2025 End of Year Message by Jane Fuller

As 2025 draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the extraordinary journey I’ve had with Arts Northern Rivers. This message is a little different from those I’ve written in the past, it will be my final end-of-year note as Executive Director. After much thought and with a full heart, I’ve made the decision to step down from the role in February. It’s never easy to say goodbye to something you love, but I feel incredibly fortunate to be leaving at a time when the organisation is strong, vibrant, and ready for its next chapter.

Arts Northern Rivers has been more than a workplace. It has been a community, a creative force, and a place of deep connection. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing remarkable projects come to life, seeing artists push boundaries, and watching communities come together through the power of art. Each initiative — whether large or small — has carried with it the spirit of collaboration and the belief that creativity can transform lives. This year has been no exception.

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Highlights of 2025…

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Artist Respite Program

The launch of the Artist Respite Program, a partnership between Grafton Regional Gallery and Arts Northern Rivers. Developed to support artists in the Northern Rivers who have been affected by natural disasters, the program offered a much-needed opportunity for rest, reconnection, and creative renewal. We were proud to announce three recipients for 2025: Holly Ahern, Kate Stroud, and Hunter Wilson.

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Tweed Spaces

Another milestone was the launch of Tweed Spaces, a pilot initiative responding directly to the findings of our 2025 Who We Are report. That report highlighted a critical challenge across the Northern Rivers: SPACE!  

Tweed Spaces, delivered with support from Tweed Shire Council, explored and activated alternative spaces for arts and cultural activity, addressing immediate needs while contributing to a longer-term strategy for creative infrastructure.

Through Tweed Spaces, we supported two independent projects:

• Moving Histories by PYT Fairfield, a creative development and cultural exchange project hosted at Pottsville Environment Centre. This work brought PYT Fairfield’s Bodies Hold Histories ensemble from Western Sydney to the Northern Rivers, engaging with local artists and Bundjalung Country to create a dance-based work focused on deep listening, community, and care. ‍
• softwash, an artist-led program presented by the collective PUBLIC PALACE — at the Tweed Regional Museum Learning Site. softwash reimagined public parklands as places for artists and community to gather, share, and make meaning together.

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First Nations Program Coordinator

We welcomed Hannah Ranby (Gomeroi) to the ANR First Nations Program Coordinator position. Her first project, PATHWAYS LAB, was a performing arts professional development program designed to uplift and support emerging Blak creatives connected to Bundjalung Country. First Nations performer Blake Rhodes (aka Mr. Rhodes) mentored three participants, with ANR partnering with Music NSW to provide access to vital industry networks and career-building opportunities.

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We said goodbye to Grace Dewar, ANR Project Manager for three years and pay respect to their impact on the org and the independent artists of the region.

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Who We Are

Another significant achievement was the delivery of the once-in-a-decade report Who We Are, in collaboration with respected arts research agency Patternmakers. This groundbreaking report provides essential data and insights to assist the sector in advocacy, funding, and program development.

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CASP

We continued to deliver the Country Arts Support Program (CASP), offering small grants of up to $5,000 to support local community arts and cultural development, increase regional opportunities, and generate economic benefits for communities across regional NSW. Alongside this, our annual professional development series, PRACTICE 101, supported artists and art workers seeking guidance and resources to strengthen their creative careers.

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Bulaan Buruugaa Ngali Exhibition

A major highlight was the award-winning Bulaan Buruugaa Ngali Exhibition, which received recognition at the Imagine Awards 2025. This exhibition extended a long-form Aboriginal and community-led project in weaving reclamation on Bundjalung Country. New works from Bundjalung, Yaegl, Gumbaynggirr, and Kamilaroi (Gamilaroi) weavers were commissioned alongside nine ancestral woven objects. Curated by Kylie Caldwell and presented by Arts Northern Rivers, this project exemplifies the depth and cultural significance of our region’s creative practices.

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Byron School of Art Scholarship

The ANR scholarship fund to support a First Nations Visual Artist saw Kay Williams graduate the 3-year Byron School of Art course at the end of 2025.

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Kinship

We supported Kinship Festival and look to remounting Art On Bundjalung in 2026 in the Clarence in November!

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SMOKE

The First Nations cotemporary dance work; SMOKE ia dance theatre work co-directed by Kirk Page and Jade Dewi TyasTunggal, developed since 2021 across Bundjalung Country, Meanjin, and Indonesia. In 2026, SMOKE enters its presentation journey with Arts Northern Rivers as support partner and BlakDance as lead partner.

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These initiatives reflect the spirit of Arts Northern Rivers: responding to community needs, supporting artists in practical and imaginative ways, and creating opportunities for connection and resilience. They remind us that while economic metrics matter, the true value of the arts lies in the social cohesion, identity, and wellbeing they foster.

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As I prepare to leave, I want to express my deepest thanks to the Arts Northern Rivers team. Your creativity, dedication, and resilience have been the heartbeat of this organisation. You have inspired me every day with your commitment to artists, your care for community, and your unwavering belief in the power of art. I am so proud of the work we’ve done together, and I know that the legacy of your efforts will continue to shape the region for years to come.

To the Board, whose guidance and support have been steadfast, thank you. To our partners, funders, and collaborators, thank you for believing in our vision and walking alongside us. And to the artists — the soul of everything we do — thank you for trusting us, challenging us, and reminding us of the power of imagination.

I am thrilled to be handing the baton to Rosie Dennis, a highly respected leader with a reputation for pushing boundaries and exploring the intersection between art and audience. Rosie’s creative vision is known for its emotional depth, visual storytelling, and experimental approach. Her recent work as Director of BAMM – Bank Art Museum Moree, and previously with Placemakers Gold Coast, speaks to her ability to lead with courage, curiosity, and care. I have no doubt that Rosie will guide Arts Northern Rivers into an exciting new chapter.

As we close out 2025, let us celebrate the achievements of our artists and communities, and look forward with excitement to what lies ahead. With Rosie at the helm, Arts Northern Rivers will continue to shine brightly, bringing people together and enriching lives through the power of art.

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Thank you for allowing me to be part of this journey. I leave with a heart full of gratitude and confidence in the future of Arts Northern Rivers.

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Jane Fuller, Executive Director, Arts Northern Rivers – 2021-2026