Art and NOT About - Arts North West is coming to you!

Meet your local Regional Arts Development Organisation on Zoom from the comfort of your own home! Executive Director Caroline Downer is eager to discuss your ideas and offer advice on a range of topics: project management, planning, budget, insurance, promotion & marketing, funding sources & opportunities post COVID-19. She can also provide feedback on grant applications including Regional Arts Fund, opening end of June. This free one-on-one meeting focuses on artists, arts and community workers living and working in the 12 LGAs that ANW covers. BOOK A 30 MINUTE SESSIONS ONLINE VIA THIS LINK https://www.trybooking.com/BJRRS

Eleven New England North West Creative Projects Funded by Arts North West

Eleven creative endeavours have been successfully funded through the Arts North West Micro Grants program. 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 turnaround time for applications was relatively tight, but the New England North West responded promptly, submitting numerous applications, for an array of creative projects and ideas.

“These are very unusual times for all of us 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. “We are absolutely thrilled at the response to the new initiative and it just goes to show that despite the current challenges faced by the sector, arts and culture is still very much alive and pumping in the New England North West ” Ms Downer continued.

The successful applicants are as follows:

Natasha Soonchild, Nundle

To research and develop an at-home sewing kit which would provide materials and instructions to produce a unique soft sculpture. This would be sold through website and utilise recycled textiles.

Sarah Leete, Baan Baa

To take practice online and compete in the ‘virtual world’. To connect with her audience and stay relevant on social media.

Alex Robson, Inverell

To run an online workshop series on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The workshops would be open to university students, and high school students in Year 11 and 12.

Stephanie Marshall, Inverell

To roll out collaborative UnstopAbility performance sessions online through the Zoom Pro platform.

Dhiiyaan Aboriginal Centre, Moree

To assist two Aboriginal artists and cultural knowledge holders, Chris Roberts and Dorothy Tighe, to adapt to self-isolation whilst also supporting their communities through creative projects.

Leah Bullen, Armidale

To undertake an at home residency and record the environment and activities of my family home.

Walcha Handmade, Walcha

Online art lessons aimed at children.

Alan Buchan, Tamworth

To record and release a song in support of the heroes who have been overlooked during the COVID19 crisis.

NERAM, Armidale

To offer a NERAM (from home) 5-week Artist Residency.

Fiona Macdonald, Armidale

To undertake a home-based residency experimenting with new drawing techniques.

Helena Pastor, Armidale

To produce quality digital recordings to share with the New England community and further afield.

The Arts North West Microgrants 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.

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


Arts North West Covid-19 Update

Hello all,

I’m sure you are all being inundated with information about Covid-19 (Coronavirus) and its impact on our sector. 

It has been a particularly difficult time – from drought to bushfire and now to a global pandemic. All of these have had a huge effect on our creative industries.
 
Event Cancellation
While the current requirement is to cancel all events that have an audience of 500 and above, many of our venues and organisations may not reach that audience figure but are still understandably anxious. Resourcing and growing community anxiety will also affect ticket sales and we recognise that organisations and individuals will need to take this into consideration in their planning.
 
If you are in a position to not require a refund for an event, festival, workshop or class that may be cancelled or postponed due to Covid-19 then please consider the ticket you purchased as a donation to the artist, organisation or community. Check out this article from Cut Common Magazine

Advocacy
Regional Arts Australia has also been working with national organisations and Ministers to facilitate a coordinated impact assessment and industry response. A number of surveys have been developed so that a clear picture can be formed as to the impact of Covid-19 on our sector. Please help the advocacy work by filling these out – PAC Australia survey or the National Association of Visual Artists survey. You are also able to submit information to the #Ilostmygig database.
 
Health and Wellbeing
We are not in a position to provide health advice.  Common sense reminds us to wash our hands, cough into elbows and stay at home if we are unwell.  Please be guided by the following sites that are updated daily:

Australian Government Department of Health

NSW Department of Health

Having said that, hand washing is obviously a crucial requirement.  But… really… handwashing to “Happy Birthday” twice, seems a little prosaic.  Send in your best version of a funky tune/song/poem/ and we will put it up on our social media… let’s keep our creative juices flowing!  (Have a look at TwoSetViolin’s ideas!) Email to media@artsnw.com.au
 
We are also very aware of the wellbeing of our communities.  With events cancelled, and social distancing in place, we hope that we can still look after each other as best we can. An arts-focused wellbeing helpline is available at Support Act
 
Resources

Some more practical information here: 
policy that could be implemented for your workplace from the Institute of Community Directors.
World Health Organisation - Getting your workplace ready
Further info from the World Health Organisation
COVID-19 Arts Organisations’ Plans from Theatre Network Australia
Resources from The Australia Council for the Arts

Stay safe and well, look after each other and support family, friends and our wonderful creative community.  Let’s work together.

Board and Staff of Arts North West

Country Arts Support Program Ready for Applications

Do you have an arts project idea that needs Arts North West’s help to get off the ground? Country Arts Support Program (CASP) is open for applications.

“If you, or someone you know, has an idea for a short term, locally initiated arts project in 2020? you may be able to access a little extra support through CASP,” said Caroline Downer, Executive Director  at Arts North West.

CASP is a Create NSW initiative that supports locally initiated projects by not-for-profits, local government authorities and collectives in regional NSW. The small grants fund supports a creative, vibrant and resilient NSW arts and cultural sector that engages with diverse audiences and communities.

“In previous years, groups have been successful in securing CASP funding for a diverse range of really interesting activities, ranging through classical music, oral histories, pottery kiln building, community choir and craft workshops and graffiti art,” Ms Downer said.

The Deepwater Cool Choir, a community choir for the people of Deepwater and surrounds, received a boost from the 2017 CASP round.

“The choir came to life after a chance meeting in an Arts North West grant writing workshop in 2017. The connections and experiences of the individual people in the room that day feed the idea of creating an opportunity for the Deepwater community to benefit from the joys of singing together” said Christine Davis, the Cool Choir coordinator.  “From my own experiences, I know music is a great way of connecting with people and singing together has many benefits, both physical and psychological. Most people like to sing but lack confidence and a community choir is the perfect environment for people to feel safe to develop their skills” continued Ms Davis.

Call us today to have chat about your eligibility to apply for the Country Arts Support Program or book into a free one-on-one session near you with our Executive Director to discuss your application. More information can be found here on our website www.artsnw.com/artandabout

Applications close 5pm, Monday 29 July 2019.