Notes from Dream Big 2014

Dream Big, the Riverina's annual conference for arts and culture, returned to Narrandera in its third year.

Local Wiradjuri man Cedric Briggs provided a welcome to country which was followed by the first keynote speaker, Jacquie Riddell. Her career in marketing communications includes Australian cultural institutions SBS, Triple J and, presently, the Art Gallery of NSW.

"If you don't unerstand your audience it's like playing darts with a blindfold on," she said, outlining cheap methods of data collection such as exit surveys and website Survey Monkey, as well as listing organisations that share their data, such as Destination NSW, Australia Council and SBS.

Riddell presented that marketing is about building a community. "You need to know everyone individually. Take the relationship into your own hands. A modern cultural institution is connected to a community."

Penny Miles spoke on recent Australia Council survey findings. "85% of Australians think the arts make for a richer and more meaningful life." She enthused that attendances by regional audiences was ahead of those in cities, as well as echoing earlier comments about building a community. "To have a real relationship, you need to understand what they care about."

Hilary Glow of Deakin University's Arts Participation Incubator said that while the Australia Council's statistics were heartening, performing arts audiences were declining and for film too. "The view arts are good for us is an abstract notion. Most people don't attend regularly, aside from contemporary music."

She argued that the world is changing faster than the art community and that the role of the artistic director needed to be rethought. "They take a role like 'police' within organisations and contributed to creating a passive audience. Glow was also critical of inflating audience numbers, saying it was a short term strategy.

For the panel on the topic of capturing a community's imagination moderator Scott Howie, Regional Development Officer with Eastern Riverina Arts, drew responses from Vic McEwan, Casey Jenkins and Katherine McLean.

The opening question on whether art is a dirty word concluded resoundingly in the affirmative. Casey Jenkins opted for the term craft and Katherine McLean said her organisation CuriousWorks makes digtal media. "Males, from our experience, don't see art as something they can engage with," said Narrandera-based artist Vic McEwan. "Sometimes we hide the word" he added, acknowledging that sometimes they felt they had overstated art on their posters.

On the topic of community engagement McLean said that embracing opposing voices was important. "Articulating hate is the bed of transformation." She was critical of the announcement of cuts to ABS data on sport and the arts, "you value what you measure". Local artist McEwan estimated that his organisation The CAD Factory had contributed $250,000 to the Narrandera community in recent years.

After lunch Western Riverina Arts Communication Officer Jason Richardson outlined strategies for communicating the arts and called on the audience to help promote the benefits of engaging. He promoted the value in writing a media release as a way of storytelling, an effective method for communicating information, whether in print or via telephone or social media.

A good image will attract audience, a point reiterated by ABC Open's Riverina-based facilitator, Sonya Gee, relating the value in generating views with online video. She spoke of the value of storytelling and that "the Riverina had the most stories from any Open area screened on ABC TV."

Tim spoke on the value of experimenting with different techniques to generate interest in email newsletters. Scott Howie discussed ethical consent in arts projects.

Jeff McCann shared his experience with seeking crowdfunding via Pozible, outlining the value of both online video and making a good first impression by generating preliminary financial support from your immediate circle of friends before marketing more widely. His advice also included being clear about what you need the money to buy and offer rewards that were items as well as experiences, such as opening invites.

Bernadette Flynn from Griffith's Pioneer Park spoke on a project she'd managed online, which led her to conclude broadband was more important than running water. The experience had demonstrated that "Working in a distributed way worked better than face-to-face," although working in a coffee shop had also attracted others too. An extensive legal document had assisted in providing a statement on the seriousness of the project.

Claire Haris spoke on her work as creative producer at the Outback Theatre and how they ensure mutually beneficial relationships with councils, "often filling a big hole in their strategic plans". The value of communication was emphasised, particularly the potential of turning partners into advocates when a genuine partnership allows them to play a role.

Maz McGann introduced Creating Australia, the new national body for community arts and cultural development. Their website encourages artists to update their projects as a means of attracting resources to advocate for the arts and cultural development.

Brett Naseby spoke on developing an art gallery in Griffith and the impact it's had in promoting local artists. One artist "was literally in tears, thanking me for the opportunity to share his work". He later wrote "thanks for the opportunity, this has really given me wings". Naseby echoed Vic McEwan's earlier comment that the arts need more men involved.

Musical inventions wanted

Leeton Town Band is offering $100 for the best homemade musical instrument that can be played along with other instruments of an orchestra.

Your instrument may be made from any materials, new or secondhand, but it must be playable as part of an organised musical group. Your entry to the competition may be best classed among any of the usual families of instruments (string, percussion, wind, electronic).



Some ideas to get you started include using PVC or galvanised  piping, old gas cylinders, biscuit tins, lengths of wood or wooden boxes, car horns, kitchen utensils, shed tools ... in fact, any safe, non-toxic materials at all. Many traditional bush instruments would fit the bill, including tea chest bass, xylophones, simple flutes and a basic trombone.

You will need to tune the various notes. If you Google "musical tuning" you can download a concert pitch tuning scale and your instrument should conform to this scale.



You or someone you nominate can demonstrate your instrument's capabilities at Brass In The Park, on Sunday 9 November in Leeton's Mountford Park. A nominee from Leeton Town Band will judge the entries.

There is no entry fee for this competition. Further information can be obtained from eatsap[at]gmail[dot]com.

CAD Factory Regional Partnerships

With the support of Arts NSW, The CAD Factory is pleased to announce a major partnership program between The National Association of Visual Arts (NAVA), The National Museum of Australia and Performance Space to partner together over the next 18 months to invest in the cultural life of the Riverina by developing an innovative suite of projects.

Each organisation will engage with regional NSW artists, landscape and communities to create a major focus on contemporary regional arts practice, process and development.

Vic McEwan, Artistic Director of The CAD Factory said, “The CAD Factory will participate in skills exchange with each of these national partners to enable growth and development for the organisation and to promote and develop The CAD Factory's cultural programming and creation on a national level. There will be many opportunities for local artists and community members to participate and help develop this exciting program.”

Go to www.cadfactory.com.au for more details.

Write your own media release

The headline of a media release should summarise the subject matter in a way that is interesting and bold. It is designed to engage the reader and encourage them to keep reading. Be creative but keep it short.

The lead paragraph follows the headline and it is essential it succinctly conveys the story. Check it includes: WHO did it? WHAT did they do? WHERE did they do it? WHEN did they do it? WHY did they do it? And, of course, HOW did they do it?

Following paragraphs expand the subject matter of the lead and it is where you start telling the story with key messages and hard facts. This is the body of the media release and it is critical to prioritise messages from the most important to the least important.

Write in the third person using active language in short sentences. Short paragraphs also assist the reader to quickly digest the content.

“Quotes are another important part of writing a media release,” said Jason Richardson, Communications Officer for Western Riverina Arts. “Remember to attribute them to someone because the media are unable to use newsworthy quotes unless they are sourced and often they will not call to check.”

“When writing a quote you don’t necessarily have to capture what someone has said word-for-word,” said Jason Richardson. “In fact, it’s usually better if you take the spirit of what they would’ve said if they had the opportunity to write their own quote.”

Remember that media releases need to stay focused on their subject. Sometimes a project will provide opportunities to write a number of media releases highlighting various messages, outcomes or milestones.

The last paragraph is the least important information and can include background information or a final summary of the essential details about the organisation, activity or person that is the subject of the media release.

Always finish the release with the following so the reader knows it has finished and does not continue on more pages:

ENDS

How playing an instrument benefits your brain

CASP opens for 2015

Western Riverina Arts encourage local community organisations to come and discuss applying for funding through the Country Arts Support Program (CASP), which closes Wednesday 1st October 2014 for delivery in 2015.

“This year there’s even more money to assist in the development of local arts activities,” said Derek Motion, Regional Arts Development Officer. “Grants of up to $5000 are available and the guidelines are now less prescriptive for its use.”

CASP grants are designed to primarily cover professional artist's fees and expenses such as travel and accommodation.

"Any community-based incorporated group can apply and I hope they will,” said Mr Motion. “Individual artists can also apply, they simply need to have their application auspiced by an incorporated group. Talk with me for assistance."

CASP provides small grants to arts and community organisations in regional NSW for short term, locally initiated projects.

Click here to download the application form.

The Program aims to support locally determined cultural activities and make them accessible, so communities can explore and express their cultural identities. Benefits include social and economic outcomes for the community through training, employment and promotional activities, while leading to greater awareness and appreciation of cultural diversity in rural and regional New South Wales.

In 2014 three Griffith-based projects were supported through CASP funding:

• GRAPA's 'Shakespeare under the Stars' community theatre productions will include a reprisal of their 2013 production, 'The Merchant of Venice,' at the Shakespeare on the River Festival at Stratford upon Avon, Victoria in May 2014, as well as performances of their 2014 production, 'Macbeth,' in Griffith and outlying areas in October and November. 
• Griffith Regional Theatre will host a selection of theatre workshops to be delivered by Tanya Hennessy.
• Griffith East Preschool will introduce art as a form of expression to 180 children via an artist in residence program and exhibition. Working with the Regional Art Gallery the goal is to promote art to the community through the artists of early childhood from July 2014.

In 2014 two Leeton-based projects were supported through CASP funding:

• The Leeton Men's Choir will hold workshops for an all-male vocal group. A series of six half-day singing workshops will be conducted by a Narrandera- based singing teacher and a final day-and-a-half workshop is planned with an internationally renowned ‘a capella’ choirmaster.
• The Leeton Art Society will host a workshop with Helen Cottle, followed by a memorial exhibition in memory of former president Penny Paniz.

In 2014 three Narrandera-based projects were supported through CASP funding:

• The CAD Factory will present three monologues based on historical Narrandera figures on the grounds of the Narrandera Train Station, including a soundtrack by a local choir designed entirely from live human voices.
• Live Well Narrandera's Happy Feet at the Food Garden Project is a community partnership to create 25 decorative pavers in mosaic for the Narrandera Food Garden. The project will involve at least six participants attending five workshops in 2014.
• The Narrandera Arts and Creative Network will host The Lines and Shadows Projection Art Workshops, where participants will learn basic skills using projectors, mapping and software to create shadow art.

For more information contact Derek Motion, Regional Arts Development Officer, Western Riverina Arts.

Image by Jason Richardson from The CAD Factory's In The Heart Of Our Past production, which was supported by CASP funding.

Soul, Jazz and Old School R&B

First Friday Live is back again this Friday, 1st of August 2014 with the smooth and sophisticated sounds of local duo, Jeff & Dee.

After a run of visiting musicians from near and far, this August First Friday Live will get back to its roots and feature some talented local artists. On the first day of August, we welcome Jeff & Dee – the dynamic duo who's smooth, sophisticated sounds are making waves in our town!  



‘Jeff & Dee’ are a newly formed pair who perform the style of music that they most enjoy. Since collaborating earlier in the year, Jeff & Dee have been performing at various venues in and around Griffith.

The ‘Jeff’ portion of J&D is local lad, Jeffery Wright. A well known figure in the Griffith music scene, he shares his time between painting and strumming. Jeff is an accomplished guitarist and boasts a long career of making great music. When asked what the highlight of his music career has been, Jeff reminisces, “... playing poolside at the ‘Miss Sunshine Beauty Pageant’ 1981. But it’s all been downhill since then!”



The ‘Dee’ part of the duo is Adelaide export, Deanna Farnell. Deanna is a captivating, versatile and powerful vocalist who has performed in a number of countries and cities, singing across a number of genres; favouring Musical Theatre, pop and soul. Highlights of her career include The Buddy Holly Musical in London, singing at the Rugby World cup, and being the State Music Coordinator for The Australian Girls’ Choir. Certainly a great loss for Adelaide, but a sensational win for Griffith!



Enjoy a night of fabulous live music. Invite your friends, book a table or just turn up! We can’t wait to see you there!

 This month's concert will be held at Bar One88, 188 Banna Avenue, Griffith on Friday 1 August from 7.30pm. Our low cover charge of $15 goes to the performers to ensure we can keep bringing great live music to Griffith.



More details at http://www.firstfridaylive.com.au