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.

Enterprising TRA

Last week the TRA team got together to brainstorm some of the exciting possibilities on how to build on the fantastic support it provides throughout the regional arts community. This was a dynamic workshop that identified some real opportunities for TRA to be entrepreneurial. We will be sharing this with you all soon.

But in the meantime look out for the beautiful cards and buttons on sale at JUNCTION2010. Interweave Arts in conjunction with Branching Out have selected just a few of the magnificent artworks produced through it's Workshop Studio Program to be displayed on Tasmanian made cards and badges. This program has been a valued component of Interweave with artists and volunteers working with people with disabilities and young people, to produce high quality artworks.

Funds raised through the sale of these products will go into the cost of maintaining the Workshop Studio Program for 2011.

Meanwhile, TRAK (Kentish branch) is holding an open day at it's Working Art Space in Sheffield on Sunday 26th September. Take the time to visit one of the most lush and beautiful parts of Tasmania. Meet the artists, experience the artworks and celebrate with this energetic and dynamic group.

ENTERPRISING INTERWEAVE

Interweave has gained a great reputation for working on a range of arts projects with people with disabilities and young people from the Launceston community.
We are working with a core working group to identify the potential for a Social Enterprise venture from within the many projects they are involved in.
The next step is to determine the feasibility of the project and identify the needs and resources to make it happen.