We recognise the rich Aboriginal heritage of this country and acknowledge the Wurundjeri Willum Clan and Taungurung People as the Traditional Owners of lands within the City of Whittlesea.

Dear artists

I hope this email newsletter finds you warm and well.

Following is our (ir)regular CAPOW e-news with opportunities, alerts and a reminder to join the CAPOW Facebook group as that offers a fast and independent way to connect with other artists in the area.

Winter is well and truly here and many of us are hiding out waiting for Spring – with this in mind we have suggested a CAPOW gathering on Spring Equinox. Meanwhile, it is tax time. If you are anything like me, you are sorting through scraps of paper trying to piece together your tax info – read on as we have an article that offers ideas on what else you may be able to claim.

Applications are now open for the Annual Art Exhibition, the webs we weave’, so ponder the connecting threads in your life and create!

In this newsletter, there an introduction to a local artist and new CAPOW member

innovative and interesting proposal for you, expression of interest opportunities, and information about the new community grants available for individuals, small groups and organsations. 

Hopefully we will see you there.

Cheers,
Mahony Maia Kiely 
Art & Engagement Coordinator

29 Things you should not forget to claim at tax time

Yes its tax time!
Below is a link to an Arts Hub article about what you can claim as an artist. While this article is focused more to performing artists, there are handy hints for visual artists as well.
If you haven't kept receipts for the past tax year - maybe this article can help you prepare for the tax year ahead.

An Opportunity - Introducing Castein 

We would like to introduce you to Castein, a local artist who is establishing a new social enterprise in the City of Whittlesea. Castein is in the process of setting up a platform that provides local artists with an opportunity to showcase their artwork and he would like to reach out to the artists in Whittlesea to gauge their interest and to explore potential employment opportunities in the corporate team building and/or community events that are done by Art-ish. 

Castein has a focus on community engagement and sustainability and wants to create an open and inclusive environment that shares the experience of art with the wider community. 

For more information about Art-ish visit the Art-ish website.

Initially, Art-ish focused on providing brush and bond (paint and sip) sessions for corporate team buildings, the business model expanded when Castein received requests for school holiday programs and art sessions with community members. He is now working on integrating this aspect into his services.

The opportunity:

Castein is looking for anyone who are passionate about art and feel that they are not able to make a living with art because of the lack of representation, diversity, opportunities, and financial resources which make it hard to succeed in the industry.

Art-ish is looking for artists who identify as a member of at least one targeted community group:

• Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD)
• People living with a disability
• Young people (age 16-25)
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

They would also love to hear from established, award-winning artists in our local community to be a source of inspiration and act as mentors to aspiring talents.

 What Art-ish is offering: 

• Flexible and casual employment, with shifts scheduled as required.
•  Opportunities to showcase artwork and possibly make sales on different platforms and during Art-ish events.
•  To take part in exciting ‘art in community’ projects and events and inspire a fantastic group of people as they create their own art piece or an epic mural.
•  Experience invaluable mentorship by established artists

To find out more email Castein at casteinc@art-ish.com.au or head to his website.

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST: Public art by First Nation artists

Artbox is curating a range of public artworks by First Nation artists across four new Community Centres during 2023-24. We're now inviting First Nations artists to respond to submit an expression of interest. Artwork opportunities include:

• painted murals and printed wall designs
•  suspended artworks (textile or small-scale sculpture) 
•  outdoor sculpture

We're inviting artists whose practice can respond to these opportunities and the project themes. Artists are to submit a short bio/CV, and examples of their work, by Friday, 28 July, 2023.  

Project background
The City of Wyndham Arts & Culture team have engaged Artbox as a Public Art Consultant to manage the concept, design and delivery of new works to foreground First Nations practitioners and heritage, in consultation with Bunurong and Wadawurrung Traditional Owners. The project is led by Artbox curator Rosemary Forde and associate curator Edwina Green (Trawlwoolway). Concept development fees will be offered to artists invited to respond to specific opportunities. Artbox will offer support to artists throughout design, production and implementation of artworks.

FIRE COUNTRY by Gary McKie at the Grainger Museum.

Gary Mckie is presenting a series of sound installations as part of the 'Reimagining Landscape' concert at the Grainger Museum, University of Melbourne for the Open House weekend.

FIRE COUNTRY is 8 x 9-minute soundscapes of wind, rain, frogs, birds and fire variations, that are played simultaneously across 16 speakers, in the 8 spaces of the Grainger Museum, to be heard as the audience walks about the place. It aims to sonically re-imagine the mosaic landscapes that aboriginal fire-stick farming produced to manage country sustainably and predictably across Australia. The mosaic country was witnessed by new colonial arrivals in 1788, but wasn't recognised as an aboriginal intervention, as they only saw terra nullius. Inspiration comes from the book First Knowledges COUNTRY by Bill Gammage and Bruce Pascoe, Thames & Hudson, 2021, which describes aboriginal fire farming practices. 
FIRE COUNTRY: Mosaic 1 - Fire Swirls, Mosaic 2 - A Windy Day, Mosaic 3 - Cool Fire, Mosaic 4 - Rain Storm,  Mosaic 5 - Frog Songs, Mosaic 6 - Fire Talk, Mosaic 7 - Mod Fire, Mosaic 8 - Fire Stance

Date: Sunday 30th July
Time: 1pm Smoking Ceremony 1.30 - 2.30pm Concert.
Venue: Grainger Museum, University of Melbourne, 13 Royal Parade, Parkville VIC
Cost: Free
No bookings required.
Capacity is limited to 50, entry operates on a first come, first in basis.

For more information about the Reimagining Landscape concert by Amos Roach, award-winning musician, dancer, director and proud Djab Wurrung/Gunditj Mara and Ngarrindjeri man, head to OPEN HOUSE (unimelb.edu.au). 

The Reimagining Landscape project has been developed through Amos Roach's Creative Residency at the Grainger Museum.

Image: Spectrum, (detail) 2022, Lucy Cleary

APPLICATIONS OPEN: Annual Art Exhibition 

Each year Council holds an art exhibition to showcase and celebrate the work of artists who live, work or are connected to the City of Whittlesea.

Applications have opened for this year’s Annual Art Exhibition.

We invite artists from all walks of life to join us in a thought-provoking exploration of the intricate connections that shape our lives and communities.

This year, our theme The Webs We Weave delves into the fascinating webs that intertwine local and personal connections, cultural and global influences, and the way those connections find form. The Webs We Weave provides a platform for artists to reflect on the tangible and intangible threads that bind us together.

All art mediums, materials, processes, practices and interpretations are welcome.

Key dates:
Applications close: 5pm, Monday 18 September, 2023
Exhibition opens: 10am, Friday 17 November, 2023

For more information and to submit your entry, head the Arts Whittlesea Website.

New Community Grants Information Sessions 

A new City of Whittlesea Community Grants program will kick off on 1 August 2023.

The new program will offer six grant categories - small, medium, large, individual, unincorporated groups and emergency grants and will be available year-round, with approval rounds conducted on a monthly or quarterly basis.

To help you learn more about the new program, including what funding is available and how to apply, we will be holding an information session in July.

We will be running five free community information sessions at the following venues.  Please click on the session you would like to attend to register.

Lalor - Wednesday 19 July 2023 - 9:30am - 11:30am

Epping - Wednesday 19 July 2023 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Whittlesea - Tuesday 25 July 2023 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Wollert - Wednesday 26 July 2023 - 10:00am - 12:00pm

Doreen - Thursday 27 July 2023 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm

View the new Grant Guidelines online at Grants - Whittlesea Council

If you have any questions, please email us at community.grants@whittlesea.vic.gov.au

Next CAPOW Gathering - Spring 

The CAOW gatherings are a great opportunity to meet in person, connect, network, share. Our next one is scheduled for September, on the equinox!

We will provide a light supper - please book for catering purposes.
Pop the date in your diary and we will see you in September.

If you have something, you would like to bring or share with everyone email us at Connectingcommunity@whittlesea.vic.gov.au

Date: Thursday 21 September
Time: 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Venue: Fountain View Room, Council Officers, Ferres Boulevard, South Morang 

CAPOW Facebook Group 

A reminder that there is a private Facebook group for the CAPOW members to share information, promote each other’s events and openings, show video and images of artworks etc. It's up to you to make this a useful space for all.
Please join and share and participate on the page.

CAPOW

You are receiving this email because you are a member of a Creative Arts Practitioners of Whittlesea (CAPOW) network of local artists.

If you know others who you feel could benefit from this information and opportunities such as the artists workshops, please forward this on and/or invite them to join. They can subscribe to CAPOW at the arts.whittlesea website.