Roadshow coming to the rescue

Let’s face it – we could all use a laugh.

There’s no better time to come together and let off some steam with the Melbourne Comedy Festival. After so many delays due to COVID, the team is coming to Tamworth, Glen Innes and Narrabri with a roadshow attached to one of the three largest comedy fests in the world.

The NENW tour will be emceed by Sam Taunton, known as the ‘roving idiot’ on Channel 10’s The Project with his trademark captivating storytelling and quick-fire punchlines. He sold out his 2019 solo show, Straight From The Shoulder charming Australian audiences across the country, and it was this show that saw him win the Pinder Prize at the Melbourne Comedy Festival, which sent him across to a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe, as one of the hottest young voices on the Australian comedy circuit.

Joining Sam are stellar comedians Nikki Britton, Fady Kassab and Chris Ryan.

Described by Chortle (UK) as a comedian who can reduce her audience to constant waves of laughter, Nikki Britton is known for her appearances on Hughesy, We Have A Problem. She was a nominee for Melbourne Comedy Festival’s Most Outstanding Show Award 2021 and swept the 2020 Adelaide Fringe Best Comedy Weekly Award.

Lebanese-born, Sydney-based Fady Kassab won Australia’s most prestigious comedy competition, triple j’s RAW Comedy in 2019. His show-stopping performance, televised on SBS TV, sent his to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to participate in the Gilded Balloon’s long-running “So you Think You’re Funny?” comedy competition. That led to Fady as a selection for the “Best of Edinburgh Showcase Show”.

Former journo and described as one of the most exciting new voices on the comedy scene, Chris Ryan round out the comedy quartet. Her laconic take on life has catapulted her to spots in Galas at the Sydney (2019) and Canberra Comedy Festivals (2013, 2017, slated for 2020), Floriade Nightfest and TEDx Canberra. In 2019, Chris performed comedy for the Australian troops in the Middle East and toured across Australia with the Sydney Comedy Festival Showcase Tour, and she’s a regular on a several ABC radio shows.

It will be a night of stand-up, sketch, satire, silliness and song to satisfy all your comedy cravings!

Capitol Theatre Tamworth: Wednesday and Thursday, 10 and 11 November, 7.30pm, 02 6766 2028

The Crossing Theatre Narrabri: Friday 12 November, 7.30pm, 02 6799 6740

Glen Innes Chapel Theatre: Saturday 13 November, 8pm, 02 6732 1997

Audience 18+

The Puppet Project: Lockdown Edition

A puppet can be a toy, or a way to channel our voice when we need an outlet outside ourselves.

With this in mind, Arts North West has launched The Puppet Project: Lockdown Edition. The project is a creative opportunity for New England North West artists and residents as we continue to cycle through COVID lockdowns.

Participants are challenged to create a 30-second video sharing lockdown survival tips - delivered by at least one homemade puppet. Open to all, a total of 20 working artists in visual or performing arts, 10 community members, and one writer, will receive an award for their work.

Following the clip creation, a local writer will be commissioned to create a poem, based on those lockdown clip tips, with the poem’s debut to take place on Zoom with a puppet cast of participants.

Arts North West project officer Michèle Jedlicka said the community has an extra incentive to get involved.

“We have a mystery judge who will select their top 10 community clips, and we’ll let people know who that judge is soon, but we are thrilled he’s helping out with creative project,” she said.

“It’s a project where anybody can get involved.”

Artist Fiona McDonald helped kick-off the project, and said she had a goblin puppet in mind when she received the invitation.

“This fellow was cheerful looking with a kind face. He had also witnessed my frantic activities during the recent COVID lockdown,” she said.

Fiona’s goblin puppet delivered a song in her clip, reflecting the times.

“To avoid loneliness in lockdown it is tempting to fill time up with activity, but it can get out of hand and become frantic: sometimes it's best to just talk to a friend on the phone,” Fiona said.

Artist James O’Hanlon created a backlit shadow puppet with materials from around the house.

“I love creative challenges with tight restrictions,” he said. “Being given the challenge of making a 30-second message with a handmade puppet made me think outside the box and have a lot of fun at the same time.”

For dates, guidelines and more information about the ANW Puppet Project: Lockdown Edition, go to www.artsnw.com.au.

GREAT SOUTHERN NIGHTS RETURNS TO NORTHERN TABLELANDS IN 2022

A STATE Government initiative to light up the region’s COVID-19 affected live music scene will tour the region again in 2022, with Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall sitting by his computer waiting to buy tickets for the Great Southern Nights.

The month-long event has been created to support the recovery of the live music, hospitality and tourism industries in a COVID-safe environment.

Mr Marshall urged hospitality venues across the region to sweep the dust off their stages, turn on their mics and support the local live music scene.

“Last November venues in Armidale and Glen Innes participated in Great Southern Nights, hosting seven different artists from across the New England North West,” Mr Marshall said.

“With Great Southern Nights returning between 18 March and 10 April 2022, I would like to see the volume turned up a notch, with a show in each of our major towns.

“Eligible venues can apply to be part of the Great Southern Nights program via the event website.

“Coming out of lockdown, it’s obvious there is a thirst in the community for great local entertainment.

“Great Southern Nights is an opportunity to get people back into hospitality venues, support performing arts and help businesses to retain jobs.”

Mr Marshall said financial assistance would be provided to venues chosen to host shows.

“Venues will be provided up to $2,500 for one gig, with the financial contribution to be used towards promoting the event,” he said.

“A minimum of $1,500 must be guaranteed to the artist, while the remaining $1,000 will support venue costs, such as production staff, security and front of house staff.

“Live music brings communities together, creates business for venues and local contractors, and importantly lifts the spirits of everyone involved, which is incredibly powerful after these challenging times.”

Shows will be held from 18 March to 10 April 2022.

For information, and for venues to submit an expression of interest, visit www.greatsouthernnights.com.au

Expressions of Interest must be lodged via the online form by 5pm on 8 October 2021.

Adam Marshall MP
Member for Northern Tablelands
Minister for Agriculture and Western NSW

MEDIA: Kris Wall 0447 432 392

Arts Connections Online Market Place

Are you signed up to our Arts North West Connect website? A FREE online registry promoting creatives, cultural venues and artsworkers in the New England North West region of New South Wales. If you are, we have a great opportunity for you in the lead up to Christmas!

We are running a FREE Arts Connections Online Market Place via the homepage of our Arts North West Connect website.

All I need from you is:

• one great image of an item you sell through your online shop (This could also be a workshops, tour, gift voucher etc)

• and a link to your online shop (Facebook shop, Etsy, website etc)

• Sign up via this link https://www.artsnwconnect.com.au/registration#/arts-connections-online-market-place/

If you aren’t already signed up to Arts North West Connect, follow this link to register your details www.artsnwconnect.com.au and then sign up to the our Art Connections Online Market Place

BE PART OF YOUR CREATIVE COMMUNITY.

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

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.