News Archive June 2008
The Year of The Apology
Arts NSW accounces continued funding for Regional
Museums Project
Out and about at FEHVA
Stepping Stones
Regional Arts and Creative Industries Strategy Update
Melitta takes the reins
Arts Northern Rivers News June 2008
Almost
200 people attended the opening of The Year of The Apology exhibition, held
on May 28th, at the Northern Rivers Community Gallery in Ballina, organised
by Arts Northern Rivers.
The exhibition was officially opened by Indigenous curator, Djon Mundine, who commented on the significance of the show, not only as an outstanding collection of themed works from over 50 Indigenous artists from the Northern Rivers region, but also as an exhibition curated by an Indigenous curator, Frances Belle-Parker, Arts Northern Rivers' Indigenous Arts Development Officer.
The works featured in the show are a reaction to the Rudd Government’s ‘Apology to the Stolen Generations and/or works based on the theme of reconciliation. Artists include Digby Moran, Les Evans, Garth Lena, Karla Dickens, Bevan Skinner, Alison Williams, Penny Evans, Marie Close, the Jambama Artists from Casino, Saltwater Woman from Ballina, Cabbage Tree Island Artists, the Charlton and Vesper families from Maclean and Yamba and the Robinson family from Kyogle.
"The Year of the Apology is a vessel in giving us, Aboriginal artists a voice. It is a way we can voice our concerns and issues with the current politics going on in the world around us in this present day." Frances Belle Parker, Curator and Indigenous Arts Development Officer.
It’s on now, till 29 June, at the Northern Rivers Community Gallery, 44 Cherry Street (Cnr. Crane Street), Ballina. For more information contact the Gallery on (02) 6681 6167.
ARTS NSW ANNOUNCES CONTINUED FUNDING FOR REGIONAL MUSEUMS PROJECT
On May 23rd, the NSW Minister for the Arts, Frank Sartor, announced the allocation of an additional $30,000 to support Stage Two of Arts Northern Rivers’ Regional Museums Development Project.
The Minister’s announcement came as welcome news to the 20 local museums across the region, who have benefited from training programs, assistance with grant applications and the implementation of a Regional Significance Assessment project, since the inception of the project in August 2007.
Regional Museums Development Officer, Joan Kelly explained that the first stage of the project concentrated on becoming familiar the collections in the region and ensuring that museum volunteers had the skills to undertake collection management tasks such as cataloguing, developing digital databases and basic preventive conservation to ensure the sustainability of their collections.
This stage of the project is now complete.
In Stage Two Joan will work with the museums to develop strategic planning and a regional exhibition.
Further funding will be sought via this year’s grants rounds for Stage Three, which involves production of the regional exhibition, to see the project through to its completion.
The following museums are all involved in the Regional Museums Development Project: Brunswick Valley Museum, Bangalow Historical Society Museum, Kyogle & District Historical Society Museum, Richmond River Historical Society, Alstonville Plateau Historical Society (Crawford House), Ballina Naval and Maritime Museum, Casino Folk Museum, Pacific Railway Society Inc., Mid Richmond Historical Society Museum, Evans Head Living Museum, New Italy Museum, Illuka History Group, Yamba Museum, Maclean Museum & Stone Cottage, Lawrence Museum, Ulmarra Heritage and Historical Society, Clarence River Historical Society (Schaeffer House), Glenreagh Historical Society Museum and the Tweed River Regional Museum.
In addition to funding from Arts NSW, the project is also supported by partnerships with Clarence Valley Council and Museums and Galleries NSW, and is supported by all LGAs in the Northern Rivers Region.
Joan has also just completed the Regional Strategy for the Future Sustainability of the Museums in the Northern Rivers Region.
An enthusiastic crowd attended The Year of the Apology discussion, presented by Arts Northern Rivers Arts Northern Rivers at FEHVA 2008.
Hosted by Indigenous Arts Development Officer, Frances Belle-Parker, the session explored the impact of the newly elected Labour Government’s Apology to the Stolen Generations, with local Indigenous artists Karla Dickens, Alison Williams, Garth Lena, looking at the effect on their artworks and on their lives.
Over the past month, Indigenous Arts Development Officer, Frances Belle Parker has been touring the region with a professional photographer and writer in tow, seeking out Indigenous artists who would benefit from assistance with the preparation of marketing materials.
76 artists from Tabulum, Kyogle, Casino, Grafton, Evans Head, Maclean, Wardell, Cabbage Tree Island, Ballina, Goonellabah, Lismore, Nimbin, Byron Bay, South Tweed, Fingal Head, and Brunswick Heads, who took up the offer have now been interviewed and had their work photographed, so that professional portfolio shots and biographies can be prepared.
Over the next few weeks a selection committee will choose 20 images from the photos taken, for inclusion in a coffee-table book called Stepping Stones, showcasing local Indigenous talent.
The book will be published Arts Northern Rivers, in conjunction with Keeaira Press. Copies will be available late this year.
REGIONAL ARTS & CREATIVE INDUSTRIES STRATEGY UPDATE
The regional Arts & Creative Industries Strategy is being prepared on our behalf by Positive Solutions, a specialist arts and creative industry consultancy, based in Brisbane.
Over recent months they have focused on mapping our starting point. This has involved consultation with many people from the local arts and creative communities and Arts Northern Rivers would like to thank everyone who has assisted by participating in discussions and workshops and those who provided information for the Capital Infrastructure Audit.
This initial mapping stage is now complete and a draft vision looking five years to the future has been prepared and circulated.
The next stage in the process is to establish the strategies by which the vision can be achieved.
Further community consultation, this time focusing on practitioner input, is due to commence June 10th.
Commencing 2 June, our Visual Arts Network Coordinator, Melitta Firth, will step up to the temporary role of Arts Northern Rivers Acting CEO.
Melitta joined Arts Northern Rivers three years ago and has played an instrumental role in furthering our vision during this time.
Melitta will fill the role until Arts Northern Rivers CEO/RADO Lois Randall returns to the post mid-November, following a second stint as Line Producer for the TV series East of Everything.
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