Giant sunflower quilt for Ukraine

Australian artist, Janno McLaughlin, wants to wrap the bombed buildings and muddy graveyards of Ukraine in fabric. 

She's now on the hunt for about 1,000 quilt patches to form a huge art installation. She said patches were coming from all over the world.

What's needed?

A 30cm by 30cm fabric patch

Deadline: July

Want to take part?

Southern Forest Arts can collect your patch if you get in touch with us:

info@southernforestarts.com.au

Or send your patches directly to:

Janno Mclaughlin
PO Box 746
Scone, NSW 2337

Home Sweet Home

Northcliffe's 2022 Photo Exhibition

Oops! Information about this event was accidentally left out of the latest Upbeat. 

Exhibition opening Friday 10th June, 4.30pm

Painted Tree Gallery, Northcliffe

'Big Picture' report confirms what most of us already suspected :(

A New Approach (a very progressive nationals arts advocacy group based in Canberra) recently released The Big Picture 2: Public Expenditure on Artistic, Cultural and Creative Activity in Australia in 2007-08 to 2019-20.

This provides an overview of cultural expenditure trends by federal, state, and local governments in Australia. The report tells us Australia is falling behind its OECD peers, with Australia now ranked 23 out of 34 countries for expenditure on culture, recreation, and religion as a percentage of GDP.

It also tells us that cultural investment by governments in Australia is not keeping pace with population growth highlighting that since 2007-08 there has been a 6.9% decrease in per capita funding. The report clarifies the need for a National Cultural Plan to support effective public investment and enhance private investment and philanthropic support in Australia.

New ABC series sheds light on the connection between the arts and mental health

Space 22 is a six-part factual series that follows seven strangers, each with their own lived experience of mental ill health, as they take part in an ambitious experiment to test if the simple act of participating in art can help heal invisible wounds.

As part of the ABC Space 22 series impact campaign they are collaborating with the Australia Council for the Arts and the Black Dog Institute to provide audiences with simple and accessible ways to engage in creativity and the arts to support wellbeing.

At the end of every Space 22 episode audiences will be invited to visit: abc.net.au/space22create 

This is a great initiative to promote the value of arts to the broader community.

How can you give a more meaningful Acknowledgement of Country?

For 70,000+ years, First Nations Australians have been caring for the lands and waters on which we live and rely. The popular practice of offering an Acknowledgement of Country was conceived to enable non-Indigenous Australians to observe this role and the special place that First Nations peoples hold in the life of the nation.

But over the last two decades this script has become rote, and seen as something that we 'have to say' before we get to the 'real' reason we are here.

In this powerful (and short) TED talk, Shelley Reys AO explains how to simply and meaningfully give your own Acknowledgement of Country and ensure this important cultural practice continues to be a powerful moment to honour and connect with First Nations culture and country

Asking your organisation's staff and committee could be something your group/business could include in action items going forward.

Congrats to the Shire of Manjimup and Donnybrook for sharing this with their staff and councillors.

Call out for artists:

EOI open for group exhibition

Open Borders: Fluorescent Yellow // Electric Lime

Expressions of Interest from artists in the Southern Forests & Valleys region are now open to contribute to this upcoming group exhibition.

Curator: Lisa Radomiljac

30th May

Call out for artists:

Mural for Geegelup Village (Bridgetown)

Expressions of Interest from artists to create a little bit of magic on the pictured wall.

Contact Sean Mahoney

0484 369 723

sean.mahoney@geegelup.com.au

Next Level Regional Grant

This program supports young emerging regional artists and arts workers ages 18-26 to build skills so they can develop and sustain an arts career in regional Western Australia.

Closes  8 June 2022

You can ask for up to $7,500

Covid Hardship Grants

The Level 2 COVID-19 Business Assistance Package - Small Business Hardship Grants Program is designed to provide financial support for businesses most impacted by Level 2 public health and social measures that came into effect on 3 March 2022.

Sole traders, not for profit orgs and other arts/culture businesses may be eligible to apply.

Under an expanded program, two tiers of grants will now be available to businesses that experienced a decrease in turnover for a consecutive two-week period between 1 January and 30 April 2022.

Celebrating Local Leaders

It's important to champion our arts leaders. 

Please tell us about a leader you'd like to see acknowledged in your community.

Online Creative Leadership Program

Days: Tuesdays & Thursdays

Dates: June 21, 23, 28 & 30

Session Times: 9:30am – 11:30am & 1:00pm – 3:00pm

Cost: $100

Location: Online

Tech requirements: Access to Internet and Zoom platform

*Participants must be available for all sessions

To register or for further info contact Susan Clarke on:

sclarke@regionalartswa.org.au

Resource Materials

The resources for the Creative Leadership Program are provided in two sets of boxed cards: a set for Group Creativity and a set for 'Being Creative' as individuals.

Our aim is to share some of the cards (lessons, tips & tricks) from the program each Uplift.