Country Arts Support Program Investment into New England North West

Six organisations from across the New England North West region will be starting off the second half of the year on a high after successfully securing a Country Art Support Program grant (CASP).

CASP is an annual small grants program administered by the Regional Arts Development Organisations, providing grants of up to $3,000 to support a creative and vibrant regional NSW arts scene.

“CASP is a significant investment directly into the New England North West region and announcing six successful CASP applications has been a great start to my new role at Arts North West.” Said Arts North West Executive Director, Lauren Mackley. “We received numerous applications to the fund this year, which is a fantastic indication that the New England North West arts and cultural landscape is bouncing back after a difficult couple of years.” Ms Mackley continued.

The successful applications are as follows:

Moree Cultural Art Foundation Ltd ($3,000)

BAMM will partner with TAFE Moree to deliver capacity building workshops for local artists. Selected Indigenous TAFE artists and Moree-based artsworkers will collaborate to train each other in arts practices, learn teaching skills, and create weaving kits. Artists will then lead a series of classes for the public at BAMM.

Black Gully Printmakers ($1,980)

Artist Dr Renata Buziak will conduct a 3-day workshop. Educators, children and families will explore one of the earliest historical photographic processes: the cyanotype. Using botanical specimens, found objects and sunlight, participants will create unique photograms on cotton with flat natural vegetation within the preschool/children’s homes to use in their own composition.

High Country Theatre and New England Bach Festival ($3,000)

This project plans to commission two local composers, Matthew Minter and Benjamin Thorn to compose new works to be performed in next year’s New England Bach Festival. The composers will also present a seminar at NECOM for high school students later this year introducing their new works and compositional processes.

Glen Innes Pottery Club Inc ($3,000)

4-day workshop over two weekends in August 2022 at our club rooms at Glen Innes TAFE with artist/ceramicist Max Powell. Focusing on making a series of different plaster moulds using 3 different techniques, developing skills in the commercial, experimental and creative use of plaster moulds.

Arts Gunnedah ($3,000)

Three advanced level printmaking workshops to be conducted by three leading printmakers, two from New England North West and one from Sydney at the studio, Bicentennial Creative Arts Centre, Gunnedah between October 2022 and June 2023.

Walcha Handmade Community Co-Operative Ltd ($3,000)

Workshops to learn new skills in photography or art by highlighting and showcasing their favourite image of Walcha.

For more information on each of these project, please contact the organisation directly.

A NEW ERA FOR ARTS NORTH WEST

Arts North West welcomes a new Executive Director to the team. Lauren Mackley, a New England North West local has taken over the helm at Arts North West . Arts North West is the Regional Arts Development Organisation for the region, servicing eleven LGAs with the main focus of developing and programming arts and cultural opportunities and offering advocacy and advice to foster and build creative capacity in regional communities.  

Lauren joins the Arts North West team with local knowledge and leadership skills having previously worked as the Cultural Precinct Team Leader, and Arts and Cultural Officer at Gunnedah Shire Council.

“Lauren is looking forward to working with our contributing councils to continue to build creative and cultural opportunities and offerings across our region” said Anna Watt, Chair of the Arts North West Board.

“Lauren has an extensive understanding of arts and culture in the regions, along with good insight to the governance and operations of Arts North West, having been a member of the Arts North West Board for several years” Ms Watt continued.

Growing up in Manilla, Lauren has worked and lived throughout the New England North West region. Lauren has a Degree in Contemporary Arts and Education and is currently enrolled in a Graduate Certificate of Urban and Regional Planning at UNE.

Lauren has been nominated for the NSW Premier’s Youth Awards for her dedication to the arts and is the recipient of the Leo Kelly Local Government Arts Awards for her innovative consultation with First Nations communities. Many of her projects and collaborations have won national and regional recognition for their contribution to the arts sector, tourism and economic benefits to regional communities.

“I am excited to be the successful incumbent for this prestigious position and I am enthusiastic and inspired to be instrumental in supporting and fostering the creative future of our region.

“Cultural tourism is high on the agenda for State, Federal and many local governments in Regional NSW; as an opportunity to diversify economies, increase livability and create communities of social connectedness.“ Ms Mackley said.

“This is the opportune time to showcase our regional identity, celebrate our creative communities, invest in the development and delivery of cultural and creative capital and infrastructure throughout the Arts North West service area” continued Ms Mackley.

Lauren will be working between the Glen Innes office and Gunnedah and can be contacted via rado@artsnw.com.au or via 0493 316 463.

Regional Arts Fund (RAF) Project Grants are Open

Applications for Regional Arts Fund (RAF) Project Grants are officially open from 9am on July 4, 2022.

The Project Grants will fund high-quality arts projects benefitting regional or remote artists, arts workers, audiences and communities. The focus of the project could include any area of creative practice, multiple art forms or cross-disciplinary practice.

There have been some changes to this program, so please take time to read the guidelines here.

APPLYING VIA SMARTYGRANTS

When the grant round is open, a link below will take you to the Regional Arts Australia online application system. If you have not used SmartyGrants before you will need to set up an account. This account and password can be used to go back to your application at any time and will be the same for any other grants you might apply for in the future using the Smartygrants system. Your application will be available to you until you click SUBMIT, or the closing date is reached.

Apply for up to $30,000

Regional Arts Fund (RAF) Project Grants will close on Monday, 15 August 2022 at 5:00pm.

ELIGIBILITY

For detailed information regarding eligiblity, please see Eligibility-RAF

ENQUIRIES

If you have any enquiries about the RAF contact the Manager, Grants & Projects at Regional Arts NSW Tel 02 9270 2502 Email funding@regionalartsnsw.com.au.

Successful applicants can download the RAF Logos HERE

THE CLOSE OF A WONDERFUL CHAPTER

THE CLOSE OF A WONDERFUL CHAPTER

It is with regret we will soon be saying goodbye to our amazing Executive Director Caroline Downer, OAM, in early June.

Caroline started with Arts North West in 2015, and her energy, passion, and dedication to developing all facets of community arts has been inimitable. We will miss her sense of humour, her flexibility, kindness, and unflappable good-nature.

Caroline has accepted the position of CEO at the Canberra Tuggeranong Arts Centre, and we wish her nothing but the very best on the next chapter of her adventures.

From Caroline:

It is with some sadness that I leave Arts North West after 7 years at the helm. I have loved working here in the New England North West supporting local creatives and the arts sector more broadly.

It is the people that make our communities; and I have certainly enjoyed collaborating with many of you on some wonderful programs, which have been supported by the amazing ANW staff. Arts North West has certainly grown over my time – and there are so many personal highlights, from our iso-projects like The Panorama Project, to programs that bring people and artists together such as Art Word Place. Creativity and art-making bring such reassurance and enjoyment to our communities and I can’t wait to see what wonderful things Arts North West achieves in its future.

From our Board Chair, Anna Watt:

With a mixture of emotions, I regretfully accepted Caroline’s resignation as the Executive Director of ANW. Caroline has been at the helm of ANW since April 2015 and has done a splendid job of managing our organisation, achieving numerous goals and collaborating with abundant organisations / individuals to benefit those living within the ANW footprint. Caroline is leaving ANW in a very strong and stable position.

Caroline has accepted the Chief Executive Officer’s role with the Tuggeranong Community Arts Association and will be relocating to Canberra with her husband, Nigel - a destination that I knew they had in their sights should a great opportunity arise.

On behalf of my ANW Board colleagues, and ANW Strategic Advisory Committee colleagues I take this opportunity to wish Caroline all the best with her new role, location and next chapter in her journey. I extend thanks also on behalf of the ANW footprint communities and wider arts network to Caroline for her achievements and contributions during her time with ANW.