Outback Arts 2012 Venue Audit

Posted on February 6, 2012 by samantha

Outback Arts is currently undertaking a venue audit of all possible venue spaces in the Outback Arts region to be used as an online resource for both Outback Arts, Regional Arts NSW and as a resource for touring companies, artists and any interested parties.

The information will used as a form to best match the needs of the performer and community and what spaces are possible within the community and the most appropriate contact.

To view the form and fill out the details for you region click on 2012 Venue Audit

Warren Waste 2 Art now open

Posted on February 3, 2012 by samantha
Artwork from 2011 Warren Waste2Art – 3 Wise Owls by Benjamin Fisk

Held annually, Waste2Art is a community program, exhibition and competition that showcases creative works that are made from reused and recycled waste materials.
The purpose of the project is to encourage the concept of
REDUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE whilst changing attitudes about ‘rubbish’ and what waste we all create on a daily basis.

Artworks for the Warren competition artwork are to be delivered to the Warren Sporting and Cultural Centre by Tuesday, 27th March 2012 (between the hours of 1pm – 4pm only) along with the entry form and document titled “Artists Explanation” completed. 

Competition Categories

Primary School
2 Dimensional  – Poster/Painting/Collage/Drawing
3 Dimensional – Sculpture/Installation/ Video /Soundscape
High School
2 Dimensional  – Poster/Painting/Collage/Drawing
3 Dimensional – Sculpture/Installation/ Video /Soundscape
Functional – furniture, craftworks & wearable items made from recycled materials
Community
2 Dimensional – Poster/Painting/Collage/Drawing
3 Dimensional – Sculpture/Installation/ Video/Soundscape
Functional – furniture, craftworks & wearable items made from recycled materials
Open
2 Dimensional – Poster/Painting/Collage/Drawing
3 Dimensional – Sculpture/Installation/Video/Soundscape
Functional – furniture, craftworks & wearable items made from recycled materials
Building or Element of Building/Large Sculpture (Entries submitted under this category may exceed the size and weight limit – photographs will be exhibited.  Photographs must be supplied by artists).
2 Dimensional
3 Dimensional
Functional – furniture, craftworks & wearable items made from recycled materials

Your artwork must be delivered to the Warren Sporting and Cultural Centre on Tuesday, 27th March 2012 (between the hours of 1pm – 4pm only) along with the entry form and document titled “Artists Explanation” completed.  Please note that each piece of artwork requires its own entry form.

The competition will be judged before an opening exhibition night on Friday, 30th March 2012.

Entry forms are available from Warren Shire Council Chambers or from either Netwaste website http://www.netwaste.org.au/ or Warren website http://www.warren.nsw.gov.au/. 

For further information contact Jacinta Fuller from Warren Shire Council on 68476600

Outback Arts Annual General Meeting

Posted on February 2, 2012 by samantha

Title: Outback Arts Annual General Meeting
Location: Warren Shire Chambers
Description: Outback Arts Annual General Meeting and general board meeting are to be help March 15 in Warre.
The AGM is an opportunity for interested community groups and organisations to nominate an authorised representative from their community to be a voice for their needs.
For membership contact Outback Arts on 0268 222 484
Start Time: 09:00
Date: 2012-03-15

Country Arts Support Program Funding to close February 10 at 5pm

Posted on February 2, 2012 by samantha

CASP provides small grants to arts and community organisations and local arts councils in regional NSW for short term, locally initiated projects. The aims of the program are:

-to assist locally determined cultural activities;
-to increase opportunities for regionally based groups to access a diverse range of arts programs;
-to enable communities to explore and express their cultural identities;
-to encourage communities to work together to develop and participate in cultural experiences;
-to bring social and economic benefits to the community through training, employment and promotional activities;
-to leads to greater awareness and appreciation of cultural diversity in rural and regional New South Wales.

Contact with Outback Arts’ Regional Arts Development Officer Jamie-Lea Hodges is essential.

To discuss your project options with Jamie-Lea phone (02)68 222 484 or email rado@outbackarts.com.au

To fill out a form for the 2012 round of CASP click here

Editorial: Regional Arts Development Officer Jamie-Lea Hodges

Posted on December 5, 2011 by samantha

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!

Bourke Shire gains new Regional Indigenous Cultural Development Officer

Posted on December 5, 2011 by samantha

 

When you first meet Angie-lee Stahl what strikes you the most is a sense of great enthusiasm and her keen intelligence that seems to absorb everything around her.

Already an active member in the local Bourke Aboriginal community as a linguist for the local languages and community presenter for Indigenous Broadcast Radio Station 2CUZ, Angie-lee says she is ready to tackle the challenges that come from living in regional communities and helping build and promote the range of creativity that can be found in Aboriginal communities.

“There is such a great amount of artistic talent out here (Bourke Shire) and there are artists of different skills and mediums who, in their own time, create and make amazing artworks and I really feel that they need to be promoted and encouraged.”

An active member in the local community Angie-lee currently works as a language worker which has meant her involvement in documenting and researching the varying indigenous languages that can be found within the local Bourke shire.

“There is a great amount of diversity within my current job and I touch base with so many intelligent, smart people who simply want to promote and develop their (local indigenous) culture and I feel that, now as a RICDO (Regional Indigenous Cultural Development Officer) for Outback Arts I can help do exactly that.”

Welcoming her to the fold is Regional Arts Development Officer Jamie-Lea Hodges who says that the Bourke aborginal community will benefit from Angie-lee’s enthusiasm and passion for local culture.

Western CMA 2010 winning photography tours Outback Arts region

Posted on November 7, 2011 by samantha

A photographic exhibition courtesy of the Western Catchment Management Authority (CMA) will  be showing in Bourke and Cobar in February.

Currently featured at the Back O’ Bourke Information Centre and Cafe before moving to Cobar, the photographs are from the 2010 winners of the Western CMA ‘Life and Light’ photography competition which  focused on different images relating to the 2010 floods. The exhibition is a reflection of the partnership with the Catchment Management Authority (both Western and Central Western) and Outback Arts to promote and encourage regional creativity.

To view the 2011 winners of the Western CMA ‘Life and Light’ phtography competition click here

Competition: AGFARM Harvest 2011/12 photography

Posted on November 7, 2011 by samantha

People from all over Australia are invited to send in their best harvest photographs in digital form. All you need is a keen eye and a good understanding of what harvest is all about. The theme of the competition is “explore the experience of harvest”.
The competition closes on 30/1/2012 and winners will be announced on 1/3/2012.
Selection criteria
Images which show creativity and technical competency and best capture the experience, atmosphere and feeling of the annual summer grain harvest. Photos must be taken during the 2011-12 harvest period.

What can you win?
Overall winner – $500, an Agfarm kit and a photography book
Second place – $250, an Agfarm kit and a photography book
Highly commended – 5 prizes of $50 and an Agfarm kit
Agfarm will publish the winners on our website and in our promotional material and promote all winners and their work in the media.
How do I enter?
Entry is free. To download an entry form visit their official website www.agfarm.com.au Once completed send it with your photo(s) on CD or by email to:
Agfarm, Suite 1302, 25 Bligh Street, Sydney NSW 2000 or
photos@agfarm.com.au

Acting Masterclass courtesy of Critical Stages

Posted on November 7, 2011 by samantha

Critical Stages, in partnership with Outback Arts, will  host a free ‘masterclass’ in acting on November 25th from 10am-4pm at the Plaza Theatre Coonamble.

The masterclass is focused on developing your skills in acting and your engagement with the audience. The workshops aim to develop skills in voice, movement, improvisation and characteristics. Learn how to respond to scripts and how to effectively relate to others. Prepare to act with ease and confidence.

Bookings are essential. RSVP to Michael Sieders on 0293 313 107 or email michael.sieders@criticalstages.com.au by  no later than the 18th November.

About Critical Stages

Critical Stages is the national professional platform for independent theatre. Their goal is the sustainable growth of the sector. Critical Stages seek out outstanding productions from small theatres around Australia and helps them reach new audiences.

Critical Stages NSW is a program designed specifically to bring independent artists and the community presenter network in NSW together. Working closely with RADO’s in each region the NSW producer is dedicated to develop, maintain and grow a theatre going culture in regional NSW with shows from the Sydney independent sector.
This program is actively committed to getting independent artists in Sydney out to your local community presenter network at least twice a year. With the generous support of Arts NSW we are able to get high quality shows on the road and in your towns a lot quicker than ever before with a lot less risk.
It is the aim of Critical Stages NSW to build a strong presence in your regions and help create and build on your arts community with outstanding independent theatre.

Community Presenter Forum with Critical Stages

Posted on November 7, 2011 by samantha

From 6-9pm on Friday 25th November community members from across the Outback Arts and Orana Arts region will be invited to participate in a  discussion about independant theatre with Critical Stages NSW Producer and presenter Michael Sieders.

The discussion will cover topics such as how Critical Stages can assist in getting independant theatre on the road to community presenters, what type of performances rural communities want to see in their towns, ways to build audience numbers and ways to engage more people in theatre.

To RSVP contact Michael Siders on 0293 313 107

About Critical Stages

Critical Stages is the national professional platform for independant theatre. Their goal is the sustainable growth of the sector. Critical Stags seek out outstanding productions from small theatres around Australia and help them reach new audiences. 

Critical Stages NSW is a program designed specifically to bring independent artist and the community presenter network in NSW together. Working closely with RADO’s in each region the NSW producer is dedicated to develop, maintain and grow a theatre going culture in regional NSW with shows from the Sydney independent sector.
This program is actively committed to getting independent artists in Sydney out to your local community presenter network at least twice a year. With the generous support of Arts NSW we are able to get high quality shows on the road and in your towns a lot quicker than ever before with a lot less risk.
It is the aim of Critical Stages NSW to build a strong presence in your regions and help create and build on your arts community with outstanding independent theatre.