Friday 20 December 2013

Happy holidays

So, that's 2013 for Western Riverina Arts. It's been a good one.

Our Leeton office will be closed from around lunchtime on Friday 20 December until the morning of Monday 13 January 2014.

Who knows what might be happening inside during the holidays?

To start you wondering, here's a song made from our office light switches and a couple from The Roxy Community Theatre for the Disquiet Junto.

Thursday 19 December 2013

Make History Challenge

A great competition for school children and a creative way to think about the ANZAC Centenary!

The Make History Challenge is open to all schools in NSW and the ACT and Western Riverina Arts encourages teachers, in particular Stage 3 and Stage 5, to register now and include the challenge in their lesson plans for Term 1 in 2014.

The prize is a school excursion to the value of $3,000!



For more information or to register, see http://www.aviationmuseum.com.au

Or talk to Craig Sinclair, Education Officer, Temora Aviation Museum on 02 6977 1088 or 0429 128 956.

Funding for local arts in 2014

Groups in the Western Riverina will benefit from funding worth nearly $20,000 through the NSW Regional Arts Country Arts Support Program (CASP).

"We've seen a four-fold increase in funding for local community groups," said Derek Motion, Regional Arts Development Officer with Western Riverina Arts.

"The role of our organisation is to assist in developing arts in the region, so it's pleasing to see more groups accessing funding for creative activities.

“Applications have been assisted in some cases through partnerships and the support of local councils, which has contributed to the increase in funding reaching our communities," he said.

Narrandera Shire will see three projects supported by CASP funding, developed by The CAD Factory, Live Well Narrandera and the Narrandera Arts and Creative Network.
  • The CAD Factory will present three monologues based on historical Narrandera figures on the grounds of the Narrandera Train Station, including a soundtrack by a local choir designed entirely from live human voices.
  • Live Well Narrandera's Happy Feet at the Food Garden Project is a community partnership to create 25 decorative pavers in mosaic for the Narrandera Food Garden. The project will involve at least six participants attending five workshops in 2014.
  • The Narrandera Arts and Creative Network will host The Lines and Shadows Projection Art Workshops, where participants will learn basic skills using projectors, mapping and software to create shadow art.

Leeton Shire will see two projects supported by CASP funding, including an Art Society workshop and the establishment of a male choir.
  • The Leeton Men's Choir will hold workshops for an all-male vocal group. A series of six half-day singing workshops will be conducted by a Narrandera-based singing teacher and a final day-and-a-half workshop is planned with an internationally renowned ‘a capella’ choirmaster.
  • The Leeton Art Society will host a workshop with Helen Cottle, followed by a memorial exhibition in memory of former president Penny Paniz.

Griffith City will see four projects supported by CASP funding, developed by Griffith & Regional Association of the Performing Arts (GRAPA), Griffith East Preschool, Griffith Readers' Festival and Griffith Regional Theatre.
  • GRAPA's 'Shakespeare under the Stars' community theatre productions will include a reprisal of their 2013 production, 'The Merchant of Venice,' at the Shakespeare on the River Festival at Stratford upon Avon, Victoria in May 2014, as well as performances of their 2014 production, 'Macbeth,' in Griffith and outlying areas in October and November.  
  • Griffith East Preschool will introduce art as a form of expression to 180 children via an artist in residence program and exhibition. Working with the Regional Art Gallery the goal is to promote art to the community through the artists of early childhood from July 2014.
  • Griffith Readers' Festival will continue to develop passions for reading in the diverse communities of our vast and partly remote region of Western NSW through hosting a Readers' Festival featuring published authors, workshops, and fun literary events.
  • Griffith Regional Theatre will host a selection of theatre workshops to be delivered by Tanya Hennessy.

Western Riverina Arts is the peak body for arts and cultural development across the Western Riverina. Our region covers the Local Government Areas of Narrandera, Leeton and Griffith.

Our objective is to connect artists, communities and councils to foster a vibrant and creative region. Western Riverina Arts is a member of Regional Arts NSW and is supported by the NSW Government through Arts NSW.

Monday 16 December 2013

New Board member

Western Riverina Arts welcomes new board member Councillor Alison Balind of Griffith City Council.

"We're pleased to announce Mrs Balind is joining our organisation," said Julie Briggs, Chair of Western Riverina Arts.

"It's a great to have gained the interest of an elected representative and we hope this will open new opportunities for art and cultural activity in our region."

Alison Balind has extensive experience in community engagement and communications, as well as a long history of working on projects within Griffith.

Mrs Balind replaces Kristy Brown as Griffith City Council's representative.

"We've enjoyed having Kristy on the Board," said Mrs Briggs. "She brought a valuable perspective from her work in the Griffith Theatre and her artistic practise.

“We wish her the best in the next step in career and look forward to assisting her continued creativity."

Western Riverina Arts is the peak body for arts and cultural development across the Western Riverina. Our region covers the Local Government Areas of Narrandera, Leeton and Griffith.

Our objective is to connect artists, communities and councils to foster a vibrant and creative region. Western Riverina Arts is a member of Regional Arts NSW and is supported by the NSW Government through Arts NSW.

Wednesday 4 December 2013

Inspiration flows for local artists

Western Riverina Arts will open an exhibition by local artists on Saturday 7 December at Leeton's The Roxy Gallery in partnership with the Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority with funding through Caring For Our Country.

Reimagining the Murrumbidgee explores relationships to the River through artworks by David Williams, Hape Kiddle, Sarah McEwan, Trent Light and Jason Richardson.



"The artists have responded to the River in distinctly different artworks," said curator Derek Motion. "Their varied media offer an opportunity to compare and contrast themes such as environmental, economic and cultural significance."



"Trent Light's portraits and interviews with Narrandera residents capture local attitudes and interests, while Sarah McEwan has created an installation that provides a rich metaphor," said Mr Motion.

Birrego-based artist McEwan infused her artwork with the River. "To make this work I went down to the Murrumbidgee near the Oakbank Brewery to soak eight-metre long pieces of fabric and collect rocks, bark, bottles and dirt," said Sarah McEwan. "Part of the Murrumbidgee is in this work and I hope my installation can channel the sacredness that people feel to this mighty river."


"’Rest In the River’ is an installation using found and natural materials to create a work that represents the threads of life that all rivers hold for the survival of people, animals and the environment,” said Mrs McEwan. “Beyond its practical uses, the Murrumbidgee is ‘home’ for many people; a place to rest, to seek comfort and to be taken away to the spiritual."

David Williams' painting shows the effect of Gogeldrie Weir on the River, in a contemporary indigenous style; while Hape Kiddle worked on a riverbank to craft jewellery, carvings and silver spoons.


“I think Hape's work is beautiful, both in itself and as a comment on how human culture developed through agriculture,” said Derek Motion.

“Seeing art shows you a diversity of ideas and perspectives on a subject and this exhibition will surprise people. There are many discussions around the Murrumbidgee River – particularly in recent times – and the artists have explored ideas associated with this natural resource.”

Reimagining the Murrumbidgee will be in The Roxy Gallery, opposite the Leeton Cenotaph on the junction of Kurrajong and Pine avenues, from Saturday 7th to Sunday 15th December 2013.

For more see http://reimagining.net/