Several interesting items came to our attention this week. Here’s a run-down.
ARTS AND CULTURAL MINISTERS MEETING, ALICE SPRINGS
This seemed to slip under the radar somehow this week, and in our opinion deserved more fanfare so we’ve given it first billing here. It was a big meeting with all the state and territory ministers attending, along with Tony Grybowski, OzCo; Damien Ryan, board member for the Australian Local Government Association; and even Katherine Baxter, from New Zealand’s Ministry for Culture and Heritage!
The meeting seemed to be a productive one and several important decisions were made.
Of particular note was the launch of the Australian Best Practice Guide to Collecting Cultural Material which we have featured as one of our resources this week. Take a look – it’s got everything you need to know about due diligence and the ethical considerations in collecting material. The meeting also endorsed the recommendations and priority action areas for the National Arts and Disability Strategy Evaluation 2009-12 and agreed to an updated policy framework for the Visual Arts and Crafts to be implemented from 2015/16. Definitely worth watching this space.
REGIONAL ARTS AUSTRALIA SUMMIT
Art and Edges begins this week in Kalgoorlie and on Thursday we’re putting Michael Rolfe on a plane and sending him west ☺ This will be the first time M&G has attended the biennial Regional Arts Australia Summit and we’re going along for a couple of reasons. Firstly, we want to strengthen museum and gallery sector working relationships with both the Regional Arts Development Officers and Regional Indigenous Arts Development Officers (in the field they’re known as ‘RADO’s’ and RICDO’s). They are great at building relationships that are often the lynchpin in sustaining important and successful local partnerships. In NSW they do fantastic work at the grass roots and we think our galleries and museums can assist them to further develop audiences, support artists and lobby for funds.
Our second reason for attending the summit is that come 2016, Regional Arts NSW will be hosting the summit in Dubbo and are aiming for record attendances and a diverse program; its such a great opportunity to network and showcase NSW, we want to be in on the action and think we could lend a hand.
The Arts and Edges program is a moveable feast – using the website each delegate is able to devise their own program, each step of the way choosing the talks, panels, workshops and performing arts events they want to attend. One of the events we’re looking forward to is On the edge of something big, a panel debate hosted by ABC Radio National.
We’ve set Michael’s alarm early that day as he’s going to have to be up at the crack of dawn – the event is being broadcast live at 7.30 in the morning to accommodate the east coast audience.
The panel is a strong one; Hon Senator Brandis is there as Federal Arts Minister; Lindy Hume from Opera Queensland represents a flagship cultural organisation; Brian Ritchie who’s in charge of MONA’s Festival of Music and Art is bound to have something interesting to say; and the multi-talented Geneviève Grieves – curator, artist, academic and Indigenous story teller completes the line-up.
So join in and listen to the debate on Radio National. We’ll be tweeting and asking a few questions of our own, so be ready for it! Books and Arts Daily will be broadcasting the forum on Monday 20 October from 10-11am.
INTEREST FREE LOANS FOR ARTWORK PURCHASE
This City of Sydney initiative is based on a program that has successfully operated in around the world for many years and they want your views on the scheme. It’s done the rounds via social media over the last week or so but we thought it was worth further discussion.
The scheme is designed to help artists develop sustainable businesses and support commercial galleries through a loan scheme which allows you to take the art home the same day as you sign up to buy it. Instant gratification – perfect for when you fall in love with something on a gallery wall!
FAREWELL OBJECT
Last but not least it’s time to say goodbye to Object: Australian Design Centre as they vacate their iconic gallery space at St Margaret’s. M&G caught the last days of the Lola Greeno exhibition which has now moved to Hawkesbury Regional Gallery where it will be on display until December. We were blown away by the high-quality exhibition design, the curatorial strength of the show and Greeno’s exquisite shell jewellery.
Object has been somewhat a voice in the wilderness for design in NSW – they have long championed modern craft and design; introducing human-centred design ideas into the cultural sphere: consistently developing innovative touring exhibitions (think Menagerie, CUSP and Living Treasures): fostering many Indigenous artists and makers: and lobbying tirelessly for design-thinking curriculums in schools.
They are currently bumping in their last show for the Bourke Street gallery – called WOOD: art design architecture and it opens 18 October.
Object is off to new premises in William Street where we know they’ll continue to impress.
ARCHIVES OUTSIDE BLOG
Temora Museum has featured on the State Records’ Archives Outside blog for the second time this week with a post about their archival collection and the cataloguing systems. According to the blog the main reason for creating the archive was to prevent the loss of original paper-based historical records and make them available for research. There’s a brief description of the cataloguing system chosen and how it works. If you are thinking about cataloguing it in an easy-to-use manner have a look at Temora’s example.
