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Art Station school holiday art program – October THE popular Art Station School Holiday Art program at Ignite Studios will be held these school holidays. Two exciting days of kids’ art workshops will be held on Wednesday 7 October and Thursday 8 October 2020. For the Wednesday workshop, join Cara MacLeod to make wild creatures and build sculptural worlds to tell stories about our precious environment. On Thursday, Karma Barnes will facilitate a creative and fun session creating mixed-media collages of participants’ visions of the world in the future. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the normal school holiday program has been adjusted to provide two workshops run over three hours from 10am to 1pm. To ensure the safety of workshop participants the Northern Rivers Community Gallery has developed a
Covid-19 Safety Plan to comply with the NSW Government Public Health Orders. The plan can be viewed at https://www. nrcgballina.com.au/v1/about/ covid-safety-plan Workshops are limited to 10 participants due to social distancing requirements. Bookings are only open for children aged eight years and older. To guarantee a place, payment is required at time of booking. All classes are held in Ignite Studios at 60 Crane Street, Ballina, adjacent to the Northern Rivers Community Gallery. Book online at nrcgballina.com.au or phone 02 6681 0530. The Northern Rivers Community Gallery is at 44 Cherry Street Ballina and is open Wednesday to Friday from 10am until 4pm and weekends from 9.30am until 2.30pm.
Next step for indoor performing arts space A FEASIBILITY study to find the most suitable location, operational and financial model for an Indoor Performing Arts Centre for Coffs Harbour will be the next step taken by Coffs Harbour City Council after an ‘Issues and Options Paper for Performing Arts Spaces’ was adopted unanimously by Councillors. A draft ‘Issues and Options Paper’ that looked at current local performance venues and their capacity to fill community, cultural and economic needs was put out for public comment from 18 December 2019 until 28 February 2020. During that time, community consultation workshops and drop-in information sessions led by independent consultants were also held. A total of 25 public submissions was received along with feedback from sector stakeholders. “The feedback supported the construction of an Indoor Regional Performing Arts Centre with a capacity of between 600-1000 seats,” said Sian Nivison, Council’s Group Leader Community and Cultural Services. “This sized venue is considered the most viable to attract and accommodate a
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larger range of touring acts and performances, hold special local performances and provide reasonable economic returns. “It should be noted that in the feedback received on the draft Paper, the City Centre was identified as the best location by a number of potential users and hirers. “We look forward to working with the community and potential users and hirers of the proposed facility during the next Feasibility Study phase” It is anticipated that construction of a new, fit-for-purpose, regional Indoor Performing Arts Centre will take around six years to plan and build and cost between $50m to $60m at 2019 construction costs. It is anticipated that the annual running costs would be between $850,000 and $2m.
There was agreement that the current outdoor spaces available as performance venues locally are adequate for that use as they offer a wide variety of options. The role the Jetty Memorial Theatre plays for smaller-scale indoor performing arts and other events was also considered. It was agreed that Council continue plans to retain and expand the Theatre to develop a larger multipurpose community and rehearsal space that meets local arts and community venue demand. Councillors agreed to progress the project to the next stage and begin work on a Feasibility Study to determine the most suitable location within the City Centre, operational and financial model for an Indoor Regional Performing Arts Centre.
YOUNG ARTISTS INVITED TO ENTER THE YOUNG ARCHIE COFFS Coast artists from the ages of five to 18 are being invited to pick-up a pencil, a paintbrush or even a crayon, to create a portrait for the Young Archie competition being hosted by Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery. The Young Archie is the junior version of Australia’s most famous portrait competition, The Archibald Prize, which will be coming to Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery in January 2021. Like the Archibald Prize, young artists can create their portrait entry by ‘painting or drawing from life’ while their subject has a sitting, or a photo is taken for easy reference. Young Archie entries are to be A4 in size and of someone who is known and special to the artist. The competition is now open and Gallery staff are hoping to receive many, many portraits of Coffs Coast locals before entries close on 20 November 2020. The Regional Gallery’s Programs Facilitator, Ashleigh Frost, says the Young
Archie has a proud tradition of inspiring and showcasing the next generation of Australian artists. “The Young Archie is a real boost for kids of all ages interested in art,” she explained. “It gives students the chance to experiment with portraiture, but it’s also an exciting opportunity for teachers to get creative in the classroom. There is a free online education kit available to provide plenty of engaging activities to enthuse both primary and secondary students.” Cash prizes from ANZ are on offer for winners in each age category from 5 to 18, plus the chance to have their work exhibited at the Gallery, right alongside the Archibald Prize finalists. “We can’t wait to see
what the students create and which Coffs Coast locals we might get to see in a portrait,” added Ashleigh. People of all ages will have the chance to experience the Archibald Prize for themselves at Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery from 22 January 2021 until 6 March 2021. The Archibald is a cavalcade of who’s who in Australian culture from celebrities, artists and politicians to sportspeople. It’s sure to be a strong drawcard for visitors and school groups are invited to arrange their own guided tour for Term 1, 2021. To enter the Young Archie Coffs Harbour, download the entry form including all the competition details. Entries close on 20
