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. 

We are humbled and proud to work on this Country

Arts North West feels proud and privileged to have this exceptional piece by Glen Innes Elder, Ngarrabul Yinaar Adèle Chapman-Burgess, which acknowledges the First Nation land and histories where we work and live. It is so beautiful.

Fortuitously, as a fantastic member of the Glen Innes maintenance staff was installing this piece on Thursday, Adèle was driving by and was able to see the piece as it was just hung on the Arts North West office building. It was so cool to have her there.

We will have a formal launch of this piece in early May during the Creative Recovery Workshop, commencing 11 May at Arts North West, and we will invite the local community and our First Nations Elders to come to that event. We will be organising a formal cultural ceremony to open the workshop and acknowledge the installation of this beautiful plaque.

Debut market showcases First Nations artists

With less than two weeks to go until the debut live Arts North West Gather & Trade Aboriginal Artisans Market, organiser and 2 Rivers Pty Ltd managing director Lorrayne Fishenden is thrilled the event is about to launch. She said the line-up of artists will be exceptional, despite set-backs and COVID delays which have affected so many arts events.

“We’re confident that the market will be a greater success then we originally anticipated,” Lorrayne said.

“We are really excited to have this platform to showcase the talent, passion and skills of our First Nations artists, especially during the 50th Tamworth Country Music Festival. This means we will have some amazing exposure we hope will increase economic outcomes for artists who have been heavily affected by the pandemic, through the sale of their work.”

The markets on Saturday, 23 April, from 9am-2pm will be staged alongside First Nations performing artists with live music and workshops beside the White Street carpark at Kable Avenue, Tamworth.

Lorrayne said there are 10 stalls, and a total of 23 artists are registered for the event, and nine performing artists will take the stage.

“From weaving to resin, paintings to jewellery, handmade stockwhips to children’s books, the market is a great opportunity for community and visitors to town to buy authentic Aboriginal arts and crafts from First Nations creatives from the region who are showcasing and selling their products and to a wide audience,” Lorrayne said.

“For example, for young emerging artist Georgia Byrnes, it’s her first time selling her works at a markets. At just 19 years-of-age, she has been working through the Arts North West Aboriginal Artist Intensive Mentoring program for the last 6 months, and this has given her the confidence to join more experienced artists like Glen Innes-based Avril Chapman, and the Moree Mehi Gallery who will have five artists attend.”

Arts North West executive director Caroline Downer was elated the market had been designed to support and highlight local creative and cultural talents.

“Tamworth is a real regional hub in the New England North West and is the perfect location to shine a light on the myriad of Aboriginal arts and cultural enterprises, making and creating in the New England North West region,” she said.

“Plus, the talent scheduled for our Gather & Trade Market stage is exceptional. It’s especially exciting to have this event happening during the TCMF final weekend and Community Saturday in the Park. It means these artisans and performing artists will have a big introduction to a big audience.”

Gather and Trade is supported through the Australian Government’s Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support program.

CONTACTS

Lorrayne Fishenden: lorrayne@2rivers.com.au, 0467 668 977

Caroline Downer: rado@artsnw.com.au, 0428 042 622

Michèle Jedlicka: media@artsnw.com.au, 6732 4988, 04387 010 131

GATHER & TRADE REGIONAL ABORIGINAL ARTISANS MARKET

First Nations artists, craftspeople, cultural artisans in the New England North West are invited to submit an expression of interest to have a stall at the 23 April Gather and Trade Regional Aboriginal Artisans Market. EOIs close 25 March.

Held during the Tamworth Country Music Festival in Tamworth's Bicentennial Park, this event has been created to celebrate our region's First Nations arts, culture and music. Aboriginal artists and artisans from the 12 LGAs making up Arts North West's footprint are invited by an EOI process, to hold a stall at the Market - a great opportunity for local Aboriginal creatives to sell their art and products and reach a wide audience to promote their goods and practices.

There are provisions available for financial assistance towards travel and accommodation however due to availability issues they may not be to supply accommodation requests. You will be required to have Public Liability Insurance. If you do not, or need more information, please contact 2 Rivers director Lorrayne Fishenden on 0467 668 977 or email lorrayne@2rivers.com.au for guidance on how to get it. Learn more and register your EOI here: artsnw.com.au/gather-and-trade

BUY LOCAL AND SUPPORT THE ARTS

With supply chains clogged up and all the uncertainty about whether you'll find that perfect holiday gift, look no further than your backyard. Buy local this year! The 2021 Gather and Trade Aboriginal Artisans Marketplace, which can be found on the front page of Arts North West throughout November, has unique work that will also support our regional First Nations artisans.

Take a browse through the Arts Connections Marketplace, where you will discover a range of items (like these beautiful Late Night Pottery place settings) by local artists, artsworkers and writers. All your purchases directly assist people to keep working and developing their creative voices.

Gather & Trade Update

Unfortunately, due to the unfolding Covid-19 situation, we have made the decision to postpone the Gather and Trade Aboriginal artisan market. We are committed to making the event the best it possibly can be and are dedicated to drawing as much attention as we can to our local Aboriginal artists, artisans and cultural practitioners, therefore we will move the market into 2022 in the hope that restrictions will be eased, and our local and wider community can enjoy the market freely and safely.

In the interim, we have decided to run an online Gather and Trade market via the Arts North West website in November for local Aboriginal artists, artisans and cultural practitioners to sell their creative works and cultural products. Stay tuned for details.

If you have questions, please get in contact with Lorrayne Fishenden via lorrayne@2rivers.com.au

COMING TOGETHER TO GATHER AND TRADE IN TAMWORTH

Arts North West is thrilled to announce a creative opportunity for New England North West Aboriginal artists, artisans and cultural practitioners as part of their Aboriginal Cultural Support Program supported through the Australian Government’s Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support program.

Aboriginal artists, artisans and cultural practitioners from the 12 Local Government Areas that make up the Arts North West footprint are invited by an EOI process, to hold a stall at the inaugural Gather and Trade Market to be held at the Fitzroy Street precinct in Tamworth on the 26 and 27 November 2021. The Gather and Trade Aboriginal Artisans Market celebrates Aboriginal arts and culture, and the market program includes music by local Aboriginal musicians.

The market is a great opportunity for local artists, artisans and cultural practitioners to sell their creative works and cultural products to a wider regional audience to promote their goods and practices.

“We are calling for Aboriginal artists, creatives, makers, growers from the region to come forward to submit an EOI. There is so much talent in our region and this is the perfect opportunity to showcase your works and talent to a wider audience and receive professional development along the way." said Art North West Aboriginal Arts Officer, Lorrayne Fishenden.

“We will be running a series of professional development workshops in the lead up the event covering everything from pricing your works, payment options for stall holders to visually merchandise your market stall." she continued.

Arts North West Executive Director, Caroline Downer is thrilled that the market will support and highlight local creative and cultural talents.

“Tamworth is a real regional hub in the New England North West and is the perfect location to shine a light on the myriad of Aboriginal arts and cultural enterprises making and creating in the New England North West region.”

EOIs are open now on the Arts North West website www.artsnw.com.au and will close on the 31st of August at 5pm.

There are provisions available for financial assistance towards travel and accommodation.

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