Help EGAAC go to Darwin at short notice!!!

Darwin Arts Fare: Professional Development, Networking & Research Excursion

Danny Waters

Executive Officer

I am calling for sponsorship and membership at short notice to raise funding to take two staff, two artists, a representative of the Krowathunkooloong Keeping Place and a director of Boscia Galleries (EGAAC partnership with Melbourne commercial gallery) to attend the Darwin Arts Fare.

EGAAC was invited to attend this art fare some time ago however was not able to make a commitment due to uncertainty in relation to how the organisation would fair in recent funding rounds. Only recently (as of the end of the 2008-09 financial year) EGAAC has secured a three year commitment to core operational funding through The Department of Environment Water Heritage and the Arts.

This is a fantastic recognition of a lot of hard work over the last six to twelve months however there is still plenty of work to do. EGAAC is confident that further specific program funding can be secured for 2010 and beyond. This will contribute to exciting programs such as exhibitions, practical and professional development workshops, excursions, artist in residencies and various public arts projects.

This however leaves a gap in program specific funding for the remainder of 2009 and funding to get EGAAC to the Darwin Arts Fare. That’s where we hope you can help.

EGAAC recently received recognition of its hard work winning the inaugural 2009 Dardi Victorian Business Award for Victorian Indigenous Community Enterprise at Yulkuum Jerrang - 2nd Indigenous Economic Development Conference. The award was sponsored by Parks Victoria and Dardi is a Gunnai / Kurnai word meaning ‘Strong.’

The award included $5000 cash which will now go towards the expense of this excursion. EGAAC will also be able to contribute some further funding from our current budget but still requires a contribution of approximately $9000 to get this project of the ground. Please refer to the attached budget with estimate expenses.

If you are interested in supporting this activity through sponsorship or purchasing an EGAAC membership (see details below) please contact Kate Irish at EGAAC on 03-5153 1002 or via email katei@egaac.org.au or myself on the below details.

This project gives EGAAC the opportunity to achieve several of its strategic deliverables which are summarized in dot point below. If you are interested and for your information I have also attached a document breaking down these points against the actual EGAAC key performance indicators we will be reporting on.

Darwin Arts Fare: Professional Development, Networking & Research Excursion

Deliverables:

• One of the main focus points of this trip is to research and expose EGAAC to opportunities for artists to network ideas for future arts and cultural exchanges from all over the Nation and beyond. Potential outcomes may include establishing artist exchange, workshops and exhibition programs. We are planning to not only attend the Art Fare and profile some of our artists but engage with several arts and culture centres from all over Australia. 

• EGAAC is committed to supporting our artist’s creative journey and consider the Darwin Arts Fare to be a great experience and profiling opportunity for the two artists attending but also for all member artists EGAAC represents with various works to be showcased.

Aunty Penny Hood is a delightful lady who has never been to Darwin and has not flown before so the possibility of coming along is very exciting for her all be it a nervous excitement.

Penny was born in Orbost and now resides in Bairnsdale. Penny is the daughter of Jimmy Hood and Ivy Moore but grew up with her grandparents Amy and Julian (Dingo) Hood. She is a proud Kurnai woman.

Penny is influenced by her cultural heritage, her memories and critical events. Whimsical images of various animals and plants ,.bring a sense of calm to both artist and viewer. A prolific naive artist, it is not unusual for Penny to work throughout the night.

Her work clearly shows that animals, nature and the artists are one, without one the other does not survive and they should peacefully co-exist.  The artist works with an astonishingly natural and instinctive approach creating a slightly surreal non threatening quality. The animals in her work often represent traditional totems and seem to happily cohabit.

At other times Penny can produce confrontational political work that creates a visual statement about issues such as racism, injustice and inequality. Penny is moved by current events such as issues affecting her people and the recent fires and floods that have plagued (Gunai) Kurnai land in East Gippsland.

Her paintings and wood burnings also include cultural symbols such as shields, boomerangs, baskets and the (Gunai) Kurnai totem - the Blue Wren. Scenes from the Lake Tyers mission and from the early years, with family themes are also common.

The work of another Aboriginal artist comes to mind in the paintings of Gordon Benet, when considering the ability for content to drive style through a dynamic move from abstraction to landscape to figurative imagery often in separate works but completed one after the other or at the same time.

Cassie Harrap is an energetic emerging artist who although when painting as a child was unaware of her Aboriginality produced work showing qualities that magically resembled a link to her heritage. Following her father she confirmed her Aboriginality in adulthood and now continues a journey of cultural discovery and creative expression.

Her work includes combinations of earthy colours, rich primary colours, abstraction, animal subjects and strong compositions. Attending the Darwin Art Fare will expose and no doubt inspire Cassie and allow her to experience and learn about the national arts industry.   EGAAC will transport several works for display at the fare and will aim to support our artists in establishing international and national networks.

• The Darwin Art Fare will give EGAAC staff and Michelle Boscia from Boscia Galleries the opportunity to learn about initiatives other advanced organisations have developed and hope to gain knowledge and ideas to apply to EGAAC.

EGAAC artists will be able to experience the resulting art produced by artists and through other organisations throughout Australia focussing on artists who have established a significant profile have gone about progressing their careers.

• This trip is considered to be one of EGAAC’s significant excursion program activities. Participants will complete individually designed questionnaires or interviews during and after the Fare about their experiences and the information will be included in EGAAC’s reporting requirements.

• Again this excursion will allow EGAAC staff to research and see the results of successful program initiatives used elsewhere and apply relevant concepts to our programs going in to the future.

• Due to other arts industry commitments EGAAC artists on the cusp of becoming leading Aboriginal artists are not able to participate however Cassie Harrap and Penny hood are by no means novices with years of commitment to creative expression.

Attending the Darwin Art Fare will expose and no doubt inspire our artists allowing them to experience and learn about the national arts industry. EGAAC expects this experience to advance their knowledge, experience and approach to the arts. 

• Although EGAAC does not expect to gain substantial financial returns from one art fare we are very optimistic that this activity will significantly contribute to profiling south eastern Victorian art and culture.

This activity is one of many profiling exercises we plan to participate in over the next few years with the focus being the development of a strong south eastern arts and culture industry which will ultimately help EGAAC to meet its sales targets. 

• EGAAC intends to meet with several key industry stakeholders with the view to increasing awareness of south eastern art and culture. Gratten Mullett has agreed to play a key role in this process and we will endeavour to create opportunities in various forms looking to enhance our national profile. An example could include sourcing spaces on a national level to exhibit south eastern art and culture.

• EGAAC is currently in the process of reviewing and updating our entire, constitution and policy and procedure manual. Although this process is underway we are very interested in experiencing how other similar organisations have approached and developed similar best practise models. EGAAC will meet with other art organisations hoping to establish networks that can share best practise information.

• EGAAC is also in the initial process of developing network systems including document management and arts cataloguing and stock control. Although this process is underway we are very interested in experiencing how other similar organisations have approached and developed similar best practise models. EGAAC will meet with other art organisations hoping to establish networks that can share best practise information.

• EGAAC will compare its service programs to other organisations seeking guidance for best practise marketing and engagement to all clients.

• EGAAC will activate a Gallery Patron Membership base as of January 2010. The purchase of an annual EGAAC membership will not only contribute financially to EGAAC’s program deliverables but will entitle individuals to a 10% discount on the purchase of all EGAAC products available at the EGAAC Gallery and workshop. This includes all art on consignment, EGAAC publications and will apply to various arts workshops included in our public workshop program also commencing in 2010. Members will have member logon access to the EGAAC website and can choose to receive immediate updates on all EGAAC activities before any general advertising. Members will also receive the bi-monthly newsletter also to go to print in 2010.

The cost of an annual Gallery Patron Membership is: $50.00 single and $75.00 couple/family. Please refer to the attached Membership Form.

Although this membership will not be formally activated until January 2010 EGAAC will register the purchase of this membership now and send out the membership pack in November 2009 allowing all new members the opportunity to take advantage of the 10% discount in time for Christmas. The membership revenue will contribute to EGAAC activities for the remainder of 2009 including the Darwin Art Fare and will provide a solid platform in the financial planning of services going into 2010 and beyond.

For companies/organisations wishing to sponsor this activity please refer to the attached Project Sponsorship Form.

Hope to hear from you soon.