Welcome to the Regional Arts NSW e-Bulletin for 3 June, 2002 - your specialised all-in-one package of news stories and listings including grants, prizes, opportunities, conferences, workshops, events and new resources for arts and cultural types in regional and rural New South Wales.

Please note: listings are not repeated in the e-Bulletin. There may be opportunities, grants and/or prizes still available from previous editions. Check out the archive on our website at www.regionalartsnsw.com.au (link from e-Bulletin banner on the front page).

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Regional Arts NSW News

ARTS, MUSEUMS & HERITAGE SHARED REGIONAL STRATEGIES FORUM
July 12, Sydney
Following a meeting of national and state organisations with roles in regional arts delivery held by Regional Arts Australia in Adelaide last February, Regional Arts NSW is holding a forum for New South Wales organisations to meet and discuss strategies for working together to advance common interests and opportunities in regional cultural practice and development in New South Wales. Invitees include the Museums and Galleries Foundation, CCD NSW, NSW Ministry for the Arts, NAVA, Arts Training NSW, Carnivale, ATYP and others. We'll keep you posted on the outcomes.

NEW ONLINE RESOURCES AT REGIONAL ARTS NSW
For those who've always wondered (a) exactly what a RADO is/does and (b) how a Regional Arts Board (RAB) works or (c) why the Arts Council of NSW became Regional Arts NSW (and what does the change mean?), there's a new web page in our Regional Arts Network section which might help you find the answer. The page offers links to a number of existing resources which provide insights into the history and structure of the Regional Arts NSW network and the work of Regional Arts Boards and Regional Arts Development Officers in New South Wales. Go to www.regionalartsnsw.com.au/network/all_about.html to see the list.
Also now online: reprints of select articles from ArtReach magazine online. Check them out at www.regionalartsnsw.com.au/resources/resources.html.

HOT OFF THE PRESS - TRIBUTARIES PROGRAM FOR GROUNDSWELL
The Tributaries program of forty workshops, showcases, forums and cultural tours for the 2002 Regional Arts Australia National Conference arrived at the Regional Arts NSW offices today. It's all available online at www.regionalartsnsw.com.au/groundswell but if you'd like a hardcopy, which doubles as a beautiful poster, and you're not on either the ARTREACH or GROUNDSWELL PRIORITY mailing lists, then give us a call Tel 02 9247 8577 ext 4 or drop us a line groundswell@regionalartsnsw.com.au and we'll put one in the mail for you.

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News

REGIONAL ARTS VICTORIA TO DEVELOP e-PORTAL
Regional Arts Victoria has received a grant of $46,800 to develop eRAVe, the first dedicated portal to regional arts activity in Victoria, with four initial components: Arts2Go, regional touring, local Arts Councils and regional festivals. The project aims for improved cultural outcomes for regional communities, audiences, school students, arts workers and artists. For more information watch this space or contact Regional Arts Victoria Tel 03 9644 1800 Website www.rav.net.au.

MUSEUMS & GALLERIES FOUNDATION TO EMPLOY REGIONAL SERVICES PROJECT OFFICER
The regional services project officer will join the regional services team from June to December 2002. The team provides services and undertakes projects to benefit museums and galleries largely in regional NSW, including training and the provision of advice and information on museological policy, issues and technical matters. Contact Peter Scrivener Tel 02 9339-9909 Website www.mgfnsw.org.au/whatsnew/whatsnew.php.

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Burning Questions

TELECOMMUNICATIONS UP TO SCRATCH IN THE BUSH?
The Besley inquiry into telecommunications services in 2000 found that rural and remote areas needed significant improvements in connections and repairs, mobile phone coverage and access to the Internet. One of the government's preconditions for the sale of the remaining 51% share Telstra is that standards for the bush as set out in the Besley inquiry must be met.
National Party Senate Leader Ron Boswell recently stated that he supports the full sale of Telstra and that, while the National Party recognises that Besley will have to make another report, "… I think it's getting very near where telecommunications are up to scratch and are working well in the bush."
Helen Campbell, Executive Officer of the Consumers Telecommunications Network (CTN) disagrees. CTN members tell her that although there have been improvements over the past few years there are still serious inadequacies in rural and regional telecommunications services. "Rural households are keen adopters of the internet but can experience problems with inadequate data download speeds and quality of service. And many Australian outside the eastern seaboard do not have access to adequate mobile phone coverage." What is your experience?
Contacts: Senator Ron Boswell Tel 02 6277 3244 Fax 02 6277 3246 Email senator.boswell@aph.gov.au Helen Campbell, Consumers Telecommunications Network Tel 02 9572 6007 Fax 02 9572 6014 Email hcampbell@ctn.org.au Website www.ctn.org.au.

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Fellowships + Grants

NSW MINISTRY FOR THE ARTS VISUAL ARTS AND CRAFTS PROGRAM
Grants to stimulate development of the visual arts and crafts within NSW by providing assistance to eligible organisations for visual arts and crafts projects and programs. For more information contact the Program Manager for Visual Arts and Crafts Tel 1800 358 594 Email ministry@arts.nsw.gov.au Website www.arts.nsw.gov.au/guidelines/grants/vac/vac.htm.
Closing 14 June

AUSTRALIA COUNCIL COMMUNITY CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD
Grants from the CCDB in the categories of Key Organisations and Fellowships close soon. Contact the Australia Council for the Arts for a copy of the 2002 handbook. Tel 02 9215 9123 Freecall 1800 226 912 Website www.ozco.gov.au
Closing July 1

AUSTRALIA COUNCIL ATSIA BOARD
Grants from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board in the categories of Fellowships, Key Organisations and the Red Ochre Awards close soon. Contact the Australia Council for the Arts for a copy of the 2002 handbook. Tel 02 9215 9123 Freecall 1800 226 912 Website www.ozco.gov.au
Closing July 15

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Prizes, Competitions + Awards

'REFLECTIONS, CULTURE, LAND AND US'
The tenth Anniversary Mil-Pra AECG Aboriginal Exhibition & Art Award 2002 will be held at the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre in Sydney from 5 July - 4 August. The Exhibition is an annual event to promote contemporary Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander artists, open to artists working in all media of the visual arts. There are three awards: the Bruce and Carol Kendall OAM Memorial Award, the Maria Lock Award and the Mayor's Choice Award. For more information contact Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre Tel 02 9824 1121 Email reception@casulapowerhouse.com.
Closing 17 June

HUTCHINS ART PRIZE
An annual award of $5,000 for works on paper open to all artists working in Australiasia. The winning work will be acquired by the Hutchins Foundation. First prize $5,000. Other prizes include awards in the 'Judges Selection' and the 'People's Choice' categories. The exhibition will be held between 22 October and 2 November at the Long Gallery, Salamanca Place, Hobart. For more information contact Tel 03 6221 4246 Email artprize@hutchins.tas.edu.au.
Closing 28 June

OUTSTANDING WOMEN IN NON-TRADITIONAL AREAS OF WORK & STUDY 2002 AWARDS
The National Centre for Gender & Cultural Diversity (a business initiative of Swinburne University of Technology) holds annual national awards which recognise the success of Australian women in non-traditional areas. The awards are designed to encourage excellence to women in the industry, business and post secondary educational sectors. Nominations are now sought in nine categories. Each category winner will receive $1000 plus paid travel expenses (from the nearest capital city) and accommodation in Melbourne for the Awards Ceremony on August 1.For more information contact Shirley Dickinson, National Centre for Gender & Cultural Diversity, Swinburne University of Technology, Tel 03 9214 5570 Email sdickinson@swin.edu.au Website www.swin.edu.au/corporate/ncgcd.
Closing 1 July

WESTFIELD/WAVERLEY LIBRARY AWARDS FOR LITERATURE
A new award announced on Saturday at The Sydney Writers Festival. The inaugural award of $15,000 will be presented in November for excellence in research in the creation of a literary work of merit. The award is open to fiction and non fiction writing and works must be first published in book form between 1 July 2001 and 30 June 2002. For more information contact Waverley Library Tel 02 9386 777 Email library_enquiries@waverley.nsw.gov.au.
Closing 12 July 2002

EVOLUTION FESTIVAL ART PRIZE
The Evolution Festival is a mixed-media exhibition sponsored and supported by the Wollumbin Foundation. A $10,000 prize is offered. The awards aim to promote the examination of emerging important issues by artists working across all artforms. Participation is invited from Australian and international artists. The theme for the festival is Physical vs Logical Space. For more information Tel 07 5545 4550 Email bronwyn@evolutionfestival.com Website www.evolutionfestival.com.
Closing 27 September

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Opportunities

AUDITIONS FOR COSI
A production of the acclaimed play by Louis Nowra, directed by Jeff Hanley. Performances scheduled for August 22-31 at the Butter Factory, Gateway Village, Wodonga.
Contact Elaine Kirk Tel 02 6021 7671.
Held late June

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS, MAGDALENA INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S THEATRE FESTIVAL, 2003, Brisbane
- From Debra Bennet McLean, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Arts & Cultural Development Officer, QCAN
Calling all women interested/involved in all forms of performing arts and particularly Indigenous women's expressions of culture through performance (ie formal acting, performance, poets, writing, film making, as well as more traditional forms such as storytelling ,ceremonial dance and song). We want to ensure we have a strong representation of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women. and seek support or referrals to all women should be invited. Contact Tel 07 3254 4922 Email deb@qldcan.org.au.

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Workshops, Training + Conferences

COMIC WRITING WORKSHOP
15 June, Newcastle
Richard Fletcher is a comic strip writer for weekly and daily newspapers. He is author of Torkan and Staris. He has run workshops in comic writing, drawing and design for the last five years. He also does storyboarding for film and television. This workshop will concentrate on narrative and essentials of story telling in the comic or graphic novel form. At Performing Arts Newcastle, 5 Auckland Street. 10.00 to 3.00pm Cost $44 or $33 for members of the Hunter Writers' Centre. Contact Brian Joyce, Coordinator, Tel 02 4940 0003.

LIFE STORY WRITING WITH PATTI MILLER
22-23 June, Newcastle
Patti Miller is a writer and teacher of writing with over 20 years' experience. The aim of the workshop is to give inspiration and practical experience to people who want to write the story of their life. By the end of the workshops everyone will have made a substantial start and will have ideas and information on how to continue. The workshop will consist of practical exercises on how to get started, how to access memories, how to structure the material of your life, how to bring incidents to life. At the Hunter Writers' Centre. Cost $176 or $132 members. Contact Brian Joyce, Coordinator Tel 02 4940 0003.

CCD NSW CULTURAL PLANNING COURSE
19 - 23 August, Sydney
A one-week, full time Cultural Planning Course tailored specifically for local government officers. Focussed on researching, developing, implementing and evaluating cultural plans, and how to integrate cultural plans with broader local government management planning. Participants will receive a Statement of Attainment in Cultural Planning and the course will count as equivalent to 2 of 5 units in the CCD NSW Diploma in Community Cultural Development Course to be offered online later this year. Cost: $770 (unsubsidised) $550 (subsidised) including GST. CCDNSW members receive a further discount. Contact Cate Furey, CCDNSW Tel 02 9821 2210 Email cate@ccdnsw.org.

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Resources

HOW TO PREPARE EFFECTIVE APPLICATIONS FOR GRANT FUNDING
by Rob Tonge & Graeme Lee
A comprehensive manual to assist any organisation seeking grant funding for any type of project. Provides step-by-step guidelines for each stage of the application process, and includes tips to enhance the chances of success; ways to minimise the chances of rejection and a 65-item checklist. Contact Gull Publishing Tel 07 5446 1318 Email gull@ozemail.com.au Website www.gullpublishing.com.au.

GET VIBED - NEW WEB PLATFORM FOR WRITERS, ARTISTS …
A new initiative from Vibewire Youth Services. An Australian website providing a platform for writers, artists and other culture makers which offers a space exclusively for 16 to 30 year olds to find a voice, interact and communicate with like-minded people. News, reviews, youth-based resource information.
www.vibewire.net.

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Quote

…A Character is a novel by Mario Vargas Llosa gave (what seems to me) the best image for this common predicament of ours: "Life is a shitstorm, in which art is our only umbrella."

This observation … brings us to the very meaning of the NSW Premiers' Literary Awards. Any well-ordered state must naturally provide for public education, public health, public transports, public order, the administration of justice, the collection of garbage, etc. Beyond these essential services and responsibilities, a truly civilised state also ensures that, in the pungent squalls of their daily lives, citizens are not left without umbrellas - and therefore, it encourages and supports the arts."

- Dr Pierre Ryckmans, fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities and member of the Academie Royal De Litterature Francaise (Belgium), 2002 NSW Premier's Literary Awards address,
27 May 2002.

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THANKS
This e-Bulletin is produced with the assistance of the Regional Arts Fund, a Commonwealth Government initiative supporting the arts in regional and remote Australia.
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Regional Arts NSW

Regional Arts NSW is the peak body for the arts and community cultural development in regional and rural New South Wales www.regionalartsnsw.com.au.