ARTS NORTH WEST MICROGRANT RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED

Arts North West has announced the recipients of their Quick Response Micro Grants for 2024.

This  funding program is designed to boost the arts and cultural landscape of our region. These flexible  microgrants aim to support local independent professional artists, community groups, and arts organisations  by providing them with up to $1,000 to make their creative ideas a reality. 

The Arts North West Microgrant recipients for 2024 exemplify the diversity and talent within our region, with  each submitting a unique and inspiring project that will contribute and benefit to the communities. This year 18 Quick Response Micro Grants have been awarded to individuals, groups, and community organisations  with over $17,000 worth of funds distributed across the region.  

This year’s Arts North West Quick Response Micro Grants recipients are: 

Lorrelle Munro, Tamworth LGA
Creating woven artworks rooted in Gomeroi weaving traditions using locally-sourced Lomandra grasses at Warrabah National Park, inspiring future works to be displayed in Tamworth.

The Florin Arc, Armidale LGA
Recording a 10-track music album at Golden Retriever Studios in Sydney, blending instrumentation and studio expertise to craft a polished final piece.

Shingal Music, Armidale LGA
Bringing Kurdish (Ezidi) folk music to wider audiences, this project by Ezidi refugee musicians will preserve cultural heritage and foster community connection.

Mary McMillan, Armidale LGA
Expanding textile techniques at the ‘Landscape Fragments’ workshop by award-winning artist Julia Wright, enhancing her practice of nature-inspired textile art.

Janna Hayes, Armidale LGA
Acquiring a 60x64" tapestry loom to produce large-scale, hand-dyed wool works, exploring human creativity through an intricate fusion of organic and methodical design.

Amy Schultz, Liverpool Plains LGA
Recording original music and engaging in professional development for educational music performances, benefiting students at Willow Tree Public School.

Taleiah Conlan, Gunnedah LGA
Establishing a digital presence and acquiring art supplies to support larger commissions, aiding her growth as a Gomeroi artist.

Armidale Piper, Armidale LGA
Launching a digital shopfront for the business, enabling broader reach and integration across social platforms for marketing and sales.

James Warren: Australian Poetry Hall of Fame, Armidale LGA
Hosting the Poets on the Mountain Festival with workshops and school outreach to develop and celebrate poetic voices within the community.

Solasta Performing Arts, Narrabri LGA
Supporting an end-of-year performance at the Crossing Theatre, creating a high-quality showcase for students at no charge to the community.

Wood We Create, Walcha LGA
Launching the exhibition Created from Ash, showcasing local Claret Ash trees' journey from tree to art, complemented by a videography project documenting the transformation.

Arts Gunnedah, Gunnedah LGA
Covering venue and display costs for gallery workshops, enriching the Gunnedah community's engagement with art.

Isabelle Devos, Armidale LGA
Exploring the Liverpool Plains for her exhibition at Weswal Gallery, blending landscape painting with local history and community storytelling.

Lisa Marple, Narrabri LGA
Developing techniques for her #bullawacreeklove exhibition, combining painting, weaving, and cyanotype printing inspired by natural elements.

Awan Eveleigh (Mosaics by Awan), Narrabri LGA
Conducting a mosaic workshop for youth at the Wee Waa Community Arts and Cultural Centre, fostering artistic skill and community involvement.

Mona Fernando, Moree LGA
Delivering weaving and painting workshops in regional schools, sharing artistic skills and enhancing local cultural experiences.

Jane Stewart (Stellar Music School), Tamworth LGA
Supporting choir direction and rehearsals for Christmas events, ensuring a high-quality performance and music purchases for the choir’s repertoire.

Fiona McDonald, Armidale LGA
Developing interactive puppet automatons using gears and motion sensors to create engaging, responsive artworks that bring characters to life.

Arts North West wishes to congratulate the recipients, whose creativity and passion for the arts and cultural  practices continue to enrich our communities. We would also like to thank all those who applied for this  round of Quick Response Micro Grants; we received an overwhelming number of submissions and had some  difficult decisions to make.  

Arts North West releases funding opportunities periodically throughout the year. All updates are released on  our website and fortnightly newsletter.  

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.

11 NEW ENGLAND NORTH WEST CREATIVE PROJECTS FUNDED BY ARTS NORTH WEST

11 creative endeavours have been successfully funded through the third round of the Arts North West Micro Grants program. The program was originally developed as a direct response to the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic. Due to the overwhelming response from the New England North West creative community in 2020, Arts North West has made Micro Grant funding a part of their 2021 programming.

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. Arts North West recognises the recent hardships faced by the New England North West including drought, bushfire, mouse plague and COVID-19 and their effects on arts practice or arts businesses.

“We are still finding ourselves in very unusual times in the New England North West and we really understand the difficulties faced by the arts and cultural communities in our region” said Arts North West Executive Director, Caroline Downer. “Yet again, we are absolutely thrilled at the response to this initiative, with over 40 applications received which is a significant increase on last year. This goes to show that despite the current challenges faced by the sector, the arts and culture landscape in the New England North West is a very resilient one” Ms Downer continued.

The successful applicants are as follows:

1. Tania Hartigan, Wallabadah: Continue development of creating natural inks from native plants growing in this region.

2. Buluuy Mirrii, Tamworth: To prepare for the upcoming Fabrics of Multicultural Australia (FOMA) in 2021-2022 at the Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney.

3. Goldheist, Tamworth: Record a live acoustic EP of love songs.

4. Sophie Honess, Tamworth: To seek the services of A2 framing in Armidale for upcoming solo exhibition at Weswal Gallery, Tamworth.

5. Yulugi Marumali, Moree: To create dance tutorial videos that will include basic dance tips and terminology.

6. James O’Hanlon, Armidale: To buy supplies that will be used to prepare a series of entirely new artworks for exhibition.

7. Arushi Nayar, Gunnedah: Work on an artistic project about experiences of living on a farm.

8. Marianne la Cour, Glen Innes: To develop resources for future teaching.

9. Beattie Alvarez, Armidale: To write, illustrate and print a series of micro stories, based around the toys that I make.

10. Helena Pastor, Armidale: To cover the costs of an online writing course offered through Writing NSW and a new author photo.

11. Vicky Taylor, Kentucky: Hire a video producer to produce a 10-minute video of local contemporary lace makers.

For more information, contact Caroline Downer via rado@artsnw.com.au

SMALL GRANTS EXTENDED TO THIRD ROUND

A range of independent creatives of the New England North West are set to benefit with the announcement of the opening of Arts North West’s third round of Quick Response Micro Grants.

Carrying on from the success of the first two rounds in 2020, Arts North West has made provisions in their 2021 programming budget to continue this direct financial support to creatives in the New England North West, as the region continues to be faced with a myriad of hardships which now includes a mouse plague and the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.

These provisions allow for multiple small grants of up to $1000 for creative practitioners, community groups and arts organisations working in all art forms and are designed to support the continuation of locally determined community arts and cultural practice. 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.

“More often than not, grant applications come with a lot of 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 via the Arts North West website.” Said Arts North West Executive Director, Caroline Downer.

“It’s wonderful to be able to extend this opportunity into 2021 and Arts North West recognises the recent hardships faced by the New England North West including drought, bushfire, mouse plague and COVID-19 and their effects on your arts practice or arts business. Applications outlining a direct impact from these recent hardships will take priority when assessed.” She continued.

There is a very quick turnaround for applying these micro grants, with applications opening on Friday 13 August and closing on 6 September 2021. Successful applicants will be notified on 18 September 2021. Previous unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to reapply.

To apply to the Arts North West Micro Grants Round, click here.

Pandemic inspires artist to go bush

COUNTRY SOLACE: New England artist Isabelle Devos is planning to go bush on a plein-air residency (photo: David Elkin)

AN ARTIST will live and work in the New England National Park, embarking on a ‘plein-air residency’ made possible with a micro grant from Arts North West.

New England-based painter Isabelle Devos will spend several days living in the park, walking, exploring, drawing and painting.

“The pandemic has affected my creative practice by having exhibitions changed into virtual online exhibitions and openings or cancelled altogether,” she told Arts North West this week.

“My creative process has expanded to spending more time outdoors drawing and painting with inks, still doing rural landscape based paintings” Isabelle Devos

“I have found real solace in being in the bush more regularly, near green and nature and away from too many people.”

Forest Bathing

A contemporary landscape painter whose work is represented in Sydney and New England galleries, Devos said she cannot say for certain what the art work executed in this bush residency will look like.

“But I expect that it may include large-scale drawings of trees, plants and nature.

“I will also be doing some research into ‘forest bathing’ and science around the impacts of being in nature on a person's creative and mental wellbeing.

“The micro grant will help fund some additional art supplies that work well outdoors, such as a folding metal easel, larger brushes, thick papers and will also be funding the accommodation within the national park.”

To follow the progress of the project head to Isabelle Devos Art on Facebook and @isabelledevosart on Instagram

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.