Writers Network, and has written several produced plays and published two children’s books. Cathy writes short stories and works as a writing mentor and workshop facilitator. 

Katie Leslie is a proud Gamilaroi and Mandandanji woman from Moree. She has a deep passion and love for her Aboriginal culture and heritage, as well as the performing arts. She studied acting at ACPA (The Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts) and later went on to study dance at NAISDA Dance College. Since graduating she has worked for many people in different places, performing and teaching dance. 

“We feel very honoured to be able to present a new creative work, Miyaay Miyaay, to our Arts North West audiences and to the wider community. Being able to provide the creative tools and support to see this important story come to life is a significant moment within Arts North West’s 25-year history,” Arts North West executive director Lauren Mackley said.  

“I would like to extend a massive thanks to the everyone who made this project possible including our previous Executive Director, Caroline Downer, and Project Manager, Miranda Heckenberg. The film and the storybook can be viewed on our website and will also be distributed in hardcopy throughout the region.”

The Seven Sisters Project is supported by the NSW Government’s Creative Koori Fund through Create NSW and by the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund through Regional Arts NSW. 

Visit www.artsnw.com.au/miyaay-miyaay-film to view the film and storybook. Please contact the Arts North West office on 6732 4988 if you would like more information.