A COMPREHENSIVE reboot of the essential connections that drive a healthy and visible creative arts industry recently escalated with a huge recruitment drive for the New England North West’s best Arts communicators.
Arts North West is now pleased to announce its Creative Champions and In The Museum residency artists, who will spearhead this outreach program across the region in 2021.
Arts North West Creative Champions will seek out artists in all disciplines, artsworkers, and creative venues within the local government areas where they live. Once in place, they will assist creatives to deliver their information to the Arts North West Connect (www.artsnwconnect.com.au) regional registry of creative people, industries and venues in the New England North West.
These positions will be vital in establishing links between the creative population of our region and council Visitor Information Centres, giving our local artists and arts-related industries acknowledgment, recognition and employment opportunities, growing sustainability for the Arts within our communities.
Executive director of Arts North West Caroline Downer thanked the large number of applicants who put themselves forward for the positions.
“The Arts North West Creative Champions will allow us to build stronger and wider networks throughout the New England North West region,” she said in a statement.
“This is something we are constantly working on, but with such a large geographical area and 12 contributing councils, it is not always easy to do with a small staff.
“The Arts North West Connect website will be the most current and comprehensive database of all things creative in the New England North West.”
Arts North West’s inaugural Creative Champions are as follows:
Armidale Regional: Lynette Aspey
Glen Innes Severn: Ruth Brummell
Gunnedah Shire: Marie Low
Gwydir Shire: Laura Cush
Inverell Shire: Mel Arnott
Liverpool Plains: Tania Hartigan
Moree Plains Shire: Kerrie Matchett
Narrabri Shire: Sarah Leete
Tamworth Regional: Kate Hofman
Tenterfield Shire: Danielle Wholohan
Uralla Shire: In negotiation
Walcha Council: Maryanne Piper
Ms Downer said that applications for Arts North West’s In the Museum Artist residency were equally as impressive.
“We are so lucky to have fabulous museums run by dedicated volunteers scattered throughout our region and I am sure the artists will find a treasure trove of inspiration during their residency,” she said.
“I hope the In the Museum Residency project will inspire other local creatives to engage and explore their local historical societies and museums for inspiration and to create new connections within their communities.”
The In the Museum Artist residency is an opportunity for an artist to develop new work, and collaborate with a museum to promote creative practice and support the role of museums and their collections in their communities by facilitating a community workshop or presentation of the residency outcomes.
The following New England North West artists were successful in being linked to these venues:
Dorothea Mackellar Centre and the Water Tower Museum: Writer, Alex Wharton
Echo Museum Wee Waa: Singer/Songwriter/Musician, Sarah Leete
Emmaville Mining Museum: Visual Artist, Jeff Manning
Hillgrove Museum: Photographer/Visual Artist, Mike Terry
Tenterfield Railway Museum: Visual Artist, Liz Powell
The successful Arts North West Snapshot applicants will be announced later this week.
This project is proudly funded by the NSW Government through Arts Restart.