Ngiyani Yindyamali Aboriginal Mayiny Murrubandha Mayinny galangga Australia Ngangaagi We respect Aboriginal peoples as the ďŹ rst peoples and custodians of Australia
We would like to acknowledge the Wiradjuri people, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live and work, and pay our respects to the Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
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MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR As I reflect on another year as the Chair of Western Riverina Arts, I am exceptionally proud of and grateful for the amazing artists, artisans and arts workers that live and work in our region. It is both our role and our privilege as a board to support and promote these wonderful individuals who add so much to the quality of life where we live and work. At this time in particular our mantra of “Connecting Creative Communities” has never been more important and its implementation never more critical. Since our last AGM we have experienced many changes with our Director Derek Motion leaving us to pursue other opportunities and being replaced by the very capable and dynamic Aanya Whitehead. We have had changes in our Communication staff in 2019 with Miriam Rystedt leaving us and being very ably replaced by Lyllardya Briggs-Houston. Later when Lyllardia began her maternity leave we were very fortunate to have been able to obtain the services of Camille Whitehead under a temporary contract. Camille has proved to have been an excellent choice. She has a broad skill set and an artistic eye and has picked up the reins quickly doing a fantastic job. We have not only moved premises to our wonderful new home in the Art Deco Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission Building in Leeton but we have the privilege of being there to witness its development into a major art and cultural centre for the region. The most notable change of course is our current operating environment. It is increasingly evident that we are now operating in uncharted waters due to COVID-19 which has wrought changes in everyone’s lives and, as a consequence, in the way in which we as an organisation support Artists and the Arts in our region Aside from organisational and virus generated change the last year has seen a number of major initiatives for WRA, in particular the introduction of WRA’s Artist of the Month Feature, working to establish an Artist Network, promoting an Artist Online Initiative and implementing The Riverina Lectures – the first featuring Vic McEwan Live from the TATE in Liverpool. As an organisation we have also been heavily involved in and actively promoting arts and cultural initiatives across the region. It is the nature of working in and with the arts that many projects take a considerable amount of time to deliver. This has meant that our team have put a lot of effort into promoting and developing ideas that will either not now come to fruition, occur on a different and much longer timetable or morph into something different altogether. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Western Riverina Arts staff for their flexibility and resilience and for the optimism and positivity with which they have approached each new challenge. Your support for the arts and our regional arts community is the essence of what Western Riverina Arts aims to be. We don’t yet know what the future will look like but we do know that our organisation can play an important part in it. Susan Carey Killham
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MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR I acknowledge that this land is Wiradjuri, and pay my respect to Custodians, past, present and future. This country remains beautiful and significant because of the long-standing belonging, respect and nurture of First Nations communities. Thank you to the Western Riverina Arts Board for appointing me as Regional Arts Executive Director for Western Riverina Arts (WRA), commencing in January 2020. I have been an active member of the Australian film and arts industry since 1985, producing arts related films, as well as curating, distributing, promoting and producing film festivals and special events. My body of film work has been awarded and selected into international film festivals around the globe including Berlin, Toronto and Sundance. I know that this professional experience will translate positively to this role. The whole of the Riverina regional area is culturally active and wonderfully diverse, and Western Riverina Arts exists to develop pathways for artists and creative communities. This can take shape in various ways through a range of initiatives. I look to actively address all of Western Riverina Arts’ aims and objectives that are to; develop audiences, encourage community capacity, promote cultural events, initiate project activity, provide pathways for artists and creative communities, strengthen regional cultural development and connect creative communities. Over the past many years all regional areas across Australia have been suffering unprecedented drought that reached its peak in 2019, where record summer temperatures caused loss and suffering for the rural economy. This was then matched with the most catastrophic bushfires the nation has ever seen that also impacted districts not directly fire affected as they provided support to neighbouring communities for fire-fighting, personnel, health, food and logistics. As the nation came out of dealing with these crises, Covid-19 struck in March 2020, preventing all audience based cultural and social activities. This had an immediate and overwhelming impact on the arts that were already suffering, with the Western Riverina arts community feeling the shock within days. Still, the creative community has an extraordinary ability to move through difficult situations. This ability has been beneficial across the four LGA’s of Murrumbidgee, Narrandera, Leeton and Griffith. Covid-19 has forced engagement by distance that in turn has launched a change of culture into the online space. Artists led the way opening many new doors and platforms for the community to reach out, communicate and create in a way that may have been considered unworkable in the past. Reviewing 2019, WRA continued to administer and support the arts community in our region. Looking to 2020 and beyond a new landscape has appeared, where the digital world will be the major innovative stage of the future. Aanya Whitehead
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COMMUNICATIONS 2019 saw a change in the staff appointed to the Communications Officer role halfway through the year. Both staff members were effectual in developing the social media spaces that kept the creative community comprehensively informed on grants, services, opportunities and career development. Over the years WRA has built a solid social media platform that is active and respected. Data tracking in 2020 is showing that there is a growing following. Miriam Rystedt
WRA uses various platforms to communicate in different ways that has the ability to inform all demographics across the four shires. This social media engagement is a major asset to the organisation and the community as a whole. It is the first port of call for a Creative to promote their work and the first port of call for audiences and cultural appreciators to seek information. A monthly newsletter underpins the social media platform providing consistency and stability for the wider community to engage with the arts in their area. In 2019 the newsletter began including a feature space for Artist of the Month, and this has been a successful addition to the editorial adding to its wider readership. Lyllardya Briggs-Houston
PLATFORMS As at December 2019
• Official Website • Youtube • Email Newsletter 337 Subscribers • Facebook 2045 Fans • Instagram 1232 Followers • Twitter 790 Followers
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PATHWAYS & SUPPORT FOR ARTISTS
Our new space at the WCIC building in Leeton provided a public office which allowed us to have an ongoing presence for artists to utilise and seek advice, support and consultation. Artists are able to seek our advice on all aspects of career funding, support, promotion and business management.
Seven CASP projects from the Western Riverina region were successful, with funding of nearly $20,000. Derek Motion said: ‘This was a competitive round with some really great project applications put forward by community groups. Western Riverina Arts manages the grant process locally, and I worked with a number of groups across the region to finalise their project ideas.’
Nine official Letters of Support to arts practitioners and venues were issued in support of projects across the Western Riverina region.
Regular grant writing workshops continue to prove popular to artists in the Western Riverina area and are planned twice a year.
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PROJECTS Dr Lee Kofman is a Russian-born Israeli-Australian author of five books, editor of two anthologies, writing teacher and mentor based in Melbourne. Western Riverina Arts brought Dr Kofman to Narrandera and Griffith for author talks and writing workshops. Participants learnt how to find the right theme to focus on, how to structure their life story so that it makes for an engaging reading and how to turn themselves and the people in their life into compelling characters.
The Leeton Art Deco Festival celebrated all things 19101940 within stunning Art Deco buildings, and the iconic Roxy Theatre. Programming included films, exhibitions, music, jazz, swing and the Charleston Dance, fashion, food, vehicles, culture and crime stories of the town in the 20’s and 30’s. We helped invigilate the ‘Underworld: Mugshots from the Roaring Twenties’ exhibition. Image: leetonartdecofestival.com.au
Throughout 2019 we promoted local arts and cultural organisations throughout our region, such as the Leeton Art Society, Griffith Riverina Fellowship Of Australian Writers, Narrandera Arts, Griffith Regional Theatre, Leeton Roxy Community Theatre, Griffith & Regional Association of the Performing Arts, The CAD Factory and Griffith Regional Art Society.
We administered a CASP grant for Leeton artist Jason Richardson aka bassling to record Australia’s largest playable guitar located in Narrandera. The recordings were used to make compositions by local composers Vic McEwan, Fiona Caldarevic and Jason Richardson. With the guitar newly tuned by Chris Kschenka, the project also promoted the use of the guitar as an instrument for tourists, not just a photo opportunity.
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PROJECTS CONTINUED Towards the end of 2019, Western Riverina Arts introduced the ‘Artist of the Month’ feature, shining a spotlight on one local artist and promoting their works across our various social media platforms. In September we showcased art by Griffith artist Karly Sivewright aka Karlys Kustom Art, whose works focus on atmospheric watercolours, abstract inks, huge abstract resin artworks and homewares.
Our second Artist of the Month was Leeton local Linzie Ellis. Linzie’s work investigates the human experience of rural living, the isolation and wide open space. She explores the process of painting through a variety of techniques and materials and shows the true complexities of the painting medium. Linzie ignites the different sensations of water and the human condition.
Our final artist for the year was Cory McKenzie of Googar Art, a Wiradjuri and Gamilaroi artist. Cory is an established artist within the region and dedicates his artform to all things family, culture and connection to country. Cory was awarded 2019 NAIDOC ‘Artist of the Year’ in Griffith. Cory works in many different artforms and runs cultural workshops across local schools and communities.
We supported ‘Small Art Adventures’ a program designed by local Leeton artist Linzie Ellis for toddler and preschool age children. The classes introduced them to the world of arts and crafts while having fun and being creative with each other. Participants tried a variety of artworks to suit their skill level, age and preference and parents got the chance to enjoy art with their little ones.
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PROJECTS CONTINUED We supported the ‘Through my eyes: Australian Landscape’ exhibition at the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, which presented the latest expressive works on canvas and paper by local Leeton Artist Ann Rayment. The exhibition presented a distinctive and varied approach to the Australian landscape, which Ann explored through bold abstract marks and colours.
Western Riverina Arts was a sponsor of the annual Penny Paniz Award 2019, for which the overall theme was ‘Art Deco in Leeton’. It was a successful show, with over 125 entries being submitted. The acquisitive prize winner was Elaine Heffer with her ‘Art Deco Magpie’.
WRA supported the ‘Yield’ exhibition featuring 22 emerging and established artists with and without learning disabilities from the Riverina, Wollongong and Liverpool. The show was curated by Sarah McEwan from The Cad Factory and exhibited at the Griffith Regional Art Gallery. The show was a result of the artists working together in a supported studio environment over eight weeks.
‘MURRU’, originally showing at the Griffith Regional Art Gallery in 2018 was exhibited at the Narrandera Arts Centre in 2019. MURRU promoted Wiradjuri Culture, showcasing the incredible artworks of Indigenous Artists from our region. MURRU was supported by a program of workshops and professional development activities for local First Nations Artists, run by renowned Master Printmaker Basil Hall and local artist Kerri Weymouth.
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PROJECTS CONTINUED
The ‘MURRU’ exhibition which focused on textiles and print-making, boasted an impressive array of local talent. The exhibition was a real drawcard to Narrandera, as local politicians, like Steph Cooke MP, paid a visit to the Narrandera Arts Centre to admire the works of art.
‘What Happens If…?’ was a series of CASP funded workshops we administered, led by local artist Lindee Russell. Lindee worked with the Narrandera community and the Narrandera Arts and Creative Network to develop collaborative and individual visual art pieces through the exploration of scarce resources and sustainable methods. The outcomes were exhibited at the Narrandera Arts Centre during February. ‘Willandra Three Rivers’ was developed to bring artists from across the Riverina together. Participating artists, Melanie Baulch, Treahna Hamm, Gabrielle Hegyes, Chris Kunko, Robert Moss, Jack Randell, Jo-Anne Southern and Kerri Weymouth, all based in the area of NSW bounded by the Lachlan, Macquarie and Murrumbidgee Rivers, travelled to the Willandra National Park in 2015 and 2016. The works resulting from this residency were exhibited at the Albury City Library during 2019. We promoted and lent support to the ‘Lyrics, Landscapes and Lintels’ public art project, which was funded by The Heritage Near Me Heritage Activation Grants. Five public artworks were commissioned as Heritage Interpretative Stations. The works depicted stories of Aboriginal heritage, the birth of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area and the inter-war period, creating an art trail across the villages of Yanco, Whitton and the town of Leeton.
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Western Riverina Arts staff attended quarterly meetings in Sydney with Regional Arts NSW, including one that was held jointly for Communications Officers and Regional Arts Development Officers. The staff at Western Riverina Arts use these opportunities to share information, network with staff from other regional arts areas, and also receive personal updates from other peak arts and funding bodies.
Network meeting in Western Sydney, where we visited the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre and Campbell Arts Centre on February 26th.
We travelled to Melbourne to workshop new tools in project evaluation at Our Community House on June 3rd.
We attended Strategic Communications Workshops in Sydney on July 25th delivered by C7EVEN, to define our objectives and identify effective ways to achieve results.
Keeping It Real 2019 at the Albury Library and Museum was a forum for regional cultural workers and volunteers, offering an eclectic mix of presentations and workshops.
Governance workshops were held at the Griffith Leagues Club on August 27th.
Shift 2019 at the Coolamon Up To Date Store featured a series of presentations and round table discussions with some of the country’s most interesting cultural leaders.
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MEMBER COUNCILS AND FUNDING PARTNERS With a population of over 40,000 people and several high profile artists, the Western Riverina has an active, diverse and rich cultural life supported by its member councils who are committed to keeping their local arts and culture alive. • • • • • •
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Murrumbidgee Shire Council Narrandera Shire Council Leeton Shire Council Griffith Shire Council Regional Arts NSW – Peak Regional Arts Body Create NSW – Core Funding Partner
keeping their local arts and culture alive. • Murrumbidgee Shire Council • Narrandera Shire Council • Leeton Shire Council • Griffith Shire Council • Regional Arts NSW – Peak Regional Arts Body • Create NSW – Core Funding Partner
FINANCIAL Financial In 2019 Western Riverina Arts maintained its core funding from Create NSW as well as member In 2019 Western Riverina Arts maintained core funding fromShire Create NSW asTreasurer well as member contributions from Murrumbidgee, Narrandera,itsLeeton and Griffith Councils. Anthony Morton reported that Western Riverina Arts is Leeton in a stable The 2019 IncomeTreasurer contributions from Murrumbidgee, Narrandera, andposition. Griffith Shire Councils. Statement surplus ofthat $6,367. Anthonyshowed Mortona reported Western Riverina Arts is in a stable position. The 2019 Profit and Loss showed a surplus of $6,367. $ 2019
I n c o m e Grants
Other Income Interest Total E x p e n s e s Program and Project Costs Operating Costs
186,815
$ Difference
183,444
3,371
508
1,385
(877)
1,422
2,253
(831)
188,745
187,082
1,663
$ Budget
6,050
8,325
(2,275)
53,423
48,912
4,511
Salaries and Wages
122,905
128,445
(5,540)
Expenses
182,378
185,682
(3,304)
Surplus
Western Riverina Arts 2019 Annual Report
6,367
1,400
4,967
Page
6
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2019 Staff Derek Motion – Regional Arts Development Officer: To Nov 2019 Aanya Whitehead – Regional Arts Executive Director: Dec 2019 onwards Communications Officer x 1
2019 BOARD MEMBERS Susan Carey Killham - Narrandera Shire Council Representative, Chair Julie Briggs - Narrandera Community Representative, Vice Chair Faith Bryce - Murrumbidgee Shire Council Representative Melanie Toscan - Murrumbidgee Community Representative Anne Napoli - Griffith City Council Representative Oumi Karenga-Hewitt - Griffith Community Representative Suesann Vos - Leeton Shire Council Representative Anthony Morton - Griffith Co-opted Member, Treasurer
CONTACT US fb.me/westrivarts @westrivarts @westrivarts Western Riverina Arts comms@westrivarts.com.au www.westrivarts.com.au 27-30 Chelmsford Avenue, Leeton
Western Riverina Arts 2019 Annual Report designed by Camille Whitehead
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TEAM WRA: CONNECTING CREATIVE COMMUNITIES
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