OCTOBER 2023

October Activity Highlights

2023 QRAA finalists were announced!

We were thrilled to officially announce the 2023 Queensland Regional Art Awards finalists in each of the categories. 

 

These finalists were selected from an impressive cohort of artists, Flying Arts extends a heartfelt thanks to our vibrant community of talented artists who entered this year’s QRAA. All of our finalists are now delivering their works, ready to be exhibited and judged. 

 

The winning works of the QRAA will be officially announced and displayed on the 24th of November at a VIP gala event at the Judith Wright Art Centre.

ART FOR LIFE AWARD FINALISTS                                

THE MERV MORIARTY LANDSCAPE AWARD FINALISTS

THE FIRST NATIONS AWARD FINALISTS

THE REMOTE ARTIST AWARD FINALISTS

THE EMERGING ARTIST AWARD FINALISTS

THE ENVIRONMENTAL ART AWARD FINALISTS

DIGITAL ART AWARD FINALISTS

THE ANNIE TAN MEMORIAL WATERCOLOUR AWARD FINALISTS

TEXTILE ART AWARD FINALISTS

Past QRAA Touring Exhibitions

Reframe the touring exhibition opens in Goondiwindi

Above: Exhibition view of Reframe.

This month we celebrated the opening of Reframe, the touring exhibition of the winners of the 2022 QRAA, at the Goondiwindi Regional Civic Centre Gallery.  The artworks will remain on display until 28 November 2023. 

Paint the Town  touring exhibition opens in Injune

Above: Exhibition view of Paint the Town displayed at Cairns Courthouse Art Gallery in 2021. Featuring Libby Derham, Celebrating the Colours of Coolum (2021) Watercolour on paint chips. Winner of The Annie Tan Memorial Watercolour Award, 2021.

Image courtesy:  The Social Impact.

Paint the Town toured the Injune Creek Gallery on 28 September, where it will remain until 23 November 2023.  Patrons have the opportunity to view the artworks of award-winning artists across Queensland in the 2021 Queensland Regional Art Awards exhibition outcome.

 

Evoking the spirit of celebration, of all things jubilant, artists were invited to respond to the question: how do you celebrate? The result is a uniquely Queensland hyper-local response to the public, or sometimes intimately personal, ways and reasons we choose to celebrate.

 

Make sure you visit before Paint the Town moves to its final touring location at the Warwick Art Gallery from 1 December to 10 February 2024. 

By Request travels to Corinda State High School

A proud highlight for Flying Arts Alliance from the By Request program! Artist facilitator Cynthia Copley, a previous winner of the Mervyn Moriarty Landscape Award, travelled to Corinda State High School for a full-day landscape painting workshop. The students were exposed to en plein air techniques and had an invaluable opportunity to have their questions answered by Cynthia. 

Above:  Students working en plein air at Corinda State High School

Image courtesy: Cynthia Copely

By Request and the Lockyer Valley Regional Council 

A recent By Request program engaged by the Lockyer Valley Downs Regional Council: The Business of Being Creative - Creative Mentoring and Consultation.

 

The Business of Being Creative was a workshop for creatives who would like to do what they love all the time. The workshop was presented by Andrea Smith in conjunction with Flying Arts Alliance. The workshop was attended by 12 creatives, including musicians, visual artists, writers, crafters, dancers, actors, and

film-makers.

 

Andrea reflected that all participants were new to the business side of the creative industry and, following the workshop, noted that both the council and participants had gained strategy for future workshops.

 

During the dinner break, Andrea had the participants think about potential networking activities they, as the arts community, could run. She noted there were some very positive suggestions, and hopefully, the activity will initiate some ownership by the community.

Above: Participants in the Lockyer Valley Downs Regional Council: The Business of Being Creative - Creative Mentoring and Consultation

Image courtesy: Lockyer Valley Downs Regional Council

Professional Development Program Highlights

Build Your Arts Business Intensive with Alex Stalling

Visual artist, designer, and business entrepreneur Alex Stalling engaged artists in a two-day intensive at TAFE Queensland between 30 September and 1 October.

 

The intensive gave artists attending an insight into the arts industry to help identify appropriate contexts for their business, to set long-term goals and objectives and to develop operational and promotional strategies.

 

This practical intensive covered essential topics such as budgeting, planning, marketing, and networking. The workshop included a networking event hosted by the Griffith University Art Museum.  

 

 

 

 

 

Right: Alex Stalling  presenting in workshops

Image courtesy:  Alex Stalling

 

Food as a Sustainable Artistic Medium Educator Webinar

with Elizabeth Willing

 

Elizabeth Willing presented a fantastic webinar, Food as a Sustainable Artistic Medium, for the Flying Arts Alliance Educator program.

 

Elizabeth has worked with the medium of food in her art practice for the past fourteen years.

 

Her works range from sculpture, installation, video, collage, and performances where she enacts ‘hospitality’.

 

Drawing on a wealth of knowledge as an artist, she shared her thoughts on the use of ephemeral materials through the lens of sustainability, the ethics of food waste and the use of recycled materials across the various branches of her practice.

 

The webinar offered a range of insights that were relevant to educators, artists and arts workers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Left: Elizabeth Willing  presenting in workshops

Image courtesy:  Elizabeth Willing

Creative Consultations with Kellie O'Dempsey

Above: Kellie O'Dempsey next to her work Wish You Were Here 1

Image courtesy: Kellie O'Dempsey

It was a full day of consultations with Kellie O’Dempsey. The 2022 winner of the Art for Life award in the Queensland Regional Art Awards spoke to artists in a series of individual consultations. She shared her vast knowledge as an artist and educator to give personalised feedback to those who attended.

 

Participants had the opportunity to spend 45 minutes online, one-on-one with Kellie, to discuss their work, receive professional feedback on their concepts and techniques and receive practical tips on how to take the next steps in their career as an artist.

Accessible Arts Practice with Access Arts Webinar

with Madeleine Little

In this webinar, Madeleine Little discussed best practices for people with disability in the context of arts and culture.

 

Madeleine provided an overview of the Social Model of Disability, identified common barriers to access in the arts, outlined best practices to navigate access barriers and provided an overview of terms and recommended language.

 

This was essential information for artists and artworkers.

  Above: Madeleine Little

  Image courtesy: Madeleine Little

Regional Arts Fund (RAF) October Highlights

Great Barrier Reef Festival: ‘Immerse’ Installation Lantern Workshops

With funding from the Regional Arts Fund’s Quick Response Grants, the Great Barrier Reef Festival could engage with the local community to create and participate in reef-themed lantern-making workshops with local artist Lalune Croker. The workshops were held across 3 locations in the Whitsundays Region in preparation for the Great Barrier Reef Festival’s ‘Immerse’ Installation.

 

To ensure that all members of the community had the opportunity to be involved, two different styles of community workshops were delivered. Artist-led hand-building workshops invited participants to explore their creativity through technique and drop-in-style lantern decorating workshops for people of all ages and abilities. The lanterns created and decorated during the workshops were then proudly paraded as a part of the ‘Immerse’ Installation, which brought to life the Airlie Beach Foreshore, Lagoon, and Main Street.

 Above: Final Lantern Installation at Immerse

 Image courtesy: Tropix Photography

Workshop participants included adults and children alike, with many noting the sense of community created by the experience. Due to the large number of lanterns made at the workshops, many tourists and visitors could participate in the Lantern Parade during the festival.

 

Reflecting on her involvement in the project, local lantern artist Lalune Croker spoke of the community's pride and engagement with the project. “I love seeing how proud everyone is of their pieces as well as the Parade and the end product installation,” she said.

 

“Community Art is very rewarding for me, and I love the ongoing connections we form and the beauty we can achieve as a team and a community.” Croker continued, “I believe this impact is more meaningful than ever in this modern world.”

2023 Mackay Chamber Music Festival

With funding from the RAF Project Grants, the music-lovers of Mackay were treated to masterclasses, workshops, Q&A sessions and more at the 2023 Mackay Chamber Music Festival!

 

Participants and audience members of all ages were delighted by the high-quality performances, skill development and education available through the festival. Opportunities of this calibre can be few and far between in regional areas, so seeing the Mackay community come together to experience the wonder of chamber music was a fantastic success. 

Image courtesy: Cherrie Hughes

Our members form a central part of Flying Arts activities. As a financial member, you not only join our creative network but also receive reduced scheduled program workshop fees, voting rights at our AGM, discounts with our retail partners, and more!  

 

For further information visit here.

Flying Arts Alliance is listed in the Registration of Cultural Organisations, and has Deductible Gift Recipient and Tax Charity Concession status.

 

All donations above two dollars are tax deductible and will directly support programs and activities in schools and communities in regional and remote areas.

 

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Flying Arts Alliance Inc acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands and seas on which we work, live and create. We pay our respects to Elders, past, present and emerging.  We acknowledge the unending connection of First Nations peoples to this country. We support the aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to Voice, Treaty and Truth. We value the contributions of First Nations artists, creatives, artisans, practitioners and communities to the work we do.

 

Flying Arts Alliance is honoured to acknowledge the Governor of Queensland, Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young  AC PSM as our Patron. We also acknowledge Mr Tim Fairfax AC and Mrs Gina Fairfax AC as our Cultural Patrons.

 

Flying Arts is a not-for-profit organisation inspiring the appreciation, practice and professional development of the visual and media arts as a lifetime interest or career throughout regional and remote Queensland.

 

Flying Arts is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland. Flying Arts is supported by the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation and receives funds from Creative Partnerships Australia through the Australian Cultural Fund. Flying Arts is supported by corporate partners and benefactors.

 

Flying Arts is the administrator in Queensland of the Regional Arts Fund (RAF), an Australian Government program provided through Regional Arts Australia.