|
|
|
|
|
REVIEW | ARTIST OF THE MONTH | EVENTS | OPPORTUNITIES | GRANTS
|
|
What a huge few weeks it has been for arts in our region!
The National Indigenous Fashion Awards 2023 winners have been announced with local designer and creator Lillardia Briggs-Houston announced as the recipient of the 2023 Fashion Designer Award. The award recognises Lillardia as a designer who has excelled both creatively and commercially. Lillardia will receive a 12-month business mentorship with fashion and lifestyle brand Country Road. This recognition of Lillardia is both prestigious and well-deserved!
The Miil Miil Production team Bernard Higgins and Elijah Ingram were invited by Lewis Cardinal, a Woodland Cree communicator from northern Alberta, Canada to join the Global Indigenous Dialogue, hosted by Initiatives of Change International at the Caux Palace, Switzerland. Though Bernard was unable to attend, both Elijah and Uncle Hewitt Wyman attended and contributed to the dialogues, ‘Healing the Wounds of the Past.’
‘It was an incredible honour to be invited to participate, most particularly to walk and talk in the company of Lewis Cardinal who is opening new ground for global indigenous dialogue and perspectives,’ said Elijah, ‘As indigenous nations our cultural experiences are unique, but there is a commonality in our world view, in what we value and hold near and dear.’
The invitation reflects the work and determination of Bernard and Elijah in using their skills to lift, share, and bring to life Wiradjuri language, wisdom, culture, and story. Participation in the forum has placed the Miil Miil team in a vast network of thinkers, creators and leaders, with opportunities to work and converse globally on the integration and celebration of traditional knowledge for healing and harmony.
Western Riverina Arts attended the opening and landmark event of the Waddi Cultural Information Centre, in the heart of the Wiradyuri Nation, in Darlington Point. The Waddi Cultural Information Centre is a new and significant art and cultural space in the Western Riverina, that will offer an exploration of local arts, history, and culture. The Waddi Cultural Information Centre features artworks by renowned artists Allan McKenzie, Owen Lyons and up and coming artist Karissa Undy – KPU Creative, weaving by Paula Undy and hand crafted didgeridoos by Ben Curphy along with local Darlington Point Wiradyuri artist displays.
It was such a joy to attend the launch of the third issue of MONA Magazine. MONA echoes and celebrates the lived experience of women in contemporary regional Australia.
This edition was funded through the generous support of a Create NSW grant and features essays, poetry, art, interviews, and experimental writing of 41 women all over regional and rural Australia, including seven of our own Western Riverina writers and artists! Western Riverina Arts wishes to congratulate the MONA team for their ground-breaking contribution to the Australian literary landscape.
You can purchase MONA 03 at www.monamagazine.com.
Main image; Welcome mural at the Wadi Cultural Centre. Courtesy Western Riverina Arts. Images clockwise from top left: Lillardia Briggs-Houston at the 2023 National Indigenous Fashion Awards. Source: Marley Morgan Photography. Elijah Ingram with the Australian contingent at the Initiatives of Change global dialogues. Courtesy Elijah Ingram. Artist Allan McKenzie with his works currently on display at the Waddi Cultural Centre. Courtesy Western Riverina Arts. WRA Executive Director Aanya Whitehead with MONA team member Kimmy Skeers. Courtesy Western Riverina Arts.
|
|
|
Announcing the Murrumbidgee Short Story Competition 2023
Open Monday August 28th 2023 - Sunday October 8th 2023
The Murrumbidgee Short Story Competition is in its third year and continues to grow! This is an opportunity for local aspiring writers to test their creativity through the 'Murrumbidgee Short Story Competition'. This competition is FREE to enter and is open to all ages.
Eligibility Requirements:
1. Must be a resident in one of the four Western Riverina Arts membership Local
Government Areas of Griffith, Leeton, Narrandera or Murrumbidgee.
2. Max of two (2) entries per person.
3. The short story must be an original work which has not been previously published elsewhere such as in blogs, magazines, books or websites.
4. The short story must not have been previously entered into this competition.
Entry Requirements:
Entries open Monday 28th August 2023 and must be submitted before midnight Sunday 8th October 2023 via email to comms@westrivarts.com.au.
The subject matter is open, and your story can be Fiction or Non-Fiction.
Entires are to be to be submitted in Times New Roman and double spaced.
Categories and word counts:
Open: 1,000 – 3,000 words.
Under 18: 500 – 2,000 words.
Under 12: Min 250 words.
Entries to be emailed to comms@westrivarts.com.au along with the following information
- Your Name
- Your Age
- Your Phone Contact
- The Category Entered
- Your Postcode
|
|
|
ARTIST OF THE MONTH - JAKE SPEER
|
|
|
Community and Collaboration are Stage Front for Jake
Focused creative energy and sheer grit are formative life ingredients for Jake Speer, Leeton-born actor, director, producer, and entrepreneur. Though Jake knew from a very young age that performance, character and story were his drivers, it is his family, community, and teachers that he credits.
“I landed in a fourth-generation, sporty Leeton household. At first my parents were not sure what to do with this all-singing, all-dancing son! In fact, they did everything they could to ensure I could chase my dream. Throughout primary school at Parkview Public School, and into high school at St Francis, I signed up for everything; choir, singing lessons, drama.” Outside school hours it was acting lessons in Griffith, private tutors for singing and as much community theatre as could be squeezed in.
“I’m so grateful to the teachers who were championing art, music and performance and investing huge amounts of personal time into the school choir and school productions. They showed me the work ethic and the discipline required to be a successful artist of any type."
When a colleague of Jake’s father passed on a newspaper cutting from the Wagga Daily Advertiser, Jake and his family had no idea where that would lead. It was an audition call by Kooringal High School for the school production of ‘The Wiz’. Jake won the role, but he had to attend the school. At fifteen he packed up his Leeton life, moved to a hostel in Wagga and attended Kooringal High School, with its 200-seat theatre, and focused vocational training in drama and stage tech. It was a big call - one that Jake believes was life-changing. He immersed himself in annual productions, concerts, battle of the bands, and training in sound, lighting, stage management, and back-of-house.
In his final year of high school Jake was one of just 24 selected for the NIDA national intake, and he plunged directly into its gruelling program. “As a kid from the sticks, I was completely focused on the dramatic training, the performance. I realise now that the academic element was also soaking into me, the history, the theory, the craft, even the architecture. My teachers were building what I call my connective tissue with the ancients in theatre and stage.”
A core role for three years in ‘Home and Away’ came as an opportunity and a shock for Jake. Or, as he puts it, ‘from art to business’, shooting long days to tight schedules, and competing timelines, and working with household names like Shane Withington and Georgie Parker. The wisdom from these years? “Make good choices and always take good care of your character!”
When Los Angeles agencies sought Jake to read for big productions, it gave him cause for reflection and really come to terms with where he wanted his career to go, and more importantly who with. “The industry in the U.S is very transactional; you are employed to act. At first, I thought that was everything! But it was dawning on me that I wanted to be part of the entire creative process. I wanted to collaborate, to develop stories that inspire me, to teach and share knowledge.”
Writing and filming the short film ‘Inside Water’ in the Leeton region was the catalyst he needed. “It gave me a new appreciation of the mechanics of film-making – good product and good process, the critical elements of collaboration, communication, timing, and budgets. It also made me sharply aware of the craft of storytelling and the trust involved in being a custodian of a story.”
Jake established Kensington House Entertainment, a boutique production company, providing a solid foundation for the creative collaboration and regional and urban partnerships that he wishes to foster. Many will recall his stunning 2021 production of Shakespeare’s ‘Henry V’, the result of a creative partnership between Kensington House Entertainment and Leeton’s Roxy Theatre.
Kensington House now has a dozen projects at various stages, including the Riverina production ‘Lords of the Soil’, a short historical drama set to commence shooting here in October 2023. For Jake the project ticks all the boxes. It will partner local actors and technicians with professional screen practitioners - a total crew of around thirty- including a partnership with Western Riverina’s Miil Miil Productions and the employment of local talent Oumi Karenga-Hewitt as Assistant Producer.
And what of the bigger picture? For Jake that is building more regional partnerships, attracting stakeholders, finance and industry players to the Riverina region and putting the building blocks in place to create a local, thriving stage and film industry.
“The Roxy redevelopment in Leeton and professional partnerships with the likes of NIDA Connect is providing space to trial new forms of training and create local opportunities for creative and talented kids who want a future in the industry. We can nurture and grow that talent right here.”
Images: Jake Speer 'Henry V', Jake Speer 'Inside Water'. Courtesy the artist.
Words Gemma Purcell August 2023
|
|
13-18 and Curious about Acting and Stage Craft?
Would you like to learn about drama and even act in a play?
Join the Griffith Regional Theatre Youth Theatre Troupe!
During Terms 3 & 4, the Troupe will be learning and performing “A Christmas Carol”.
With two 5-week blocks of lessons over the second half of Term 3 and the first half of Term 4, students will learn how to read a play, develop a character, and ultimately act in a play on stage in front of an audience!
Image: Senior Troupe rehearsal. Courtesy Griffith Regional Theatre.
|
A Day in the Orchard
Piccolo Family Farm l Lake Wyangan
12pm Saturday October 7th 2023
The line up has been announced for this fantastic spring time event at one of the Western Riverina's most beautiful venues!
Enjoy live performances by Chelsea Warner, Ben Ceccato Band, Cold Cowboys, A.D., Dookie AND Grass Roots winner - Belle Madden.
The day will also feature the Marrambidya Dance Group, DJ Ken, Sawce Visuals and Tambourine Art Studio. There will be workshops, art activities, delicious food, refreshments, forum discussions and fringe activities. A brilliant day out.
Image: Belle Madden courtesy the artist.
Piccollo Family Farm
|
|
CAD Factory
Moving Through Time
Diane Busuttil
Parkside Cottage Museum l Narrandera
10:30am - 12:30pm l Saturday 2nd September 2023
Over the coming months, socially engaged artists will be coming to Narrandera to collaborate with community members to explore objects in the Parkside Cottage Museum.
They will create new artworks that live permanently in the museum. This will culminate in a celebratory event on Saturday 25 November.
Join Sydney artist Diane Busuttil for a tea party on Saturday 2 September for a fun morning of conversation, collaboration, exploration, filming and cake!
To participate in Diane’s event please book by emailing sarah@cadfactory.com.au.
|
|
Basketry Weaving Retreat
Kerri Weymouth Art Gallery & Studio l 25-27 Brolga Place
23 Sept - 24 Sept 2023 l Coleambally l NSW 2707
Join expert weaver Catriona Pollard in this small-class weaving retreat. You will be learning multiple basketry techniques with materials you can easily access after the class so you can keep on weaving:
- random weaving with cane + inclusions
- random weaving with long leafy plants
- twining with jute with a pattern
- looping with paper string
- Bonus: cordage/string demonstration
Cost: $460 includes all materials
Event by Catriona Pollard Artist and Kerri Weymouth - Artist
Bookings |
|
Sharing 40 Years of GRAG
Griffith Regional Art Gallery
Saturday 9th September 2023
The Griffith Regional Art Gallery is thrilled to announce its 40th anniversary, marking four decades of enriching the local arts and culture scene.
To commemorate this significant milestone, the Gallery is curating a community exhibition, 'Celebrating 40 Years', that will showcase a diverse collection of artworks, historical information, and other ephemera, providing an immersive experience into the Gallery's rich and vibrant history.
You are invited to come along for a night of nostalgia and celebration of the Griffith Regional Art Gallery.
Enjoy Dee Vine Estate wines, canapes and music by the talented Ben Ceccato.
Saturday 9 September 6pm
Tickets $20
|
Micro Grant Round Opens Monday 18th September 2023
Western Riverina Arts is offering the following small grants:
- Grants between $300 - $500.
- Five grants available at $1000
This a quick application turnaround. The grants open on Monday 18th September 2023 and remain open until close of business Monday 23rd October 2023, or until funds have been expended.
To be eligible:
- You must be based in the Western Riverina Arts region.
- You can be an individual, organisation or arts-based business.
- Your request must be arts related.
- One grant per applicant will be awarded if successful.
- You must not have any outstanding grant acquittals with Western Riverina Arts
- You need to be currently listed or have submitted an entry on the CREATIVE RIVERINA online database.
We strongly encourage all artists and creative groups in our region to apply for this ONE-TIME funding opportunity.This grant is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW. Apply here
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
