Panorama Project Paid Artist EOI

VIEWS FROM THE PANORAMA PROJECT: image supplied by artist Maree Kelly

932 SKETCHBOOKS have made their way out across the New England North West as part of Arts North West’s Panorama Project.

Arts North West were also able to pay 10 emerging and professional artists to be part of this historic project.  With over 30 applications, the following artists were successful:

·         Nadia Kliendanze, Inverell

·         Maree Kelly, Gunnedah

·         Carmel Higgins, Tenterfield

·         Paula Jenkins, Walcha

·         James O’Hanlon, Armidale

·         Trish Petersen, Armidale

·         Jan Clark, Rocky River

·         Joanne Stead, Tamworth

·         Isabelle Devos, Armidale

·         Sophie Masson, Armidale

“I was delighted to be involved with the project as I thought it was a great initiative from Arts North West to engage with the many creative people living in our region during such a hard time for the arts community in particular. The project was a great way to help keep people inspired and working creatively” said Gunnedah based artist, Maree Kelly.

Arts North West recognised this time of national self-isolation meant countless creative workshops and opportunities have been cut off, postponed or cancelled. To meet this challenge, the organisation took a scheduled project off the drawing table and reconfigured it as a community project for people to do at home.

“For me personally, I found joy in going back to basics and working in a small sketchbook with drawing media. I found myself rediscovering my ‘backyard’ and looking more closely at my environment, which I most definitely take a bit too much for granted. It was fabulous to have something to focus on to keep the creativity flowing and to start developing ideas for new work in my own arts practice.” Ms Kelly continued.

Arts North West Executive Director, Caroline Downer has been overwhelmed by the success of the project.

“Even though this project spans across 12 council areas and thousands of kilometers, there is a real sense of community and connectiveness involved with this project” Caroline Downer.

“We were thrilled with the EOI applications we received, and the recipients are a great reflection of the quality and diversity of the New England North West creative landscape.” She continued.

The Panorama Project will begin its tour around the New England North West libraries starting around September. Follow the Arts North West Facebook page for more details.

Positive Response to Arts North West Panorama Project

The phrase ‘Alone together’ is about to take a creative twist as hundreds regional residents are about to receive their sketchbooks for the Arts North West Panorama Project.

These small books have been posted out to artists, writers and keen participants across the New England North West to keep and fill for the next two months before they all come together for a travelling exhibition beginning in late 2020.

“It’s a way for creative people to document their lives and experience living through this extraordinary time in history,” project coordinator Michèle Jedlicka said.

“People might express how they’ve coped through this COVID-19 crisis, whether it’s been positive or challenging, or they may want to use their books as an extension of their ongoing work, their culture, or thoughts. There is no limit to what they do with their books.”

Arts North West expects to collect the sketchbooks from 1 August and from there, up to 1000 of the little books will travel across regional libraries for people to browse. All books will be returned to their owners after the exhibition.

Sketchbooks have now been sent to individuals who have registered through the Arts North West site, and disability and aged care support services.

“We are delighted by the positive response from our region, and we have had registrations from all our LGAs,” Arts North West executive director Caroline Downer said.

“We are looking forward to seeing all the creative responses.”

Panorama Project sketchbooks are still available through the Arts North West site at artsnw.com.au or phone 6732 4988. Eligibility is for residents aged 16 and older and living in one of the 12 council areas supported by Arts North West.

For more information, contact office@artsnw.com.au.

Photo: Arts North West Executive Director Caroline Downer sends out Panorama Project sketchbooks.

The Panorama Project – A Creative Project for All

SOME OF THE best art captures a definitive moment in history.

With that in mind, Arts North West, the New England North West’s regional arts development organisation, has launched a free creative project to record this period in images and self-expression as the world sits out the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Panorama Project will post out small sketchbooks to people across Arts North West’s 12-council footprint for people to visually record their thoughts, imagination and lives. The little sketchbooks will be dropped off to central community locations after 1 August 2020, then travel as a collection to libraries across the New England North West for the public to view. Once the travelling exhibition is completed, the sketchbooks will be returned to their creators.

The project is open to all people, of all abilities, aged 16 and above.

Arts North West recognized this time of national self-isolation meant countless creative workshops and opportunities have been cut off, postponed or cancelled. To meet this challenge, the organisation took a scheduled project off the drawing table and reconfigured it as a community project for people to do at home.

“Our catchphrase is ‘Connections, Creativity, Communities,’” Arts North West executive director Caroline Downer said.

“One of our many roles is to create places and spaces for networking opportunities. Obviously doing this at the time of COVID-19 restrictions is more challenging, and the connections within our communities are more difficult to sustain.”

Ms Downer said the Panorama Project will be an opportunity for regional creatives and artists to participate in an isolation artistic project, creating individual work in the medium they choose, such as collage, writing, photos, drawing, painting or mixed media.

“At the end it will all come together as a whole to document a moment in time and to celebrate the resilience and the optimism of the creatives living in the New England North West,” she said.

The project has already been embraced by disability and community support services across the region. Local councils have also come aboard to promote the project to their residents.

For more information, and to submit your interest in participating, go to http://www.artsnw.com.au/panorama-project or phone the Arts North West office on (02) 6732 4988