Arts Northern Rivers

News Archive - February 2008

ARTS NORTHERN RIVERS NEWS

Frances Belle Parker

ARTS NORTHERN RIVERS APPOINTS INDIGENOUS ARTS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

Arts Northern Rivers is pleased to announce that Frances Belle Parker has been appointed to the newly created position of Indigenous Arts Development Officer (IADO). The IADO will support the many Indigenous artists in the Northern Rivers region, to develop and promote their work and to create a strong visible network of Indigenous artists through marketing, sales and business development initiatives.

Arts Northern Rivers CEO Lois Randall said ‘we are delighted that Frances will be joining the Arts Northern Rivers team in this exciting and important role’. She explained that the creation of the role was in response ‘to the visual arts and crafts as an important form of cultural expression for Indigenous communities in the Northern Rivers, with a large number of emerging and established Indigenous artists engaged in this sector through the visual arts and crafts including painting, sculpture and textile arts’. It is envisaged that the IADO through extensive consultation throughout the region will put established Indigenous artists in a better position to share and develop culture in the community through workshops and public programs, and to take on the role of mentors and role models for young and emerging artists.

Frances Belle Parker comes to the role with a strong background in the visual arts. In 2000, prior to formally studying art, Frances won the prestigious Blake Prize for Religious Art. Not only was Frances the youngest winner of this prize, she was the first Indigenous winner in the prize’s 55 year history. After completing a degree at UNSW, Frances moved back to Maclean to be back on her homeland and to be closer to her family. Frances was recently awarded the ABC North Coast’s inaugural ArtsNest Award, which was established to recognise and encourage artists in the Northern Rivers region.

On her appointment to the position Frances said she was ‘excited about the many opportunities and possibilities that will be created through this position. With so much Indigenous talent in this region there’s an extraordinary opportunity to create a highly visible network of artists and to open up new audiences and marketplaces for these artists on a local, national and hopefully international level’.

The IADO will also work with the CEO of Arts Northern Rivers and the Indigenous Artists Advisory Group to establish an Indigenous Arts Centre based in Lismore, additional funding will be sought to support the employment of an Indigenous Arts Business Officer to manage the Arts Centre.

The IADO position has been funded by the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and NSW Department of State and Regional Development.

Frances can be contacted at frances@artsnorthernrivers.com.au or (02) 6628 8120.

VISUAL ARTS NETWORK NEWS

Ballina Gallery Pic

BRANCHING OUT – A GROUP EXHIBITION FROM THE JAMBAMA ARTISTS OF CASINO - Ballina

Branching out is an exhibition of original works by Indigenous artists from the Jambama Art Shed Casino. Amongst the works on display are high quality paintings on canvas, boomerangs, clap sticks, sculptures, pyrographic pieces and designer wall hangings. Sewn products include bags, place mats and cushion covers, all with original hand printed designs. Noel (Charlie) Caldwell is one of the 15 Bundjalung artists included in the exhibition "Painting is a big part of my life. I've been painting since I was 15 and I'll never stop painting. It's great that now I'm recognised across the region as a painter. I often paint bushtucker such as 'Gwee-ahnj' (possum), 'Njamahls' (Goanna) and 'Bingings' (Turtles) or ceremonies and everyday life such as huntin' and fishing". Jambama Art Shed is a training centre run by Buyimbin Aboriginal Corporation for the Aboriginal community in Casino, teaching CDEP workers the skills of painting and sewing. Catch the work of the Jambama Artists during February at the Ballina Community Gallery or at The Jambama Art Shed Gallery Space in Casino which is open to the public Monday - Friday 9 - 4 pm. Pictired above is "Buniying Family" by Tania Walker, acylic on canvas 2007.

Where: Northern Rivers Community Gallery, 44 Cherry Street Ballina
When: Until 24 February
Time: Gallery hours are Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm
Cost: Free

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	News Archive - February 2008 ARTS NORTHERN RIVERS NEWS ARTS NORTHERN RIVERS APPOINTS INDIGENOUS ARTS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Arts Northern Rivers is pleased to announce that Frances Belle Parker has been appointed to the newly created position of Indigenous Arts Development Officer (IADO). The IADO will support the many Indigenous artists in the Northern Rivers region, to develop and promote their work and to create a strong visible network of Indigenous artists through marketing, sales and business development initiatives. Arts Northern Rivers CEO Lois Randall said ‘we are delighted that Frances will be joining the Arts Northern Rivers team in this exciting and important role’. She explained that the creation of the role was in response ‘to the visual arts and crafts as an important form of cultural expression for Indigenous communities in the Northern Rivers, with a large number of emerging and established Indigenous artists engaged in this sector through the visual arts and crafts including painting, sculpture and textile arts’. It is envisaged that the IADO through extensive consultation throughout the region will put established Indigenous artists in a better position to share and develop culture in the community through workshops and public programs, and to take on the role of mentors and role models for young and emerging artists. Frances Belle Parker comes to the role with a strong background in the visual arts. In 2000, prior to formally studying art, Frances won the prestigious Blake Prize for Religious Art. Not only was Frances the youngest winner of this prize, she was the first Indigenous winner in the prize’s 55 year history. After completing a degree at UNSW, Frances moved back to Maclean to be back on her homeland and to be closer to her family. Frances was recently awarded the ABC North Coast’s inaugural ArtsNest Award, which was established to recognise and encourage artists in the Northern Rivers region. On her appointment to the position Frances said she was ‘excited about the many opportunities and possibilities that will be created through this position. With so much Indigenous talent in this region there’s an extraordinary opportunity to create a highly visible network of artists and to open up new audiences and marketplaces for these artists on a local, national and hopefully international level’. The IADO will also work with the CEO of Arts Northern Rivers and the Indigenous Artists Advisory Group to establish an Indigenous Arts Centre based in Lismore, additional funding will be sought to support the employment of an Indigenous Arts Business Officer to manage the Arts Centre. The IADO position has been funded by the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and NSW Department of State and Regional Development. Frances can be contacted at frances@artsnorthernrivers.com.au or (02) 6628 8120. VISUAL ARTS NETWORK NEWS BRANCHING OUT – A GROUP EXHIBITION FROM THE JAMBAMA ARTISTS OF CASINO - Ballina Branching out is an exhibition of original works by Indigenous artists from the Jambama Art Shed Casino. Amongst the works on display are high quality paintings on canvas, boomerangs, clap sticks, sculptures, pyrographic pieces and designer wall hangings. Sewn products include bags, place mats and cushion covers, all with original hand printed designs. Noel (Charlie) Caldwell is one of the 15 Bundjalung artists included in the exhibition "Painting is a big part of my life. I've been painting since I was 15 and I'll never stop painting. It's great that now I'm recognised across the region as a painter. I often paint bushtucker such as 'Gwee-ahnj' (possum), 'Njamahls' (Goanna) and 'Bingings' (Turtles) or ceremonies and everyday life such as huntin' and fishing". Jambama Art Shed is a training centre run by Buyimbin Aboriginal Corporation for the Aboriginal community in Casino, teaching CDEP workers the skills of painting and sewing. Catch the work of the Jambama Artists during February at the Ballina Community Gallery or at The Jambama Art Shed Gallery Space in Casino which is open to the public Monday - Friday 9 - 4 pm. Pictired above is "Buniying Family" by Tania Walker, acylic on canvas 2007. Where: Northern Rivers Community Gallery, 44 Cherry Street Ballina When: Until 24 February Time: Gallery hours are Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm Cost: Free return to top

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