2013 RADF Showcase

Front and Back Cover Picture: Title: Fasten your seatbelt (Detail)Jodie Connolly Digital Montage 2011

Featuring a selection of local arts and cultural work by RADF recipients...

The Regional Arts Development Fund is a joint Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and Mackay Regional Council partnership to support local arts and culture.

Mackay Regional Council Recipient Listing2011 / 2012 Round 3

Developing Regional Skills Colleen James $2,000Participating in the Artists’ flinders and Gammon Ranges 9 Day Expedition.Amanda Swart $1,511The grant will be used towards the the cost to attend a 3 days workshop presented by internationally recognized felt artist Marjorlein Dallinga who is renowned for her wearable & visual art.Karrie Hayward $1,590Attending the Tamworth Academy of Country Music.

Building Community Cultural CapacityKucom Theatre $5,000Youth Theatre Production - “The Lion in Winter” . Staging a youth theatre production, “The Lion in Winter” at The Lynnette Denny Space, MECC, in August 2012. U3A Musical Chimes Group $2,810Conducting workshops and performing music using chimes at Greenmount Heritage Fair and other concerts.River Rock to Mountain Top Festival $3,500‘M150 Light Up’ Historial Photo and Lantern Parade Project. Facilitating community workshops to create large and small scale historical themed lanterns and a digital photo exhibition for the closing event for the 2012 River Rock to Mountain Top Community Festival.

Cultural TourismDebbie O’Keefe $1,7252012 Pioneer Valley Art Trail Photographic Exhibition. Producing 15 framed photo’s to display at coffee devine Pinnacle.Edward Rigby $7,000Developing my visual art to exhibition standard with help from the ‘Upstairs Gallery’ on River Street.

Contemporary Collections/StoriesLorna Jenner $2,300Mackay Flood 1958 Uncovered. Preserving local history relative to the 1958 flood in book form. Restoring photos, media clips and stories of survivors experiences during this time.

Regional PartnershipsJason Chetcuti $6,180Chetcuti Art Vs Fashion Catwalk Show. Collaborative artistic art/fashion showing, consisting of wearable art which features textile design and avant guarde fashion combining innovative make-up by local make-up artists and sculptural hair design created by local hairdressers in a catwalk presentation at the Mackay Artspace.

Concept DevelopmentJulieanne Bergmann $3,009Time for Questions. An individual concept development of a new dance work. Creative process to be documented and shared with the local community via a project blog and work-in-progress studio showing.

Mackay Regional Council Recipient Listing2011 / 2012 Round 4

Developing Regional SkillsCarmel Kelly $396Collections Mosaic Training Course. Attending training for specific software used to collect and collate information on museum collections.Tia-Che Gostelow $2,000Attending the CMAA Academy of Country Music.Carolyn Scott $445Collections Mosaic Training Course. The grant will be used towards the cost of training for specific software used to collect and collate information on museum collections.Margaret McReynolds $1,000Attendance at 21st Annual Conference of the Romantic Writers of Australia

Building Commuinty Cultural CapacitySensory Circus Tribe $2,315Professional Development Sensory Circus Tribe. Employing a professional circus trainer Nina Samootin from Brisbane to enhance the skills and teach new skills to students and instructors of Sensory Circus Tribe. Mackay & DIstrict Cake Decorators Assoc Inc. $2,930Bringing top cake decorating demonstrators to Mackay.Midge Point Arts & Crafts $1,717Engaging the services of an experienced, professional artist to improve the talents of a group of amatuer artistsPamela Hutley $3,840Artists in residency in shade garden at Mackay Botanical Gardens.

Cultural TourismNoel Giles $5,600“Steel and Fire Exhibition”. Producing, marketing and exhibiting new work in the “Steel and Fire” exhibition, to be held at “The Upstairs Gallery” in November 2012.

Contemporary Collections/StoriesZodiac Moth-ers $5,569The Bungy Jumping Caterpillar. Producing a children’s picture book which highlights locally vulnerable plant and animal species found in the Botanic Gardens to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens.

Mackay Regional Council Recipient Listing2012 / 2013 Round 1

Developing Regional SKillsCleo Falzon, Kirrily Robinson, Mikahlah Mansfield, Zachary Summers, Makenzie Falzon, Ella Jarvis $800 eachAssistance to attend the Tasmanian Circus Festival training program in 2013. 5 days of intense training then 3 days of observation. With National and International trainers.

Building Community Cultural CapacityBush To Beach $1,200Visual arts work shop presented by Noel Miller from Brisbane.Quota International of Mackay’s Rural North Incorporated $3,800Calen Photography Group: Employing a professional photographer to come to Calen to teach a group of amateur photographers to use digital SLR Cameras.Cheryl Mitchell $2,040Puppetry and stagecraft workshop to design and develop a giant puppet and props for the ‘Reluctant Dragon’ performance.Margaret Burgess $1,500Ben is Back: Two day professional development workshops with Sydney based abstract artist Ben Stack at Paxtons Creative space.

Cultural TourismDebbie Connors $1,000Visual Art Exhibition (first solo exhibition): Art from the Heart.

Contemporary Collections/StoriesValley Theatrical Players $4,000Setting up a data base to detail 40 years of history of the Valley Theatrical Players and 20 years of the Pinnacle Playhouse.

Regional PartnershipsCrossroad Arts $6,000Cherish: A community arts project that explores the things we value.

Concept DevelopmentRiot Stage $4,151The Chorus: A one-week conceptual development for The Chorus; a new devised theatre piece created with the young people of Mackay.Youth Musicians Connect $2,500Developing a Youth Musicians program to be offered to young music artists and musicians aged between 12 to 17 years in Mackay during the June 2013 school holidays.

2012 / 2013 Round 2

Building Community Cultural CapacityGary Matthews $1,200Mackay Disability Photovoice Project: Employing a professional digital media artist to facilitate workshops for people with a disability to learn new skills to give them a new medium to express themselves.

Concept DevelopmentMental Illness Fellowship North Queensland $3,750Developing a Dvd that captures the journey of the Choir of Unheard Voices.Jodie Connolly $5,830‘Whitenoise’ Exhibition: Developing the concepts for a new media digital series called “whitenoise” and for planning the logistics for the related educational display, exhibitions and artists talks.

Mackay Regional Council RADF Initiatives

Mackay Creatives Website

Artform: Multi Arts

Amount of Grant: $22,832

Project Description:

The grant was used towards the cost of a second series of build your own artist website’ workshops and consultant fees to design a ‘Mackay Creatives’ website home page. Acting as a directory of local artists and art groups.

Outcomes:

• HumanVentureswereengagedtodesignanddevelopawebplatformtopromotetheworkoflocalartistsandcreatives,specificallyaimingtoexposetheirwork to the wider business community• Phase1:Artistprofilepagetemplatedesignedandworkshopsfacilitatedgivingartiststheopportunitytobuildandmaintaintheirownonlineprofileandportfolio. These workshops and consultation sessions were well attended with 46 local artists completing the training and building their ‘mini’ website.• Phase2:Designanddevelopmentof‘master’websitethatcontainsandshowcasestheindividualartistprofilepages.ArefresherworkshopandseveralCommunity Consultation sessions were facilitated to gain insight into the vision of the community and inform the design and functionality of the master Mackay Creatives Website. • PhaseThreewillinvolvethehandoverofcontrolofthewebsiteprojectfromCounciltothecommunity.AdraftreportregardingsuggestednextstepsanddesignoptionshasbeenreceivedfromHumanVenturesandwearecurrentlyawaitingafinalversionbeforedeterminingwheretofromhere.

Amanda Swart

Category of Funding: Developing Regional Skills

Artform: VisualArts-Textiles(Felt)

Amount of Grant: $1,214

Project Description:Participation at a three day workshop ‘Form in Felt’ presented by world renowned felt artist Marjolein Dallinga, held in Canberra.

Outcomes:Anexpandedknowledgeoffeltingtechniquestoachievesculpturalandstructuredforms,whichhavebeenincorporated in my new works.

Understandingexperimentationanddisappointmentareapartoftheprocessandcanmakeapositivecontribution to artistic outcomes.

Ihavebecomeabetterartist;willingtoevolvewithmyworkthroughperseveranceandexperimentation,whichwillenablemetointeractwithinthelocalcommunity(exhibits,markets,workshops)withconfidenceanddetermination.

Top Left: Sample of sculptural felted form created during the workshop.Bottom Left: Sample of current work incorporating concepts gained from the workshop.Below Left: Detail of sculptural felted form created during the workshop.Below Right: Sample of current work incorporating concepts gained from the workshop.

Karrie Hayward

Category of Funding: Developing Regional Skills

Artform: Music

Amount of Grant: $1,590

Project Description: Attended the CMAA Academy of Country Music. To develop skills in Songwriting, stage presentation, and attend lectures with music companies, publishers and Managers.

Outcomes: I have started songwriting and it opened many doors this year when I attended Tamworth in January. I have made contact with publishers and two original songs that I have written have gone back to Nashville and I am now waiting to hear what the outcome will be.

Top Left: Instrumental music classMiddle Left: Performing at Graduation ClassBottom Left: Graduating with my amazing tutors and now great friends, Simon Johnson, Lee Bowman (Jetty Road) and Amber LawrenceBelow: My Graduation Class

U3A Musica Chimes Group

Category of Funding: Building Community Cultural Capacity

Artform: Music

Amount of Grant:$2,810

Project Description:Conducting workshops and performing music using chimes at Greenmount Heritage Fair, Holy Trinity Church (twice), Carlyle Gardens Retirement Village, Northview Nursing Home and Resthaven Aged Care Facility.

Outcomes:Participants learnt methods of playing chimes, music notation and how these apply to the chimes. Various pieces of music were learned and performed at Greenmount Heritage Fair as part of Mackay’s 150th Birthday Celebrations.

ChimeswereexhibitedatFairtogetherwithinformationanddisplaysofU3AMackay’svariousothergroupswhichnumberabout35.

One member utilises skills gained to lead chime playing with residents in a nursing home. Several other membersbenefitusingmusicalknowledgeinbothsoloandchoirsinging.

Members appreciate the learning challenge and satisfaction of playing for others in the community, and the benefitsgainedbybeingpartofapositiveandproductivegroup.

Above:U3AChimesrehearsalDecember2012atStAmbroseHall.

Below:Chimes are similar to hand bells and give members an enjoyable mental workout.

Right:Musical Director Renae Covey teaches participants during the workshop series.

River Rock to Mountain Top Community Festival

Category of Funding: Building Community Cultural Capacity

Artform: Festivals

Amount of Grant:$3,500

Project Description:The RADF Grant assisted with the funding of community art workshops and curatorial fees to create large and smallscalehistoricalthemedlanternsandadigitalphotoexhibitionforhteclosingeventforthe2012RiverRock to Mountain Top Community Festival.

Outcomes:It highlighted the geographical importance the Pioneer Valley played in the settlement of Mackay .

It contributed to the M150 clelbrations by providing a vibrant and family friendly event.

Community members were provided with an opportunity to gain new skills and a sense of achievement by participating in a large scale community arts event.

Theeventpromotedtourismintheregionandprovidedfinancialopportunitiesforsmallbusinessesandlocalarts workers.

Top Left: Finch Hatton Primary School Students

Bottom Left: North Eton Primary School Church Lantern

Right: North Eton Chimney. M150 historical photo by Debbie O’keefe

Far Right: Buick Emblem. M150 historical photo by Debbie O’keefe

Debbie O’Keefe

Category of Funding: Cultural Tourism

Artform: Photography

Amount of Grant:$1,725

Project Description:Produced 15 framed photos of the Pioneer Valley to display at Coffee Devine Pinnacle as part of the Pioneer Valley Art Trail.

Outcomes:Received positive feedback and comments from local and tourists, but did not make any sales.

Top Left:Welcome Home. The road to home looks so welcoming. Location: Wollingford Road.

Left:Teemburra Reflections. An early morning kayak on Teemburra Dam is the perfect way toexperienceit’sbeauty.

Ed Rigby

Category of Funding: Cultural Tourism

Artform: Visual Arts

Amount of Grant:$7,000

Project Description:Thegrantwasusedtowardsthecostsofdevelopingmyvisualarttoexhibitionstandardwithhelpfromthe‘UpstairsGallery’ on River Street.

Outcomes:Igainednewskillsthatenablemetoproduceamoreprofessionalfinishtomywork,andsoldworkatmyexhibition.

IhadmediacoverageintheDailyMercuryandChannel7formyexhibition.Itraisedmyprofileasanindigenousartist.

Myexhibition“ColoursoftheOutback”gavehopetootherinspiringindigenousartistsinourregion,andIwasoffered a position teaching art to indigenous children.

TopLeft:EdRigbywithMargBurgessatthelaunchofhisexhibition“ColoursoftheOutback”.Left: Water colour pencil on paper from Ed’s Eungella series. BelowLeft:LynAhmatandEdenjoydiscussingtheworksatEd’sexhibitionlaunch.Below Right: Water colour pencil on paper from Ed’s Eungella series.

Betty Everson & Lorna Jenner

Category of Funding: Contemporary Collections/Stories

Artform: Heritage

Amount of Grant:$2,300

Project Description:Wegatheredstoriesandphotosfromsurvivorsofthe1958Mackayfloodandprintedthemintobookformasarecord of the major event.

Outcomes:Benefitofthisprojectistoallowthepublicofourdistricttohaveanunderstandingofhowpeople,cityandcountry, were dislodged and survived their time of distress.

Itiscomfortingtosurvivorsofrecenttimesoffloodingastheycanrelatetheirdifficultiestootherswhohavebeen affected before them.

Asorganisersofthe1958floodwewereoverwhelmedwiththeresponsefromthegeneralpublic.

Priortothatdayonthe15thFebruary2008ourcitysufferedfrommajorflooding.

Survivorsthenhadtheopportunitytohearfromresidentsfromthe1958flood.

Top Far Left: Cnr River & Sydney Streets with Harbour Board building

Middle Far Left: Remains of one of the houses at Foulden

Bottom Far Left: Boat and rubbish remaining after the floodinFoulden

Left:Debrileftbythefloodwater in River Estate

Jason Chetcuti

Category of Funding: Regional Partnerships

Artform: Visual Arts - Fashion Design

Amount of Grant:$6,180

Project Description:The grant will be used for the cost of a collaborative artistic art/fashion showing, consisting of wearable art whichfeaturestextiledesignandavantguardefashioncombininginnovativemake-upbylocalmake-upartistsand sculptural hair design created by local hairdressers in a catwalk presentation at the Mackay Artspace.

Outcomes:TherewasafantasticoutcomeinwhichtheMackaycommunitysupportedtheevent,exposurewasgainedfortheCHETCUTIlabel,locallyandnationallyastheprojectwasfilmedandpromotedthroughtheinternet.

We strengthened professional relationships with our contributors. The show was successful.

Top Far Left: Local Mackay model Lauren Mitchell - Wears CHETCUTI design in Mackay CBD.Bottom Far Left: models before the catwalk showLeft: Jason Pictured with two models from Chetcuti fashion show Below: Image of Jason Chetcuti with models wearing his designs after the CHETCUTI Fashion show

Brooke McReynolds (Nom de plume: Maggie Brooke)

Category of Funding: Developing Regional Skills

Artform: Writing

Amount of Grant:$1,000

Project Description:Attended the Romance Writers of Australia Annual Conference and held a book signing

Outcomes:Booksales,exposure,networking,contactwithmajorpublishers

Pamela Hutley

Category of Funding: Building Community Cultural Capacity

Artform: Visual Arts

Amount of Grant:$3,840

Project Description:Artists in Residence Pam Hutley and Jenny de Thomasis facilitated an ephemeral arts project in the Shade Garden at Mackay Botanic Gardens, Julv 2012.

Outcomes:ThepurposeoftheprojectwasfortheArtistsinResidencetoprovidematerialsandexpertiseto

• share knowledge and skills • to provide encouragement• non judgemental creative spirit

The project was very successful in providing a space for generational participation (grandmother, daughter, children)andotherstolearnandcreatetogether,andtheunexpectedresultofstorytelling,or‘yarning’ofsharedmemories,experiences,othercultures.

People whose family members were working on these weekends, came to seek company, ‘yarn’, and create for a few hours.

Top Left:BG Project 1

Middle Left: BG Project 2

Bottom Left: BGProject3

Right: BG Project 4

Noel Giles: Giles Blacksmithing

Category of Funding: Cultural Tourism

Artform: Visual Arts

Amount of Grant:$5,600

Project Description:FireandSteelexhibitionwasanewbodyofworkproducedforanexhibitionatthePaxton’sUpstairsGallery.Ithentravelledwith the new work to Western Regions of Queensland.

Outcomes:The new body of work, animals and insects were well received by the public.

Imadesalesattheexhibitionandontheregionaltourtooutbackcentres.

NumerouspeopleenquiredaboutlearningBlacksmithing.

Thegallerynotedahugeincreaseintheamountofmenvisitingtheexhibition.

Bush to Beach

Category of Funding: Building Community Cultural Capacity

Artform: Visual Art

Amount of Grant:$1,200

Project Description:TwodayMixedMediaWorkshopwithNoelMiller,visualartistfromBrisbane.TheworkshopwasheldinArmstrong Beach.

Outcomes:Allparticipantslearntaboutcolourtheory,mixedmedia.

Top Left:Demo Noel Miller

Middle Left: Landscape Lynnie Hutchins

Left:Outback West BRIZI

Right: Noel Miller and students

Quota International of Mackay’s Rural North Inc. as auspice for Calen Camera Club.

Category of Funding: Building Community Cultural Capacity

Artform: Visual Arts

Amount of Grant:$3,800

Project Description:Employment of a professional photographer to teach a group of residents to use Digital SLR cameras

Outcomes:Skillsdevelopment:Participantscertainlylearnedskillsinusetheircameras.Whilenospecificevaluationofskillswasundertaken,participantsreportedintheirfeedbackforms that they learned a lot from the workshop.

Relationship-building: This was a major outcome of the workshop with all 11 local residents agreeing to continue meeting together on a fortnightly basis to support and encourageeachother.Whilenotpartofthewrittenfeedback,1localresidentspokeofherlongstrugglewithanxietyandherfeelingsofsafetyandwelcomeduringtheworkshop.

Community capacity-building: Since the workshop, participants have joined the Calen Camera Club and have begun to identify a number of projects that will both continue to develop their photographic skills and also document aspects of the community in which they live.

Communityidentity:ManyoftheparticipantstalkedabouttheirexcitementthattheworkshopwasbeingheldinCalen,ratherthanMackay.Therewasalsolotsofdiscussionabout ways to link the culture of the Calen area with photography.

Image: Calen Masterclass participants

Margaret Burgess

Category of Funding: Building Community Cultural Capacity

Artform: Visual Arts

Amount of Grant:$1,500

Project Description:The grant was used towards the costs of bringing profesional Sydney based artist Ben Stack to Mackay to conducttwo,twodayworkshopsatPaxton’sCreativeSpace.

Outcomes:15localartistsgainednewknowledgewithnewabstractpaintingtechniquesbeingbroughttotheregioninabstractexpressionism,geometricabstractionandspaceinabstraction.

IhavenoticedBen’stechniquesbeingusedinnewworksbeingdevelopedbylocalartists.

The workshops strengthened ties between Mackay creative community and Sydney.

PromotedourPaxton’sCreativeSpaceandtheUpstairsGalleryandpromotedourregionasatouristdestination, Ben intends returning as a tourist.

Above Left:Exampleofexpressionisminabstraction,BenStackLeft: KerryAlexanderenjoystheworkshop

Below Left:Ben Stack in actionRight: Workshop participants learn from Ben Stack

Debbie Connors

Category of Funding: Cultural Tourism

Artform: Visual Arts

Amount of Grant:$1,000

Project Description:DebbieConnorsfirstsoloartexhibition.Titled“ArtFromTheHeart”Consistingof19paintings,acrylicandmixedmedia.Inspirationforthisexhibitionwasbasedonourtropicalsurroundings.

Outcomes:ExposureasalocalemergingartistandTeacher.

Networking with other local artists

Offering new workshops in Mackay as an art teacher

Above Left:Sundrenched acrylic on canvasLeft: River Rocks acrylics on canvas

Below Left:Harbour Lights acrylic on boardBelow: Freedom acrylic on canvas

Crossroad Arts

Category of Funding: Regional Partnerships

Artform: Visual Arts

Amount of Grant:$6,000

Project Description:Cherish: A community arts project that explored the things we value.

Outcomes:CherishbroughttogetheradiverserangeofpeoplefromMackaytoexplorehowvaluesplayanintegralroleinthe life of a community.

Participants from Mackay OzCare Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre initially participated in a series of art workshops,exploringthetechniqueofcyanotypes,tocreateaseriesofartworksthatexploredtheideaof‘whatpeople cherish’.

Ahand-stitched‘Cherish’cyanotypequiltwasthencreatedbytheparticipants,usingthecyanotypesproducedduringtheworkshops.ThisquiltwasinstalledinthefoyeroftheParishHall,attheentrancetotheHolyTrinityOp Shop (and Crossroad Arts’ loft studio). An opening event was held on Saturday 1 December to launch the installation and to acknowledge the project outcome.

Participantswerealsoinvolvedinfilmingcomponentsofthequiltandtheresultingfilmaccompaniedtheartwork installation, with it being screened on the outside wall of the building and in the loft studio windows (back-projected), which face Gordon Street. The installation remained on display in the foyer from Saturday 1 December – Saturday 15 December 2012.

Cherish STAGE 2 began with a 10-week series of skill-based workshops (beginning on September 24) with participantsfromBluecareRespiteCentre(forpeoplewithadisability).Participantsexploredawidevarietyofart-making in these weekly workshops, including: theatre; dance; music; and the making of zines.

Bluecare participants were very involved in determining the project direction and outcome. The resulting public, multi-arts performance (a culmination of the skills-based workshops) entitled ‘The Nest’ was initially devised/’story-boarded’ by Bluecare participant Natasha Tomlinson.

Local artists Pam Hutley & Wanda Bennett were brought in to work with participants to create weavings and a large-scale ‘nest’ as part of the performance and local designer Carol Forbes created costumes for the event. The live performance took place on Friday 14 December 2012 in the grounds of the Holy Trinity Anglican Church Parish.

Above: Sam Miller in “The Nest” Photo Ashley Holmes

Left: Sam Miller and Georgia Knoll in “The Nest” Photo Ashley Holmes

Below:L to R Tony Moore; Sam Miller; Dougal McLauchlan “The Nest” Photo Ashley Holmes

Jodie Connolly

Category of Funding: Concept Development

Artform: New Media - Digital Art

Amount of Grant:$5,830

Project Description:To develop the concepts for a new media digital art series called ‘whitenoise’ and to plan the logistics for the relatededucationaldisplay,touringexhibitionsandartiststalks.

Outcomes:Iplantousemyknowledgeandexperiencesgainedfromthisprojecttoassistfutureworkwithinthelocalcommunity. My aim is to embed myself into the local art community, network with others and then contribute to the development of new initiatives and projects.

I plan to document my project journey through my blog, website and Facebook page. I will also be developing an educational display based on my conceptual development work and will hold artists talks in conjunction with the localexhibition.

This project will provide informative, new media digital artwork that has strong underlying conceptual development relating to contemporary social and technological issues.

Images:JodieConnollyandexamplesofherpreviouswork

The RADF is a joint Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and Mackay regional Council partnership to support local arts and culture.