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.

HARD WORK PAYING OFF

We are continuing to work with the two pilots involved in the Branching Out project. TRA-K's Working Art Space is in the process of having new heating installed along with a lighting system that will enhance the artwork. It's been a partnership between the hard working volunteers, our Community Business Facilitator, Warren Butler and the Kentish Council. The challenges that have been traversed along the way confirm the need for additional skills and support to ensure that the volunteer group doesn't get swamped and exhausted.

Interweave Arts is working on its 2011 program, while we are working with them on a new business plan, brochures and the production and distribution of cards and badges. We are talking with Tasmanian Polytechnic in Launceston about some of their students involved in the Work Education program. Teachers are wanting to undertake more enterprise as part of the course that involves young people with physical and intellectual disabilities. We have done a bit of a test run and the response has been very positive. We have two major retail outlets wanting to stock cards and badges in 2011.