Some familiar faces popped up in McKenzie Street, Ballarat, recently.

As part of the just concluded 2019 Ballarat International Foto Biennale, artist                Erin M McCuskey worked with residents and public places in Wendouree to discuss ideas of place, home and welcome. In McKenzie Street, residents appeared in images cradling miniatures that best captured their own contributions to the project.

Walking McKenzie Street reminded me of the ways tiny tokens can carry huge stories. So many of us keep similar mementos, their small size totally incongruous with their enormous significance. The physics of it just doesn’t seem to add up.

2019, Regional Arts Victoria’s 50th year, will soon draw to a close. There are dozens of posters, photos, sculptures and similar trinkets we’ve collected over this time that add up to so much more than their physical properties. To those who have given something to this continuing story, please accept our gratitude in return.

And to the artists, like McCuskey, who craft the keepsakes that aid our remembering: thank you. The tokens are appreciated.

Joe Toohey
CEO

2020 Joan & Betty Rayner ACTF Fellowship application opens 11 November

The Trustees of the Australian Children’s Theatre Foundation and Regional Arts Victoria are delighted to announce the inaugural Joan and Betty Rayner ACTF Fellowship. This Fellowship will support the artistic development of an artists’ practice to the amount of $20,000. The Fellowship is open to emerging or established artists working in children’s theatre and to those wishing to diversify their practice into and across the field of theatre for young audiences. Expressions of Interest for the Fellowship will open on Monday 11 November 2019.

Arts Connect Horsham: Big Ideas in Action

The Arts Connect series is coming to Horsham Town Hall on Wednesday 27 November. Join us for a one-day intensive program that foster skills and collaboration between regional artists and arts organisations across the state.

Arts Connect Horsham: Big Ideas in Action will feature a series of presentations, panels and case studies about collaborative creative and cultural initiatives. Speakers include   Dr Marco Marcon (Artistic Director and Co-Founder, International Art Space, WA),    Jude Anderson (Artistic Director, Punctum), Ned Dennis (Coordinator Community Strengthening at South Gippsland Shire Council), and more.

This event coincides with ‘Creatively Transforming Horsham and the Rural North West’, an event aiming to contribute to creative sector and visitation strategies and assist councils in the region plan with the arts and creative industries in their sights.

The session is free and open to everyone, but bookings are essential and places are limited.

Partnerships

Find out more about projects supported by the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund. The Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund is provided through Regional Arts Australia, administered in Victoria by Regional Arts Victoria.

Image courtesy of Baw Baw Arts Alliance. Source: Pat, the Dog Facebook Page.

Make a patch for "Pat The Dog" Baw Baw Arts Alliance

Join the team at Baw Baw Arts Alliance on Tuesday 19 November, 1.00pm at Trafalgar Art Space to make a patch for Pat, the 2 metre high dog artwork! Drawing inspiration from all the dogs that have been loved in Baw Baw and also from former Ellinbank resident and internationally renowned mosaic artist Maery Gabriel, the Baw Baw Arts Alliance aim to construct a 2 metre high dog covered with community made mosaic patchwork. Find out more.

Programming

RAV On The Road

Our Programming Team have just returned from two days of blue sky dreaming and strategy work on the banks of the beautiful Murray River in Swan Hill. Topics of discussion included what regional touring might look like in 2021 and beyond, how we can better service independent and regional artists, what it means to be an artist that grew up regionally and then went to the city to further their practice and how to stay mentally healthy, greenify touring and a whole bunch of other things! Stay tuned for announcements on these sessions in the coming months…

During their trip the team were lucky enough to catch the world premiere of new Australian rock musical Second Coming by local playwright Andrew R Kelly. Presented by the Swan Hill Theatre Group in their newly renovated theatre, it was incredibly rewarding to see an audience connect with such a locally produced work and was a timely reminder of the value that regional artists and groups bring to their communities.

Keep up to date on what Regional Arts Victoria and our members are doing around the State by following the hashtag #RAVontheroad

Opportunities

Call for Nominations – Positions on Arts Advisory Board, Greater Dandenong City Council closes 17 November

2019 Arts Investment Grants Program, Moreland City Council applications close 17 November

Job Opening: Marketing Manager, Castlemaine Festival applications close 18 November

Applications for the new VicHealth Partnership Grants open 19 November 2019​

SAM Local Spotlight open call-out for a solo artist to exhibit a body of work at Shepparton Art Museum closes 25 November

Call for Exhibition Proposals 2020, Manningham City Council closes 29 November

Creative Victoria seeking host organisations for First Peoples Creative Industries Traineeships program, EOIs close 18 November

Events

30 October 2019–30 April 2020 – Arts for Adults with a Disability

Until 15 November – This is Eden by Emily Goddard in association with Froudist (Performing Arts Touring)

15 November – The Silo Art Trail, Yarriambiack Shire Council

15 November – Professional Development for School Teachers, The Australian Ballet

15-24 November – Due West Arts Festival

Until 16 November – The Wine Bluffs by Hey Boss (Performing Arts Touring)

7-17 November – Sidesault at the Melba 2019

Until 17 November – Visual Intervals, paintings by W. Howard Brandenburg, Willaura Railway Gallery