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Life on the Fringe

A reprint of an article by Jennifer Hunt, RADO for the South East Region, from the second edition of the new, independent quarterly review / comment journal, Voice. Picture: The Olympia Cinema, Bombala

WE ALL KNOW THAT LIFE IS TOUGHER IN THE REGIONS DON'T WE?
Petrol is dearer, jobs are fewer, youth suicide rate is higher, services are less, incomes are lower, economic restructuring is hurting, populations are decreasing and rural communities are in decline - according to the prevailing coverage. While there's no shortage of statistics to back up this profile, it's not the entire story by any means.

So, let's add some other stories of what goes on beyond the urban sprawl; interesting stories, I believe, about contemporary cultural practice for regional communities.

Now A River Went Out Of Eden is not only a quote from Genesis but also the title for a photographic project by established artist Ruth Maddison, recent winner of the Josephine Ulrick Photomedia Prize and represented in most major public collections in Australia. Originally from Melbourne, Ruth moved 6 years ago to Eden (pop. 4000), an economically challenged community traditionally dependent on fishing and timber industries with limited options for young people.

With support from the Australia Council, NSW Ministry for the Arts and the Myer Foundation. Now A River Went Out Of Eden will consist of a series of photographic portraits of Eden youth and some of their parents with accompanying text that responds to the question of where do they see their future? The resulting exhibition will open at the Bega Regional Gallery before touring to Stills Gallery in Sydney and other regional centres.

According to Ruth the impetus for this work was her gradual realisation that what she as a newcomer had perceived as a prevailing inertia and absence of ambition has a positive face as well, of connection to and love for a place inhabited since birth. There is an active desire to stay. The issue is a complex one, in ways that she only begins to understand as she lives longer in the community. Given the young people who stay in towns like Eden are often viewed negatively, this work clearly has the capacity to challenge those perceptions, not least for the subjects.

Moving north in the valley, we reach the "working village" of Cobargo (pop 1,000). Here a community topiary project will soon provide the opportunity for locals, young and old, to work with resident artist, Jude Walker, on the design, fabrication and installation of a series of sculptural forms over which native plants will be trained. The point of this exercise is threefold: one, the work itself will enhance the town's identity and develop the growing local interest in public art; two, the location of the works from the town park to the creek area will highlight the community's re-vegetation work; three, the tourists and visitors have a good reason to stay a little longer. Although modest in scale and budget, projects like these have the capacity to make a difference.

Just up the road at the Umbarra Cultural Centre at Wallaga Lake there is another public art project in progress initiated by Bermagui Parks & Foreshore Committee. A team of indigenous and non-indigenous artists have produced a series of wood carved panels that outline the local history and environment from a variety of perspectives. It is hoped that, eventually, the panels will be installed on a viewing platform to be located at Murunna Point, a significant site that has been the subject of community division, however there are legitimate concerns regarding the risk of defacement. I'd like to think this project has the potential to help resolve some of the conflict but even a committed arts advocate like myself recognises it's a pretty big ask. While the project encountered the challenges of cross-cultural collaboration, it has certainly provided meaningful training and motivation for one young local Koori artist and created an impressive body of work that will be exhibited at Umbarra for the interim. Maybe, one day, we'll see it on the point.

Up the hill is Bombala another small community that really is doing it tough with the major industry in the hands of administrator. It is here that a tireless group of volunteers have, for the past three years, been managing a cinema hosting regular screenings and theatre productions as well as catering to buses of backpackers. They are now planning the community purchase and restoration of a heritage building to expand their program, utilise digital media, create a new tourist destination for the town and generate some much needed employment. Fingers crossed that they can raise enough money to buy the building, an undertaking not favoured by funding programs. Venture capital is relatively unheard of for a town like this yet there is a limit to what can be achieved with volunteer capital.

The final project is an intriguing one by the Bega Pioneer Museum, entitled Secret Men's Business, which will see the development of an exhibition of material artefacts from predominantly fraternal community societies and organisations including Manchester Unity, Independent Order of Oddfellows, Masonic Lodge and the Australian Natives Association. The artefacts include regalia, gold bullion embroidery and applique on articles such as aprons, sashes, cuffs and collars to be presented in a gallery environment. Who knows what the exhibition may mean but I can't wait to see it.

These five projects provide a snapshot of the diverse cultural activity occurring in the South East and hopefully give some indication of the potential social and economic benefits. Indeed activity is burgeoning across NSW and more than 500 participants are expected at Groundswell, a national regional arts conference in Albury Wodonga later this year.

It's not all good news (let's not talk about public liability or infrastructure shortfalls) and it's not all great art (whatever that means) and it's not for everyone but there are many artists and creative communities who add interest to life on the fringe. I consider it a privilege to work with them.

Jennifer Hunt
Jennifer Hunt is the Executive Officer of the South East Arts Region (SEAR) providing a regional arts development program for the five Shires of Bega Valley, Bombala, Cooma Monaro, Eurobodalla and Snowy River. Over the last 13 years she has worked for the Arts Council of NSW, Albury Wodonga Regional Arts Board, HotHouse Theatre, Albury Regional Gallery, Charles Sturt University and as a cultural planning consultant to local government. Jennifer was a Board member and Chairperson of the Flying Fruit Fly Circus over a six year period but still hasn't learnt how to juggle.