What an inspiring day yesterday with almost 100 visitors attended ARTS ON TRAK at the Working Art Space in Sheffield, North West Tasmania.
Local artists demonstrated a range of techniques including encaustic, silk, water painting, digital photography, drawing and more.
It was a fantastic way to launch the art groups brochure, blog and celebrate the past 12 months working with us in the Branching Out project.
This committee and community work incredibly hard and we have felt privileged to be included in their team, bringing support and specialist skills.
So thanks to everyone involved. I will post some pics in the next few days.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
The imperative to create time for artists to work
Australians are showing an unprecedented love of the arts, but our artists remain amongst the lowest paid in our society – especially in regional Australia.
Please read the rest of the speech from Kathy Keele, CEO of Australia Council for the Arts
We are talking to more and more artists and community arts groups in regional areas who are struggling and looking for a new approach.
The Ernesto Sirolli mandate of 'only do what you love to do' is playing out as a possible solution, or at least part of the solution. Match this with skilled people and resources that actually respond to the needs of the sector, then who knows what is possible.
Please read the rest of the speech from Kathy Keele, CEO of Australia Council for the Arts
We are talking to more and more artists and community arts groups in regional areas who are struggling and looking for a new approach.
The Ernesto Sirolli mandate of 'only do what you love to do' is playing out as a possible solution, or at least part of the solution. Match this with skilled people and resources that actually respond to the needs of the sector, then who knows what is possible.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Investing in your art
What an amazing opportunity to not only participate in the workshop run by Dr Ernesto Sirolli and colleague Yvonne Fizer, but to spend time discussing our project and some of the possibilities. They have shown great generosity over the past few months and have been incredibly supportive of what we are trying to do.
Along with the discussion amongst delegates at the Junction 2010 Conference and Festival, it confirms our findings; that we need to look at some new approaches to encouraging innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship in the art world.
We are seeking people, communities and organisations willing to explore possibilities and invest.
Along with the discussion amongst delegates at the Junction 2010 Conference and Festival, it confirms our findings; that we need to look at some new approaches to encouraging innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship in the art world.
We are seeking people, communities and organisations willing to explore possibilities and invest.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Dr Sirolli in Town
If you haven't heard, we are lucky enough to have Dr Ernesto Sirolli in Tasmania for the week. He is speaking at a number of engagements including the Dorothy Pearce Lecture and conducting a day long workshop on Wednesday 25th in Hobart. He then travels to Launceston where he will be a key note speaker at the Junction 2010 Conference, as well as conducting 2 workshops targetted at the artists and the arts workers.
It's a fantastic opportunity to have someone speaking about enterprise who has such a diverse and interesting background. Sirolli associates Yvonne Fizer and Martha Sirolli have also committed time to talk with us about the opportunities for social enterprise and the arts.
This has been made possible through a partnership between Tasmanian Council of Social Services and Tasmanian Regional Arts' Branching Out project, and has received sponsorship through the Tasmanian Government's Social Inclusions Unit.
It's a fantastic opportunity to have someone speaking about enterprise who has such a diverse and interesting background. Sirolli associates Yvonne Fizer and Martha Sirolli have also committed time to talk with us about the opportunities for social enterprise and the arts.
This has been made possible through a partnership between Tasmanian Council of Social Services and Tasmanian Regional Arts' Branching Out project, and has received sponsorship through the Tasmanian Government's Social Inclusions Unit.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
JUNCTION 2010
We will be presenting some of our findings and experiences from the Branching Out project at the Regional Arts Australia National Conference. This 2 year project, funded by the Westpac Foundation, has been a fantastic opportunity to explore the possibilities within regional communities to incorporate social enterprise into the arts. Our session is on Saturday 28th at 4.10pm.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
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.
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.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Social Enterprise around the globe
Having just returned from a family holiday to Borneo, I could share stories of the luxury hotels or the hours of duty free shopping, but that's not really us.
Instead my thoughts run to the palm oil plantations, orang-utan rehabilitation centres and the homestay which was part of the MESCOT program - a social enterprise in a small village in Sabah. Mescot stands for Model Ecologically Sustainable Community Based Conservation & Tourism and provides volunteer opportunities for visitors from around the world to spend time with a local family and work on the rehabilitation programs in the area. There is much more to it than that, so please check out the site.
So I found myself living in Mengaris Village that, with the support of an Australian social entreprepreneur, had little choice but to find a new way of surviving. Once it had been a prosperous village, with locals employed to ferry the cars across the Kinabatangan River. But a major bypass bridge and highway built directly over the community stopped this and resulted in a range of social and economical issues.
In looking for possible solutions; along with the many concerns and challenges, came the discussion around the assets, skills and knowledge within the community. They lived on the Kinabatangan River-the 2nd longest river in Malaysia, their neighbours were Orang-utans, proboscus monkeys, hornbills and crocodiles, their neighbourhood was the infamous Borneo jungle and their culture was fascinating.
Years later the villagers are involved in the ongoing management and operation of a number of community programs including eco camp in the jungle, tree planting, nursery program, homestay and volunteer progams.
For me it represented the best in social enterprise. The need was clear and desperate, the people were keen for change and the outcomes are fantastic. Now we just have to find ways to go back and volunteer.
Instead my thoughts run to the palm oil plantations, orang-utan rehabilitation centres and the homestay which was part of the MESCOT program - a social enterprise in a small village in Sabah. Mescot stands for Model Ecologically Sustainable Community Based Conservation & Tourism and provides volunteer opportunities for visitors from around the world to spend time with a local family and work on the rehabilitation programs in the area. There is much more to it than that, so please check out the site.
So I found myself living in Mengaris Village that, with the support of an Australian social entreprepreneur, had little choice but to find a new way of surviving. Once it had been a prosperous village, with locals employed to ferry the cars across the Kinabatangan River. But a major bypass bridge and highway built directly over the community stopped this and resulted in a range of social and economical issues.
In looking for possible solutions; along with the many concerns and challenges, came the discussion around the assets, skills and knowledge within the community. They lived on the Kinabatangan River-the 2nd longest river in Malaysia, their neighbours were Orang-utans, proboscus monkeys, hornbills and crocodiles, their neighbourhood was the infamous Borneo jungle and their culture was fascinating.
Years later the villagers are involved in the ongoing management and operation of a number of community programs including eco camp in the jungle, tree planting, nursery program, homestay and volunteer progams.
For me it represented the best in social enterprise. The need was clear and desperate, the people were keen for change and the outcomes are fantastic. Now we just have to find ways to go back and volunteer.
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