February ENews No Images? Click here Hi everyone, 2018 is upon us, and as this ENews edition shows, we’re not mucking about. You don’t need me to tell you that each creative community in regional Victoria is different, with varying strengths, challenges and opportunities. It’s one of the reasons I’m particularly excited about the new Arts Connect Series events we’re launching in February, which (like the Meeniyan event) are developed in partnership with the local community to meet their professional development needs. It’s also long been a strength of the Regional Arts Fund (closing 13 March). Rather than being delivered in a uniform, national way, the Regional Arts Fund is coordinated by each state or territory, which gives organisations like Regional Arts Victoria the opportunity to adapt the program to meet the changing needs of Victorian artists. Artlands Victoria papers and presentation submissions (opening soon) are another opportunity for you to tell the nation what is relevant and working in your community. Welcome to the New Year. I look forward to shaping it with you. Joe Toohey Arts ConnectThe first event in our Arts Connect Series, Creation and Collaboration: Turning ideas into reality, is taking place in Meeniyan on Tuesday 6 February. We’ll look at how you can grow your ideas into tangible outcomes, how other local creative people have dreamed big and achieved their goals, how you can get the word out about your work and who is here to help you along the way, both locally and further afield. The session is free and open to everyone, but bookings are essential. This is the first in a number of sessions to be announced throughout the year - keep your eye on our website for updates. Members' EventFollowing each Arts Connect session will be an exclusive Members’ Event, where Regional Arts Victoria’s Individual and Organisation Members will have the opportunity to meet each other (and Regional Arts Victoria staff) over wine and cheese. When: 6 February, 5.00 – 7.00pm ArtlandsArtlands Victoria will host a range of diverse and timely presentations during the conference in October. Call for Papers and Presentations will open in February via the Artlands website. Get those submissions ready! Lead in project #CraftingtheMerch has begun in the South West with the Woolly West Fest creating an amazing array of yellow scarfs! FLOAT at Lake Tyers BeachThe FLOAT team share their Small Town Transformations vision with a gentle all day event at Lake Tyers Beach on Saturday 3 February. Regional Arts FundGot a fantastic idea for a regional arts project? Regional Arts Fund applications are now open, closing Tuesday 13 March. OpportunitiesSmall Regional Presenters funding opens 15 February 2018 Expressions of Interest are now open to lease a space at the Abbotsford Convent Find a choir close to you with Creativity Australia's With One Voice program ArtsHub summary of contemporary visual arts prizes up for grabs in 2018 HIDDEN Rookwood Cemetery Sculpture Walk Call for Entries now open City of Rockingham Art Awards entries now open Melbourne Recital Centre + Emerging Writers Festival Writers' Residency Musical Industry Pathways Program applications now open Applications for Yarra Trams Community Partnerships Program are now open Events16 February Small Night In with This Way North at Portland Arts Centre 10 March Rebetiko Festival at Melbourne Recital Centre 2 - 18 March 2018 Shepparton Festival By Design 23 - 25 March Lake Bolac Eel Festival 27 January - 18 March Soft Core exhibition at Shepparton Art Museum 16 November - 4 March Rick Amor Painting Silence at Hamilton Gallery 28 - 29 May Communities in Control conference in Moonee Ponds Programming updateShowcase VictoriaThe biggest state-based performing arts marketplace is only a couple of months away, Showcase Victoria will take over the Darebin Arts Centre on Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 April. The full program will be announced, and registrations will open Tuesday 27 February. Arts & EducationOur Arts & Education team are excited to be presenting the inspirational Balance by Transience in Term One. Thinking ahead, we are taking bookings for our Term Two projects; Tinker by New Work Group for primary students and The Experiments by Elbow Room Theatre Company for secondary students. Contact Pippin Davies, pdavies@rav.net.au, for more information. Connecting PlacesOur Connecting Places program is still selling shows for the second half of 2018. Funding is still available for all performances after June through Creative Victoria’s Small Regional Presenters. The next round opens Thursday 15 February. Need help with your application or want to program some shows? Contact Rosie Dwyer: rdwyer@rav.net.au What's new on our blog, Inspiring Arts.Pure gold: our Partnerships Coordinator Edwina Guinness reflects upon this month’s regional Arts Grants Information Sessions. |