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Arts Queensland’s monthly update of arts and culture

August 2013Forward to a friend

Great state. Great opportunity.

Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts

Experience the energy of Urban from Columbia’s Circolumbia at Brisbane Festival, 7–28 September. Photo: Annemone Taake, courtesy Brisbane Festival.

From unveiling treasures of the ancient world to marvelling

at a giant pink rabbit, this month’s Arts Update reflects

the fun and diversity of our arts sector. We hope you enjoy

the story about 12-year-old Culture Champion Samara

Welbourne, are inspired by the Bring the Sun Out tour and

start planning your Brisbane Festival.

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It’s been quite a year of arts and culture in Queensland so far and the remainder of the year is

promising just as much.

I’m very pleased to report the great success of CIAF Presents 2013 in Cairns earlier this month. CIAF Presents was a great opportunity to showcase the inspiring work of Queensland Indigenous artists and show our appreciation for those Elders of Queensland Indigenous art, Ken Thaiday Snr and Roy McIvor, who both had shows opening at CIAF Presents.

Whilst there I announced that Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) in the future will be governed by a not-for-profit company with a board. The next CIAF will be in 2014 with another to follow in 2015. I encourage you to read more detail on the future of this much loved event in our full story on page 9.

The Queensland Regional Arts and Culture Conference, Articulate, was also held this month in Rockhampton with more than 200 attendees enjoying presentations by more than 50 guest speakers. This important bi-annual conference brought together key participants from the arts industry and provided opportunities to share knowledge, develop skills and network across regions.

The Arts for all Queenslanders Strategy remains a major focus for my department. With the consultation

Message from the

process completed at the end of this month we will begin pulling together the final strategy for release in December. I look forward to sharing it with you then.

We are about to enter ‘festival month’ with both the Brisbane Festival and the Brisbane Writers Festival happening in September. I always enjoy seeing our city come alive and march to the beat of a different drum with these festivals. Make sure you have set aside a few dates in your calendar to attend the many events.

I’ve also had a sneak peek at some of the pieces in the Queensland Museum exhibition Afghanistan Hidden Treasures: From the National Museum Kabul, opening next month. Museum visitors will be able to view 230 remarkable ancient artifacts and archaeological finds from Central Asia dating back 4000 years – don’t miss it!

Finally I’d like to acknowledge the great success of the Culture Champions initiative we launched in June. Arts Queensland has over 100 Culture Champions on its Wall of Fame with more nominations coming in daily. This speaks volumes about the great work individuals are doing in our sector and how they inspire and encourage others through their work. See some of our champions on page p4.

The Honourable Ian Walker MPMinister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts

Minister for the Arts

Arts Minister Ian Walker with the Yarrabah Dancers. Photo: Cairns Post

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Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul, opens at Queensland Museum on 5 September.

This highly-anticipated exhibition features more than 230 artifacts dated from between 2200 BC and AD 200 – a time when Afghanistan stood at the centre of international trade routes from India, ancient Egypt, China and Greece.

For ticketing information visit www.afghanistan.qm.qld.gov.au or phone 07 3840 7555.

of the ancient worldunveiled at Queensland Museum

Treasures

Dragon Master gold hair pendant. Tillya Tepe, 1st Century B.C. – 1st Century A.D. Photo courtesy Queensland Museum

The Arts for all Queenslanders survey closes Saturday 31 August.

Everyone who completes the survey also goes into the draw to win one of two 12 month subscriptions to Arts Hub.

Click here to get started.

The Queensland Government wants to ensure everyone has opportunities in the arts and is developing a plan – the Arts for all Queenslanders strategy – to do just that. Read more about AFAQ at www.arts.qld.gov.au/AFAQ

Don’t miss the chance to have your say on the future of arts and culture in our great State.

Arts

strategy

for allQueenslandersHave your say

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While most 12-year-olds are struggling to keep on top of school, homework and staying in touch with friends, Samara Welbourne has somehow found time to achieve what most people twice her age still strive for!

One of our youngest Culture Champions, Samara is a published author, the proud owner of an online store and an occasional TV star.

Her brainchild, Enchanted Fairy Houses, began life as an idea to raise money for a local animal refuge. She started out making fairy twig furniture with friends to sell at school and the first venture raked in a cool $400.

This little foray soon led to a business making and selling fairy houses, leading workshops in fairy house and troll cave construction and last year Samara’s book on

An enchanting way

fairy house design and making was published. The book is now sold Australia-wide and online, and is also available at libraries around the country.

Samara’s commitment to sharing her creativity is extraordinary. She donates her time in school holidays to lead fairy house workshops at local libraries and gives books and fairy houses to local charities for fundraising. She also visits kindergartens to inspire creativity and imagination in small children, reading her book and sharing her wonderful creations.

The fact that giving back to the community is at the heart of Samara’s work makes it even more special. Staying true to the real reason that inspired her to start creating, Samara donates 10 percent of her book royalties to The

to be creative

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Children’s Hospital Foundations Australia.

“I like inspiring people,” she says. “When I am making something arty and beautiful I feel good. It means I can help others and bring magic into their lives.

“A lot of what I do is fun, and the fun and happiness that my work brings to others is something that is very rewarding to me.”

Not one to rest on her laurels, Samara already has two more books in development and we’re sure to see more of this entrepreneurial young artist and author.

For now, we’re delighted to have Samara as one of our Culture Champions and acknowledge the wonderful work she does inspiring creativity in the young and old, and all for a good cause.

For more information on Samara’s book How to Make Fairy Houses or to see her delightful creations visit www.enchantedfairyhouses. etsy.com

“Culture and arts are symbiotic to each other in that the arts is one of the variables that constantly redefines culture.To me it’s something as simple as the way we dress which in turn becomes a provocation or bending of cultural norms.”

Nominate your

Culture Champions

Gail on why Queensland is her cultural heartland

Nominate your Culture Champions via www.bit.ly/culturechampionsFollow our campaign via #culturechampions

CULTURE CHAMPIONSGAIL SORRONDAFashion Designer

Left: Samara with one of her Enchanted Fairy Houses.

Above: Samara leading an Enchanted Fairy House making workshop. Images courtesy of Samara Welbourne.

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When The Bring the Sun Out tour rolled into Chinchilla, two hours late for their gig, tired and cranky after spending 10 hours on the road, most of it stuck in road works, it hardly set the scene for a memorable concert.

But that night, following an agreement between the local school teacher and bowls club manager, Impossible Odds, Classik Nawu and The Cold Water Band rocked out to a packed house.

“It was pouring rain and we’d missed the NAIDOC week celebrations at the school where we were set to perform because we’d got stuck in road works – it was just awful,” Fred Leone,

tour organiser and member of Impossible Odds recalls.

“But the bowls club had agreed to let us perform and that night it was packed.

“A full house with a 50 per cent Indigenous, 50 per cent non-Indigenous crowd.

“It was an amazing gig, my highlight. The community really came together and enjoyed the music.

“The bowls club staff were like ‘this doesn’t happen, we have to do it again’.

“It took two to three hours for us to pack down as people just wanted to talk and talk to us.”

Tourbrings out the sun

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Fred is both the passion and the hard work behind the Bring the Sun Out tour which took the three bands across the state during NAIDOC Week with performances in Thursday Island, Cairns, Townsville, Palm Island, Cherbourg, Hervey Bay, Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.

A documentary filmmaker also came along to record the tour, with a film now in production under the guidance of Indigenous film producer Levi Tamou and due for release in early 2014.

“The tour was about giving the younger bands experience and exposure, and also about telling the story of how touring works and an insight into the music industry,” he said.

“Neither Classik Nawu or The Cold Water Band had toured before but they were so relaxed, they just slotted straight in.

“Everywhere we went the community really came out in support.”

Impossible Odds on tour. Photo courtesy Impossible Odds Records

As part of the tour, the musicians also held workshops with budding musicians.

“We were a bit surprised,” Fred says. “The kids who took part were really young, but very cool and very interested in rap and hip hop.

“We focused on engagement with music and building up their skills in beat-making and writing.”

Fred is determined to do another tour in 2014, building on the great experiences and learnings from this year. Bigger and better of course.

The Bring the Sun Out tour was supported by Arts Queensland’s Playing Queensland Fund.

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Curator Djon Mundine hit the mark when he described Cairns as ‘a hatchery of ideas’ at the opening of the Kinship exhibition at Tanks Arts Centre on the first night of CIAF Presents (15–18 August).

Four years ago, Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF), a very big idea to showcase and strengthen Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, was held at Tanks. Many artists whose work was on the walls in Kinship had also had their work displayed at CIAF. Many of the people at the opening had been associated with CIAF since that first event.

Many of them also know full well that the Far North and Cairns is brimming with ideas and artistic talent. The four days of CIAF Presents, a scaled down Cairns Indigenous Art Fair for 2013, was further proof of the energy,

enthusiasm and diversity that has led to a distinctive Indigenous art experience for visitors and locals in the Far North.

CIAF Presents was richly diverse. It kicked off with the Gimuy Fish and Food Festival and Yidinji Corroboree at Fogarty Park, followed by three days of gallery openings where the works of leading and emerging artists were on show. At KickArts Contemporary Arts there was a true fashion moment when the designs of several Indigenous fashion designers were seen on a unique sand inspired catwalk at the Centre of Contemporary Arts as part of the Ufla Upla Indigenous Textile Forum.

It was a chance to acknowledge the work of arts Elders Ken Thaiday snr, Roy McIvor and Henry Seaman Dan, as well as enjoy the variety of work on show from prints to paintings to sculpture at Canopy Artspace.

CIAF Presentsan all-starevent

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Then there was the music – Dan Sultan, direct from Nashville, delivered an unforgettable concert for more than 4500 people at the CIAF Presents UMI Arts Big Talk One Fire concert, while the Cairns Gondwana Choir singing with Seaman Dan was a profoundly moving inter-generational experience.

The four days wound up with an art market at Tanks organised by the Indigenous Art Centre Alliance where hundreds of artists had their work on show. CIAF Presents gave people a chance to gather, share, talk, enjoy – and, no doubt, to hatch ideas!

Above: Dan Sultan performs at CIAF Presents UMI Arts Big Talk One Fire; and right comedian Sean Choolburra with the Yarrabah dancers. Photos: Kerry Trapnell.

Cairns Indigenous Art Fair returns in 2014Arts Minister Ian Walker announced at CIAF Presents that Cairns Indigenous Art Fair will return in 2014, delivered by a not for profit company.

The company will be guided by a board which will be announced later in 2013. The next art fair will be on 14–17 August.

The Newman Government is supporting CIAF through this transition phase with $1.568 million funding.

Mr Walker thanked the CIAF task force: Ms Henrietta Fourmile Marrie, CIAF co-patron and Traditional Owner; Councillor Bob Manning, Mayor Cairns Regional Council; Mr Jim Cousins, philanthropist and Indigenous art collector; Mr Cameron Costello, lawyer, Indigenous community member and former CIAF General Manager; and representatives from Tourism and Events Queensland and Arts Queensland.

Cairns Mayor Bob Manning said he was eager for the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair to return in 2014.

For more information and updates visit www.ciaf.com.au

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Clockwise from top: the Akin fashion collection; seafood treats at the Gimuy Fish and Food Festival; performances at the Yidinji Corroboree Circle, young dancers having fun at the Yidinji Corroboree Circle; and centre the Kinship Indigenous Art Market. Photos: Kerry Trapnell

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Clockwise from top: the Akin fashion collection; seafood treats at the Gimuy Fish and Food Festival; performances at the Yidinji Corroboree Circle, young dancers having fun at the Yidinji Corroboree Circle; and centre the Kinship Indigenous Art Market. Photos: Kerry Trapnell

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As we’ve seen blazoned on billboards and banners across the capital, September is Brisbane Festival.

From 7 September, Brisbane Festival is set to take over the city for a three-week extravaganza of local and international arts.

Festival-goers can choose from five world premieres, 11 Australian premieres, and nearly 100 productions and exhibitions.

But for many the highlight will be running into a giant pink bunny at their local train station, shopping centre or park, as Stormie Mill’s fun installation work hops its way around the city.

More than one million people are expected to come out and dance, play and enjoy the festival spirit.

Brisbane Festival showcases music, theatre, cabaret, comedy,

Brisbanebuzzes into townFestival

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Left: Freeze Frame. Photo: Douglas Kirkland, courtesy Brisbane Festival.

Above: Watch for out for Stormie Mills’ pop-up artwork, Bunny. Photo: Atmosphere Photography, courtesy Brisbane Festival.

dance, circus, exhibitions and nightly laser light shows at more than 30 spaces across the city.

More than 2,000 artists and 136 creative companies will be on hand to deliver the vast array of productions and activities.

A highlight is this year’s world premiere of Freeze Frame, a fusion of dance, music and theatre from the streets of Los Angeles, written, directed and choreographed by Emmy award-winning choreographer Debbie Allen.

Another hot ticket is Urban, from Colombia’s Circolumbia, which combines music dance and circus.

Brisbane Festival favourites such as The Speigeltent, Santos GLNG City of Lights and Sunsuper Riverfire also return this year.

The giant pink bunny is the work of street artist Stormie Mills, and it

will be hopping up in unexpected places around the festival as part of a large scale visual arts project.

The Queensland Government supports the Brisbane Festival with an annual investment of $5.29 million through Arts Queensland, with additional support from Tourism and Events Queensland.

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It has been a busy time at Arts Queensland with the closing of rounds for the Individuals, Projects and Programs and Organisational Funds.

The assessment processes are well underway with announcements due in September of successful applicants for the Individuals Fund. When each of the announcements are made (Organisations Fund in October and Projects and Programs in November), an analysis will be added to the Arts Queensland website. It will include general comments about the attributes of successful applications as well as advice on how unsuccessful applications could be improved.

Grants and government funding are not the only potential sources of income. Now is the time to consider other options like corporate sponsorship, philanthropic funding, crowd funding or increasing earned income.

Corporations no longer see sponsorship as philanthropy. They expect a return on its investment and as a result, arts organisations need to approach sponsorship more strategically. You need to ask questions like: what do we have to offer? Is your audience the

demographic a company might want to target? Are you in a region that the company wants to expand to?

When you have identified potential companies, map your contacts to see if you have a connection with the company who may be able to introduce you to a decision maker in that company. Cold-calling usually only results in small sponsorship amounts if anything. Before you make contact with the company, make sure you have researched its goals, markets and future plans so you can tailor your proposal. Have a snappy one pager that succinctly tells the story of your organisation and what you are offering.

By spending time researching and planning, you can target your energies where they are likely to produce the best results.

Please contact me if you would like to discuss sponsorship, philanthropy and crowd-funding at linda.dreghorn@arts.qld.gov.au / 07 3034 4077.

Funding Update with Linda Dreghorn

Funding newsQUT Creative Enterprise Australia – Creative Enterprise FundThe $1.2m Creative Enterprise Fund – initiated by QUT’s Creative Enterprise Australia (CEA) – will give businesses access to up to $150,000 in capital to help reach their commercial potential. The Fund will focus exclusively on creative fields including design, fashion, animation, digital media, film and television, music, gaming and software development. See http://bit.ly/18OrYpv

Australia Council fundingThe Australia Council funding guide is available at: http://bit.ly/Wduryx Grants closing in September 2013 include:• MarketDevelopment–ArtFare:AustralianArtExport,International

Performing Arts Markets (IPAMS) Travel Fund, Festivals Australia• Dance–ArtformDevelopment,CreativeAustralia(NewWork),

Fellowships, Projects (Creative Development), Projects (Presentation)

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• Inter-arts–CreativeAustralia–NewArt(CreativeDevelopment),NewArt (Production and Presentation)

• Theatre–CulturalLeadershipSkillsDevelopment,Fellowships,NewWork• VisualArts–PresentationandPromotion,SkillsandArtsDevelopment

(General), Skills and Arts Development (Residencies)• CommunityPartnerships–CareerPathwaysProfessionaldevelopment

and structured mentorships, Cite residency, Projects, Projects with public outcomes

• Music–DonBanksAward,Fellowships,Projectfellowships,SkillsandArts Development – Artist development

Media releasesAPT7 exhibition boosts Qld economy by over $26mThe summer’s 7th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT7) at the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) provided a $26.88 million boost to Queensland’s economy. Read more http://bit.ly/17fUf5l

Regional arts conference connects communities A new online platform has been created to share stories about arts-led recovery in disaster-affected areas. Read more http://bit.ly/16kdDtm

Funding for Indigenous arts and cultureFunding which sparks fresh artistic work, new connections and stronger Indigenous communities will continue this financial year, with $230,000 allocated to the Indigenous Regional Arts Development Fund. Read more http://bit.ly/151lcWr

Brisbane scores American Ballet Theatre exclusiveMinister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts Ian Walker and Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games Jann Stuckey have announced the American Ballet Theatre would make its Australian debut in Brisbane in 2014. Read more http://bit.ly/1aZYP8j

Newman Governments listens to arts communityArts Minister Ian Walker has hosted a workshop in Ipswich to discuss the future of arts and culture in Queensland. Read more http://bit.ly/1cm8gR6

Resources UpdateArts Queensland’s blog – aqblog www.arts.qld.gov.au/blog/

Articles & ReportsCultural Funding by Government, Australia 2011–12 Australian Bureau of Statistics http://bit.ly/17enXJB

Got a great arts story? We want to hear from you. Please contact Arts Update by emailing jill.martin@arts.qld.gov.au

About us: Arts Queensland is part of the Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts.

For more information on Arts Queensland go to www.arts.qld.gov.au or call 1800175531

For more information on Queensland Government go to www.qld.gov.au