News Archive - March 2008

ARTS NORTHERN RIVERS NEWS

EAST OF EVERYTHING TO HIT OUR SCREENS SOON

The first episode of East of Everything, the ABC Television drama produced in the Northern Rivers will screen ABC 1 on Sunday 30 March at 8.30pm. Producer Deb Cox and writer Roger Monk along with members of the cast recently thanked the Northern Rivers crew and community for their support during the 6-month shooting schedule of the series with a special sneak preview of episode 1. Rumour has it that a second series is almost guaranteed!

Where: ABC 1
When: Sunday 30 March at 8.30pm

A NEW FACE AT ARTS NORTHERN RIVERS

Arts Northern Rivers is pleased to announce that Mei- Lin Marlin has been appointed as the new Business Administration Officer P/T- Mondays and Tuesdays. She has a degree in Bachelor of Business, majoring in Accountancy with Charles Sturt University, Bathurst and has also completed her Professional year as a Chartered Accountant. She has significant accounting and administration experience of almost 26 years in Sydney in the Commercial sector and since 1991 she has worked with various service organisations in the Northern Rivers region. Previously she was the Migrant Settlement Officer for the Far North Coast region. She is currently a TAFE teacher with the Northern Institute of TAFE and is also a workplace trainer. And if that wasn't enopugh to keep her busy Mei- Lin is also the rural representative of the NSW Immigrant Women Speak Out Premire's Council.

Mei- Lin can be contacted at Arts Northern Rivers on (02) 6628 8120 or info@artsnorthernrivers.com.au (Mondays and Tuesdays).

NORTHERN RIVERS CREATIVE INDUSTRIES STRATEGY - CONSULTANT APPOINTED

Arts Northern Rivers recently announced the appointment of David Fishel as the Consultant to develop the Northern Rivers Arts and Creative Industries Strategy. David heads up Positive Solutions, a Brisbane-based research, policy and cultural planning consultancy. The company was formed in 1990 in response to the changing environment for cultural organizations and has developed into a highly specialised company serving non-profit, government and commercial clients.

One of the first priorities Positive Solutions has identified in the development of the Creative Industries Strategy is to conduct an audit of cultural infrastructure in the region, followed by extensive consultation with key stakeholders in the creative industries throughout the Northern Rivers region.

The aims of the strategy are to identify regional priorities for cultural capital infrastructure development; regional priorities for creative industry development; opportunities for new market development for creative industry product; implementation plans with funding and business models; budgets and funding partners for regional priorities; and provide a blue print for managed, strategic longer term engagement in the development of the creative industries in the region by industry stakeholders, the three levels of government and the business sector.

A Steering Committee as been established to oversee the project and consists of representatives from Arts Northern Rivers, Northern Rivers Regional Development Board, NSW Department of State and Regional Development and NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet.

More info: info@artsnorthernrivers.com.au or (02) 6628 8120

LOCAL GOVERNMENT CULTURAL AWARDS
VOTE NOW!

The Annual Local Government Cultural Awards recognise exemplary cultural development by NSW councils. And in 2008 five Councils in the Northern Rivers have had projects nominated, visit the Local Government Culutral Awards website to vote in the People’s Choice section (link at bottom).

BALLINA SHIRE COUNCIL

Northern Rivers Community Gallery
Developed by Council in partnership with the community, the gallery provides a centre for the arts and crafts in the region, with four gallery spaces that can be rented for exhibitions and cultural activities, and a learning centre.

BYRON SHIRE COUNCIL

Cultural Industries Development
Council’s leadership included facilitating “East of Everything”, the first regionally based television drama series, by supporting the grant application process, waiving all location fees, and facilitating a partnership with the traditional owners, the Arakwal people. Council facilities, including the Council Chambers, are featured in the production.

CLARENCE VALLEY COUNCIL

My Grandmother’s House
20 young and older writers joined together to undertake a contemporary creative writing and performance project which included a 2 day intensive workshop with nationally renowned authors Sarah Armstrong and Alan Close.

Northern Rivers Regional Museums Project
This project supports 20 volunteer run museums across the 7 local government areas of the Northern River Region. Six of the Museums are in Clarence Valley Council LGA and the project is a partnership between Council and Arts Northern Rivers.

The Clarence Valley Indigenous Art Award
This was a major cultural achievement for Grafton Regional Gallery in 2007. The program comprised of three award sections; a major exhibition, an opening event, artist in residence, a separate indigenous school exhibition and educational workshops and tours.

Unity in Diversity – The Clarence Valley Cultural Plan
The Clarence Valley Cultural Plan sets out a Vision for the cultural development of the Clarence Valley over the next 10 years. The plan is a tool to assist Council and community build a rich and vibrant cultural experience for all residents of the Valley.

LISMORE CITY COUNCIL

The Living Library
Australia's first Living Library was launched in Lismore and has opened on a monthly basis during 2007. It is an innovative community based initiative which aims to bring people together in one-to-one conversation, to encourage understanding, challenge negative stereotypes and reduce prejudice.

TWEED SHIRE COUNCIL

Jarjum Wajehla (children speaking)
A visual arts project that supported practicing ATSI artists and encouraged the development of nineteen young creative thinkers from the Tweed’s ATSI community.

GR8ParT RU Coming?
Tweed Shire’s Multi Arts Performance Project was a groundbreaking project created through a unique partnership between Tweed Shire Council, Tweed Valley Respite Service Inc. and NORPA Dance Action. The Project was conceived as a means to extend and expand the sensational outcomes generated through the Tweed Shire City of the Arts DisAbility Arts Program.

More Info: www.culturalawards2008.lgsa.org.au

NEW FUNDING FOR INDIGENOUS ARTISTS SURVEY AND PUBLICATION

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Peter Garrett recently announced funding of $1.3 million from the Indigenous Visual Arts Special Initiative to support 28 one-off projects to build the sustainability of Indigenous arts organisations across a range of areas.

Projects funded through this initiative include: $75,170 for a photographic survey and marketing project to be conducted by Arts Northern Rivers to boost the profile of Indigenous artists from this region and support the work of the Indigenous Artists Advisory Group. The project will be managed by Frances Belle Parker who will work with Melitta Firth to produce a quality publication, digital image database to project artists’ IP, and individual artists statements and presentation materials.

More Info: www.aboriginalartnews.com.au

VISUAL ARTS NETWORK NEWS

VAN TURNS THREE

The Visual Arts Network Project is now in it’s third and final year. ARTS NSW has just announced a final contribution towards the project of $40,000 and now we are interested in hearing from you. If you are a visual artist from the Northern Rivers your suggestions will be taken into account as we develop the focus and program of events for the final stage of the project.

More Info: Submit your ideas by email to melitta@artsnorthernrivers.com.au

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