Regional Arts Network

Regional Arts WA believes the regional arts sector will be stronger – more connected, creative and capable – when networks are established, people know each other and have the opportunity to work together.

Looking to change the way the regional arts sector talks to each other, Regional Arts WA formed the Regional Arts Network. In this initiative, strategically aligned regional organisations enter into a service agreement to become a Hub for their local community and be an active member of an emerging state-wide Network.

Meet the Network

Southern Forest Arts

Connecting the Shires of Manjimup, Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Nannup and Boyup Brook

Southern Forest Arts

Connecting the Shires of Manjimup, Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Nannup and Boyup Brook

Email: info@southernforestarts.com.au

Phone: 0418 754 704

Email Southern Forest Arts

Based in Northcliffe, Southern Forest Arts makes life more ‘wonder-full’ for visitors and residents of the Southern Forests and Valleys region (and increasingly beyond) through unique arts and cultural experiences that connect, inspire and uplift, leading to increased wellbeing and collective flourishing.

Connect with Southern Forest Arts
Fiona Sinclair, Artistic Director / General Manager
info@southernforestarts.com.au

southernforestarts.com.au

The Junction Co.

Connecting the Pilbara

The Junction Co.

Connecting the Pilbara

Email: hello@thejunctionco.com.au

Phone: 08 9141 0041

The Junction Co. is an innovative art not-for-profit organisation with a clear vision to engage, grow and empower regional creatives. They advocate and connect regional creatives with workspace, learning opportunities and networks, to uplift their endeavors and create an environment which both local community and creatives can support each other. The Junction team is made up of creative entrepreneurs, artists, strategists, graphic designers, place activators, facilitators, teachers and lovers of art and craft, who seek to actively improve community membership and engagement, encourage a balance of work and play, and assist in strengthening a Pilbara identity.

Connect with The Junction Co
hello@thejunctionco.com.au
thejunctionco.com.au

North Midlands Project

Connecting the Mid West

North Midlands Project

Connecting the Mid West

Email: david@northmidlands.org.au

Phone: 0419 766 808

North Midlands Project is a not-for-profit arts, culture, history and heritage organisation working towards regional Western Australia to be known for its happy, healthy communities and vibrant, connected towns. Based in Carnamah and Gerladton, they deliver quality arts, culture, history and heritage activities across the seven regional local government areas of Carnamah, Coorow, Mingenew, Morawa, Perenjori and Three Springs (collectively known as the North Midlands) and in the City of Greater Geraldton.

Connect with North Midlands Project
David Bowman-Bright, Executive Director
david@northmidlands.org.au

https://www.northmidlands.org.au/

Artgold

Connecting Kalgoorlie-Boulder

Artgold

Connecting Kalgoorlie-Boulder

Email: admin@artgold.net.au

Phone: 0478 069 799

Artgold, formally Arts & Culture Goldfields Association, exists to serve and promote arts organisations, upcoming events and individual artists working in the Goldfields. The association aims to raise the profile of all arts genres by actively promoting and supporting arts activities in the wider community.

Connect with Artgold
Bobby-Lee Field, Artgold Coordinator
admin@artgold.net.au

artgold.net.au

Goolarri Media Enterprises

Connecting the West Kimberley

Goolarri Media Enterprises

Connecting the West Kimberley

Email: arts@gme.com.au

Phone: 08 9194 9999

Goolarri’s artistic vision is to establish a sustainable and vibrant arts industry in the North West of Western Australia by creating and developing networks and opportunities for established, emerging and new artists as well as arts practitioners. This artistic vision is supported by Goolarri’s integrated service model and is embedded in the organisations ethos of celebrating and sharing cultural values by empowering the community through communication and the arts.

Connect with Goolarri Media Enterprises
Gwen Knox, Hub Coordinator
arts@gme.com.au

goolarri.com

Gascoyne in May

Connecting the Gascoyne

Gascoyne in May

Connecting the Gascoyne

Email: artisticdirector@gascoyneinmay.com.au

Phone: 0403 879 263

Gascoyne In May is a cross-regional initiative dedicated to developing the capacity, resources, policy for and delivery of sustainable, dynamic festival culture unique to the Gascoyne region.

Connect with Gascoyne in May
Theaker von Ziarno, Artistic Director
artisticdirector@gascoyneinmay.com.au

gascoyneinmay.com.au

Gardiner Street Arts Collective

Connecting the Shires of Moora, Dalwallinu, Victoria Plains, Wongan Hills and Dandaragan

Gardiner Street Arts Collective

Connecting the Shires of Moora, Dalwallinu, Victoria Plains, Wongan Hills and Dandaragan

Email Gardiner Street Arts Collective

Gardiner Street Arts Collective is an arts collective enabling intergenerational and cultural understanding through the creation of a shared arts space, adding to regional education, business and enhancing the attractiveness of Moora as a place to live and work. They embrace creative groups and provide a home for all. Be that a venue for local arts and craft groups, ballet lessons, dance workshops, artists in residence, music lessons, gardening sessions, art workshops, texture workshops, and mental health and wellbeing sessions. They are the umbrella under which all of these creative pursuits can gather and thrive.

Connect with Gardiner Street Collective
coordinator@gardinerstreetartscollective.com.au
Nyree Taylor, Creative Director | 0417 096 365

gardinerstreetartscollective.com.au

Learn more about...

The Hubs

The Hubs’ role is to increase local decision making by strengthening relationships with local governments and stakeholders, whilst seeking development opportunities for artists and arts workers within their communities.

These Hubs then share this local knowledge and experience in an emerging collaborative structure to deliver projects, advocacy, and strategies across the State to create a true state–wide Network over the next two years.

Each Hub serves a geographic region, breaking the State into manageable sites related to the area, population and local government boundaries.

Hub organisations are working within the Hubs Deliverables Framework.

The Regional Arts Network

Recognising the geographic challenge of servicing a state the size of Western Australia, Regional Arts WA initiated the Regional Arts Network to create an avenue where the sector can connect, collaborate and share information across the State.

The Regional Arts Network is still emerging, and is working towards growing a sustainable and thriving ecosystem of connected creative regional communities that engage with their local community, local governments and key stakeholders to drive state-wide collaborative projects and conversations.

The Regional Arts Network is currently finalising its Terms of Reference as a tool to clearly articulate its purpose and responsibilities. This will allow the Network to open membership to aligned organisations, who may not currently be in a Hub agreement but have the willingness and drive to be an active member.

Currently, the Network is connecting and collaborating on:

Working with the North Midlands Project to drive the Ebb+Flow Residency and Touring program. A particular focus is producing professional development opportunities to build the capacity of the artists and the creative sector.
Creating best-practice frameworks that can be available for the sector to adopt and adapt. In particular, a program design cycle framework that will assist the Network in creating collaborative projects.
Delivering the Creative Leadership Program with a unified approach and looking how participants across the State can continue connecting and building the program‘s skills.
Amplifying existing programs that have a state-wide benefit. In particular, working with The Junction Co. promoting The Jury Arts Prize to cross-regional networks to encourage them to enter. This will work to elevate the quality of art submitted, and ensure the best is being judged against the best.

Ebb+Flow

Ebb+Flow has evolved from a Touring and Residency Framework driven by Hub organisation, North Midlands Project and adopted by the Regional Arts Network.

Ebb+Flow sees multi-artform creatives from each of the WA regions (including Perth) explore the theme of Ebb+Flow with the Carnamah community in the Mid-West region. This includes looking into how changes in regional areas are often temporary and how periods of decline and growth, drought and rain, hardship and prosperity are factors that ebb and flow outside of our control.

Each residency will include seven community workshops to be held in different towns, schools, hospitals and at Culture+Arts Community Days.

The three-year framework consists of:

2021 – Ten multi-artform creatives from across each of the WA regions undertake a six-week residency in Carnamah (Mid West) to deliver community workshops and a solo exhibition
2022 – Works created during each residency will focus on a joint exhibition, and the exhibition will tour each Network members’ locations across all nine regions
2023 – All artworks will be showcased in Perth

The Ebb+Flow project has been made possible by a grant awarded to North Midlands Project by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and Lotterywest Creative Communities COVID-19 Recovery Program.

With support from Minderoo Foundation through the Regional Arts Network initiative, the Network will support skills development and travel expenses for artists throughout the project.

www.northmidlands.org.au/ebbflow

The Regional Arts Network is proudly supported by Minderoo Foundation and The Ian Potter Foundation, and with funding from the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund.

Check out our stories to read more about the Network in action