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.

Welcome! We Live in Interesting Times

Our year started in the usual busy fashion - with exhibition openings, theatre productions, professional development sessions, and lots more. Of course with the COVID-19 pandemic, things have changed considerably since mid-March. As we are sure you are aware, the arts and cultural sector has been impacted severely by COVID-19 and the social distancing requirements. Across our region, we have had numerous festivals and theatre productions cancelled, galleries and museums shut, bookshops closed, let alone the devastating effect to artists in trying to maintain their income. Our work relies on gatherings, and national touring, both small and large, in remote locations, in regions and in cities. We were the first industry to be hit and we will be one of the last able to trade again. Over the past couple of weeks, self-generated income for artists for the year has vanished. At this time, it is even more important for our sector to have support, advice and advocacy. Arts North West is still open for business and continues to provide advice and support to regional artists in the New England North West, as part of the strong RADO network in NSW. We have compiled a collection of resources to inform our stakeholders and to provide some support as we all navigate this very uncertain new world. ANW staff are working from home, and we already have good online platforms and technology to support remote working and online meetings. ANW’s AGM will be 11:30am on Friday 22 May. Go to https://www.artsnw.com.au/organisation-information for the AGM Papers. Stay safe and well, together we can look after and support our wonderful creative community.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY - ARTS NORTH WEST MICRO GRANTS

IN RESPONSE to the COVID-19 pandemic, Arts North West is offering Quick Response Micro Grants of up to $1,000 for independent professional practising artists across all art forms, community groups and arts organisations to support their creative endeavours.

Using some of the money that Arts North West are not currently spending on usual operations due to covid-19, such as travel, are the types of savings having be directed to the microgrant program. Arts North West has identified some savings in its usual operational expenditure due to covid-19 (such as limited travel), and have directed funds to this new micro grant opportunity.

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.

“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 have been very inspired by the way that individuals and organisations in our region have embraced and adapted to the new norm, developing new initiatives and strategies for their creative practices and businesses. We hope that these micro grants can help in a small way to keep up this commendable work” Ms Downer continued.

There is also an opportunity to donate to the Arts North West Micro Grant Program via the Arts North West website. Every donation will go directly towards the fund and every amount over $2 is fully tax deductible.

There is a very quick turnaround for applying and receiving these micro grants, with applications open now and closing on 4 May 2020. Successful applicants will be notified on 11 May 2020.

To apply or to donate to the Arts North West Micro Grant program, visit the Arts North West website www.artsnw.com.au or contact the Arts North West office for more information (02) 6732 4988.

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