Editorial: Regional Arts Development Officer Jamie-Lea Hodges

Our last e-bulletin for 2011 – and what a year it has been!

There have been so many highlights over the last twelve months; Outback Arts really is an exciting workplace jam-packed full of diversity and creative experiences that continue to develop daily.

The year started with new office staff (Samantha Stratton and Felicity Keady) getting their bearings and big changes for the organisation, changes to the constitution to allow all community members in the five contributing shires free membership to Outback Arts. We also rebranded the organisation with the launch of the new logo and website!

With all the anticipation of rebranding, made through a new logo, website, staff and e-news, came an increase in community awareness of Outback Arts and the services we provide. With every day an aim to provide the best possible service to all our contributing shire members, the ongoing funding through the Country Arts Support Program (CASP) meant performances and workshops such as the one at Lightning Ridge with Rodger Knox could be held. Also, the mixed media workshop with Georgia Mansur in Coonamble, and the youth arts workshops in Warren with Indigenous artist Mary Kennedy could occur, just to name a few.

Then there were the Warren Sesquicentenary celebrations. What an achievement for the Warren community and congratulations to hosting such a successful celebration. Another event this year was the youth program in Bourke, funded by ArtStart artists from Shopfront Theatre for Young People who came out to Bourke for a week long school holiday program which ended in a culmination of film, music, and arts that focused on life as a young person in Bourke. It was a truly inspiring project and a reminder that age doesn’t stop creativity!
Another highlight for me this year in my role as RADO would be in initiating the inaugural Outback Archies. This was a regional arts exhibition and showcase, along with establishing the partnership of Outback Arts with Moorambilla Festival to increase participation and promote the talent of our regional artists at this now multi-arts festival.

I must say a big thank you to all our staff and especially the Regional Indigenous Cultural Development Officers across the region for all their hard work and efforts this past year. We farewell our office assistant Felicity Keady and also farewell to our board member Steve Baldwin who has left Outback Arts after being on the board for 6 years (on and off) to move to the Diamantina Shire Council.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the shires of Bourke, Cobar, Coonamble, Walgett and Warren for their continued support and also to all of our devoted board members that continue to give their time to the Outback Arts organisation, also to the staff at Regional Arts NSW for their continued assistance and support.

It has been a pleasure to look back over all the achievements of the past year, with so many events and projects right around the region comes many miles on the road – always a great time to think about ideas and future projects. I look forward to working in the RADO role – wherever it may take me in 2012!