On the Road

Thursday morning and the Getz is packed for the trip up North. First stop Launceston's Interweave Arts to workshop the latest business plan and talk marketing opportunities. It's always invigorating and rewarding working with Kim Schneiders and James Newton of Interweave Arts and with our Community Business Facilitator, Warren Butler. It's a varied and dynamic team. We take a slightly different approach to the norm, using language that fits with the organisation while still accommodating the world of business. The focus is on long term vision with short term achievable and much needed outcomes. Interweave has already got most of it together, but becoming part of their team through the project has allowed them to access different skills and resources.
A few hours later and we finalise the plan which will provide the organisation with valuable information for future funding applications while being a useful working document for the team. It is fascinating to see just how much Interweave has contributed to the Northern Tasmanian community. 

Public Art produced by Interweave at Inveresk

Kim, Kylie, James and Warren at The Studio at Inveresk

A quick catch up with Yo-Anne Eastley from Tasmanian Polytechnic to talk about their students making Interweave badges as part of their enterprise program. Many of their students have already been involved in the Interweave studio program, so it's building on an existing relationship. The badges have been a sell out, so more are being produced, and the Interweave art cards have been extremely popular.
A quick coffee and it's on the road again to help out with the Material Girl exhibition which opens in Burnie. 
Catch up up with the team at the TRA Latrobe head office including Theresa Beck-Swindale, the coordinator of Material Girl. With more than 50 entries, the Burnie Arts Council gallery is looking fantastic. Details of the winners are on the Tasmanian Regional Arts website.  But here is a little teaser from the opening night.

Material Girl Photos

It was a fantastic evening, as you can see. The next day I dropped into the Working Art Space in Sheffield. It's the other pilot group we are working with. The newly installed heat pumps looked great and the team were excitedly talking of the new lighting and the potential of having movable gallery petitions.
I just happened to be there as a life drawing workshop was about to begin, so guess who became the model-clothes on of course. It is amazing what is included in my job description. It was great to chat with the participants and see the expertise of the tutor Kerry Martin. 

Setting up for the workshop

It was another successful road trip and a reminder of the incredible passion and interest in artists by regional communities. Thanks for having me guys and I look forward to the next trip.

SUPPORT INTERWEAVE ARTS

Intertweave Arts is now listed on the Australian Cultural Fund. So get on line, read about the Access Arts Link program and support their valuable work today.

Support for Social Entrepreneurs

The Minnesota Cup
There are a number of funding opportunities in the US and countries to support social entrepreneurs. We know there are many individuals who are driven to set up social enterprises. Let's hope we can convince government and other funding organisations to invest in this sector. 
School for Social Entrepreneurs The School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) Australia provides learning programs to enhance the effectiveness of Australia’s social entrepreneurs and their social ventures.  Social entrepreneurs are everyday people with ideas or businesses that deliver a social or community benefit.  
SSE runs a 9-month program that gives social entrepreneurs the personal and business support they need to grow their venture to be more effective. At the moment the only option for us Taswegians is for us to travel weekly to Melbourne, but let's hope there are other options in the not too distant future.
The SSE approach to social enterprise is one that focuses on social entrepreneurs creating community-engaged, community-shaped organisations. We have found that it is a combination of personal support and development, project knowledge and leadership skills which leads to the creation of robust, responsive, effective and sustainable solutions to unmet needs. 
It is also our experience that action learning is the most effective approach for individuals leading social change. (SSE website)