The south east region’s arts and culture were featured at a showcase event in Canberra recently. On Tuesday, December 3 at the Street Theatre Canberra, Chair of South East Arts, Ms Lindy Hume (also the Artistic Director of Opera Queensland and Former Chair of Regional Arts NSW) discussed the imperative need to pursue excellence in regional arts in the South East.
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“The concept of excellence is seen often as somehow threatening, or unrealistic in regional arts,” Ms Hume said.
“I strongly believe that regional artists should, and could, be claiming a larger slice of the funding pie, claiming more kudos and inspiring bigger audiences for our work.”
Ms Hume goes on to add; “But until we assert our strengths and seize a more central place in the national cultural narrative, we will continue to play the poor cousin.”
As part of the showcase event there were performances by Candelo-based singer/songwriter Heath Cullen and fLING Physical Theatre. Sheena Boughen, Chair of Four Winds, presented the 2014 Festival program and showcased their new Pavilion performance space that will open next year.
South East Arts is the regional development organisation for arts and culture in the Bega Valley, Bombala, Cooma-Monaro, Eurobodalla and Snowy River Shires. For over 12 years South East Arts has been the lynchpin supporting arts and culture in the South East - developing strategic partnerships, creating industry development opportunities and is now moving into a new phase to present signature projects of national significance.
At South East Arts’ Canberra showcase event ‘Connect Create Celebrate’ Ms Hume was delighted to announce the organisation’s Signature Projects for 2014, which include:
* Snowy People, a musical documentary theatre collaboration with internationally recognised theatre company Big hART, Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen, Canberra Theatre Centre and Cooma-Monaro Shire Council
* Sculpture in the Mountains, a major sculpture installation being developed in the Snowy Mountains from 2014-2016 with an internationally recognised artist
* Various performing arts touring events including Erth’s Dinosaur Petting Zoo
* Museum Advisors Program in partnership with Museums and Galleries NSW
* Interstate Tour of significant Aboriginal Social History Project ‘Price’s Café’.
Aboriginal arts and cultural development is a key focus for South East Arts – the organization has recently established a new arts development position with support from the Federal Government and are forging new partnerships for 2014 and beyond with Aboriginal Culture Centre Monaroo Bobberrer Gudu (Eden), Local Aboriginal Land Councils and the Bundian Way project. ‘Price’s Cafe’, which will be touring in 2014, is an interactive living museum experience which tells the story of an iconic south coast café in the 50s and 60s and the role it played supporting the local Indigenous population and in the wider reconciliation movement in Australia.
If you would like more information about supporting South East Arts, please contact general manager Andrew Gray mobile 0429 909 447 or email agray@southeastarts.org.au
