Creative Communities Overview

Creative Communities provides a holistic platform upon which to develop, implement and monitor a series of programs targeting the development of arts and cultural activity with individuals, groups, organisations and sub-cultures within and outside of the gallery environment, and as distinguished from Creative Classrooms which caters specifically to education institutions.

It is the aim of the Creative Communities program to undertake the activation of collaborative partnerships through identified opportunities that support, promote and enhance the cultural capacity, creative economy, cultural experience and engagement opportunities for artists, artsworkers, organisations, individuals and visitors of the Townsville region.

While the budget will only begin to reflect and enable the delivery of programs to achieve the Visual Arts Strategy from 2013/14, Gallery Services began to make inroads in the period 2012/13 towards providing programs that achieve the outcomes set-out within Creative Communities

A breakdown of such programs is provided overleaf, but perhaps one of the year’s most successful Creative Communities programs was the artist talk and workshops provided by internationally recognised street artist HA-HA.

Made possible through funding secured through the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF), the program saw HA-HA deliver a free artist talk on Friday 22 March. The talk was extremely well received, with over 80 attendees, many of whom were younger members of the community that are not regular visitors to the Gallery.

The following Saturday and Sunday, an intensive two day stencil art workshop was facilitated by HA-HA and provided free of charge to young Townsville artists (aged 18-28) at Pinnacles Gallery. The workshop was advertised through the gallery’s various channels, and through Headspace, JCU, TAFE and other cultural and key demographic organisations such as Umbrella, Cre8ive Sk8 and The Sweatshop, and workshop spaces were filled within the first week of the information being disseminated, evidence of the high levels of interest in this field within Townsville. This wide dissemination of information also translated to the participants hailing from many and varied backgrounds, and possessing varied levels of skills and experience.

As anticipated, through the workshops HA-HA was able to impart his knowledge on young workshop participants, resulting in a direct skill/ professional development outcome for young emerging artists. The workshop taught new skills to a number of artists to employ in their art practice, while for more experienced practitioners direct contact and conversation with HA-HA enabled them to take steps toward becoming a more established artist. One-on-one access to an established artist such as HA-HA enabled the young artists to enquire about topics such as gallery representation, marketing of their work, and how to secure group and solo exhibition opportunities.

Resultant works by participants, as well as a completed canvas and two works on paper by HA-HA – which he has kindly donated to the City of Townsville Art Collection for the enduring benefit of the Townsville community – also formed this reporting period’s Youth and Emerging Artist Exhibition titled The Laugh Factory, which was displayed at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery from 31 May – 16 June 2013. Also included in the exhibition was a 1min 59 second film of the workshop process by young local artist and workshop participant Louis Dunn, to provide exhibition visitors with greater insight into the project.

Creative Communities: major areas of activity

The following is a breakdown of the various programs that fall within the overarching Creative Communities program.

Townsville Artist Markets

The Townsville Artist Markets have continued to develop in 2012/13. Hosted by Gallery Services at the Riverway Arts Centre (both internally and externally dependent on the season) on a bi-monthly basis, the Markets have provided significant opportunities for local arts and craft practitioners, at little to no cost, to both promote and sell their product in one of Townsville’s most picturesque recreational precincts.

In this, the Townsville Artist Markets has significantly contributed to the development of the region’s creative economy, and the continuing development of local product. In total, 278 market stalls were presented in 2012/13, with a breakdown of numbers per Market event provided below:

• September 1 2012: 46 market stalls

• October 20 2012: 43 market stalls

• December 16 2012: 61 market stalls

• February 23 2013: 51 market stalls

• April 20 2013: 47 market stalls

• June 29 2013: 30 market stalls

The Townsville Artist Markets are intended to be a holistic entertainment event for families, and as such the event has also provided employment and busking opportunities for local musicians and roaming performers.

The following talented individuals, groups and bands were employed or engaged to perform at the Townsville Artist Markets in 2012/13:

• 4th Sunday Folk Music

• Townsville Concert Band

• Luke Thomas

• Stephen Brady

• Harbourside Duo

• Sinead Rush

• Anu Grace

• Richard Duffy

• Carols Choir

• La Luna Youth Arts – roaming circus performers

• Movimiento – showcasing international dances

• Rebecca Harrison

In delivering a multi-faceted event that utilises a much loved and easily recognised platform–the market–Gallery Services has increased visitation across a broader audience who engage with fine arts and crafts being produced within the region.