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Great state. Great opportunity.

In this issue a new-look Arts Update reflects the priorities

of the Arts for all Queenslanders strategy. Read stories

on organisations strengthening commercial and

entrepreneurial capacity; a regional council that’s working

to grow cultural tourism; and positive stories about returns

on arts and cultural investment.

Macbeth ‘Super Stars’, Jason Klarwein and Veronica Neave. Photo: Rob Maccoll. Story p.10

Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts

April 2014

Arts Queensland’s monthly update of arts and culture

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Message from theMinister for the Arts

The Minister and Michael Attenborough CBE discuss the Super Star production of Macbeth that is now on stage in Brisbane. Photo: Stephanie Do Rozario.

Welcome to the APRIL edition of Arts Update.

Last month has seen the opening of Macbeth by Queensland Theatre Company and Grin & Tonic Theatre Troupe, a Queensland exclusive production funded through the Government’s Super Star Fund. Super Star is a key election commitment of $3 million over four years to help to make Queensland an arts and cultural hub and cultivate local artists. We are proud to see such a strong start for the arts in Queensland for 2014 with a high quality production and audience experience like Macbeth.

Macbeth epitomizes what we want the Super Star Fund to achieve. Renowned director, Michael Attenborough CBE, brings his decades of experience to this production, sharing his knowledge to give our Queensland artists the opportunity to learn from an internationally-acclaimed master. In this issue are insights from Jason Klarwein, who plays the lead role in Macbeth, into what it was like to work with a ‘Super Star’ director.

Recently QPAC hosted Queensland’s first Super Star presentation when Bernard Fanning, former Powderfinger frontman/songwriter, took to the stage in a free concert alongside up-and-coming Indigenous artists as part of Clancestry, A Celebration of Country.

Behind the scenes, Fanning served as mentor to these artists for an unforgettable and intensive week of

training and skills development. The feedback from the musicians involved was overwhelmingly positive. The Queensland Government is delighted to support such professional development opportunities for young artists.

It is also gratifying to see the Super Star Fund enable a string of world-class productions and projects right here in Queensland. This should in turn, contribute to an increase in cultural tourism as we welcome more and more people to Queensland to experience what arts and cultural experiences we have on offer.

You’ll notice that this issue of Arts Update has a new look and new focus. The new Arts Update will bring you stories that reflect the priorities of the Arts for all Queenslanders strategy including case studies and articles looking at investment, development and partnerships. It will also highlight best practice stories from arts organisations, artists and performers that all within the industry can learn from.

The Honourable Ian Walker MPMinister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts

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Queenslanders are at the heart of the Arts for all Queenslanders strategy. Their diverse stories about arts, culture, community, business, research, success and challenges illustrate how to strengthen the arts sector and how to nurture a strong community of arts across the state. Arts Queensland’s Arts for all Queenslanders blog includes posts and comments from arts and cultural practitioners and managers, educators, researchers, arts partners and arts supporters to grow a storehouse of knowledge and information about arts and culture in Queensland.

Each Arts Update will include links to some of the blog’s most popular recent posts. Full posts can be viewed at the blog at: http://www.arts.qld.gov.au/blog/ for new insights into what Queenslanders are thinking about and practicing in arts and culture. Here are excerpts from the most popular posts in recent weeks:

Community building and cultural tourism in MackayVisual artist Margaret Burgess who established Paxton’s Upstairs Gallery in Mackay and Stephen Schwer of Mackay Regional Tourism discuss the importance of growing local cultural vibrancy

to support arts communities and cultural tourism. http://bit.ly/1l2r0so http://bit.ly/NcGv4O

Touring that strengthens local arts communitiesChloe Goodyear, Head of Programming for the Woodford Folk Festival and Producer of the Festival of Small Halls, describes the value of responding to existing local infrastructure and animating it with great community engagement. http://bit.ly/1du0DvV

Demand-driven artsStephen Clark, Flying Arts CEO, starts the conversation about what demand means in the arts. http://bit.ly/1dLNlFA

The role of a mentorSinger songwriter Robbie Miller describes the value of being mentored by someone who cares deeply about the audience. http://bit.ly/1mtO7iH

Clancestry Pathways concert. Photo: Mick Richards

Blog bringsinsight and experience

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The number five is upping its game on Sesame Street, with a flash new film created by a Queensland company and supported with Arts Queensland funding.

Brisbane-based production company Carbon Media received $10,000 in Arts Queensland support, with an additional $10,000 from Screen Queensland, to create a video featuring Indigenous Australian content for the popular international television show.

Five Kangaroos, which stars Jessica Mauboy and five Aboriginal children dancing with five animated kangaroos, made its debut on Sesame Street in the US in January and in Australia in March.

Backing Indigenous Arts jumps to success in new Sesame Street video

Set in the Australian outback, Jess, the kids and five kangaroos are hopping their way into children’s television history – sharing the vibrancy of Aboriginal art and culture with kids and their families all around the world.

Wayne Denning, founder of Carbon Media and Executive Producer of Five Kangaroos, is proud to be promoting Indigenous children on the world’s longest running and most successful children’s television program.

“When I first established Carbon Media, I wanted to portray Indigenous Australians on television, who aren’t normally represented, in a really positive way. Five Kangaroos is an amazing opportunity for Indigenous children

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Jessica Mauboy with cast of Five Kangaroos. Image courtesy Carbon Media

Backing Indigenous Arts jumps to success in new Sesame Street video

to see themselves on television and feel pride and inclusion,” Wayne says.

“We’re thrilled to be the first Australian company to showcase Australia on Sesame Street and to have the stunning Jessica Mauboy on board was incredible.”

Wayne says the success of Five Kangaroos had led to a commission for three more films for Sesame Street season 45, which will all be created and produced in Queensland.

“This time around we will see the number three in action, as well as visit some turtles and take a dive on a shipwreck,” Wayne says.

“Without the support of Arts Queensland and Screen

Queensland the opportunity to take our creativity to the world and to open new market opportunities, would not have been possible.”

Five Kangaroos is a positive outcome for Backing Indigenous Arts, a Queensland Government initiative to build a sustainable and ethical Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts industry.

Watch the Five Kangaroos video at: www.carbon-media.com.au/sesamestreet

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In their seventh year of running the successful Studios and Cultural Trails program, the Scenic Rim Regional Council has again proved they’re leaders in local cultural tourism.

The 2014 program was launched recently at Scenic Rim’s Arts Dinner which was attended by over 150 artists and community members.

At the dinner, Mayor John Brent told the audience, “A strong arts and cultural community is integral to the growth and prosperity of a region as it creates a sense of place, and a greater quality of liveability.

“While the Arts isn’t my area of skill and knowledge, I do believe that it is often regarded as a reflection

on the creative pioneering spirit which is evident throughout the Scenic Rim. While some of it is about recognising where we’ve come from, I also believe the region’s pioneering spirit gives real horsepower to, and generates energy for, the Studios and Cultural Trails of the Scenic Rim program,” he said.

The program started as an idea by Tamborine Mountain artisans and has now evolved into a thriving cultural tourism initiative and has strengthened the local creative industry.

Scenic Rim was amongst the first to recognise the potential of cultural tourism, and there’s no doubt the Studios and Cultural Trails

Scenic Rim launches

culturaltrails

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program will continue with its success in bringing social, cultural and economic returns to the local community.

Strengthening cultural tourism is a key priority in the Arts for all Queenslanders strategy and Arts Queensland will be working closely with regional tourism organisations, as well as the arts and cultural sector to unleash its potential in order to make our state the best place in Australia to live, work and play.

Guests at the launch also heard from panellists including Dreamworld CEO Craig Davidson, who spoke about their partnership with local Yugambeh Indigenous people in developing

the Dreamworld Corroboree experience; and Leisure Tourism and Major Events Director, Brisbane Marketing, Anne-Maree Moon, who talked about the importance of mixed experiences, and a sense of place for local cultural offerings.

The 2014 Studios and Cultural Trails of the Scenic Rim program features activities throughout the region including festivals, events, heritage walks and trails, galleries, and museums. This year studios across the Scenic Rim will open in May. For more information visit www.liveatthecentre.com.au.

Cr John Brent, Mayor Scenic Rim. Image courtesy of Scenic Rim Regional Council.

Arts Queensland is embarking on a series of connector events to bring together local artists and arts organisations with business, tourism bodies and government agencies to identify opportunities and collaborations especially for cultural tourism. For more information on these events contact Kathy Treichel, Manager – Partnerships in Arts Queensland, Kathy.treichel@arts.qld.gov.au or 07 3034 4013.

Strengthen cultural tourism

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Townsville’s Umbrella Studio, one of the state’s most vibrant and active visual arts organisations, is the host organisation behind a print-making project that aims to strengthen the commercial and entrepreneurial capacity of artists.

Umbrella Director Vicki Salisbury says Umbrella is working with PressNorth, Murris in Ink, and Gallery Services Townsville to establish North Queensland as a notable print-making region.

“Through partnering with multiple organisations and presenting exhibitions locally, nationally and internationally, Umbrella is boosting North Queensland’s reputation for quality print-making and assisting with the professional

development of print-making artists,” Vicki says.

“We want to generate income for artists, increase participation and create a sustainable foundation for the future of printmaking.”

The partnership with North Queensland printmakers’ collective PressNorth will bring four renowned artists – G.W. Bot, Peter Lankester, Judy Watson and Trent Walters – to Umbrella as artists in residence to run print workshops.

Umbrella aims to expose Townsville printmakers to new audiences with travelling exhibitions and print exchanges such as the relationship between PressNorth Printmakers and the Firestation Print Studio which will

Townsville’s Umbrella Studio

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see an exhibition in Victoria and Umbrella in August.

Vicki says an exhibition called Wanderlust will travel to the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts in Brisbane in October while another exchange between PressNorth printmakers and the Manhattan Graphics Centre in New York is scheduled for June 2015.

Umbrella’s Murris in Ink program, which attracts renowned Queensland printmakers, has stamped its mark on the Indigenous arts scene with mentors including Arone Meeks and Alick Tipoti working with Townsville-based printmakers Gail Mabo, Aicey Zaro and James Billy.

“This year Gail Mabo will exhibit new works on paper at the Australian High Commission in Singapore as their featured artist in celebration of NAIDOC,” Vicki says.

A new partnership between Gallery Services, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery and Umbrella will support printmaking from nearly 100 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island art students in year 12.

Students will work with Murris in Ink founding member Gail Mabo and PressNorth President Jo Lankester to produce linocut prints with the best work to be exhibited

at the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (24–27 July).

The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) remains a high-point for Umbrella, with Murris in Ink attending every CIAF since 2008.

“The work of Murris in Ink is always a hit at the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, with their distinctive prints selling well each year,” Vicki says.

The Queensland Government supports Umbrella Studio through the Organisations Fund which provides funding of $406,500 from the Queensland State Government’s Organisations Fund for 2014–2016.

Through these activities and workshops, Umbrella Studio is growing the public value of arts and culture and supporting the Queensland Government’s Arts for all Queenslanders commitment to deliver more great arts and culture for more Queenslanders.

Above: Gail Mabo grinding lithography stone, photo courtesy Umbrella Studio.

Below: Jo Lankester and youth workshop, photo courtesy Umbrella Studio.

Townsville’s Umbrella Studio

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Best practice a case study in doing social media well

The Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) uses various digital platforms to develop and engage with online audiences. These include the Gallery’s website, mSite, blog, live webcasts and video via QAGOMA TV and YouTube; plus a range of social media assets – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr and Foursquare. An important part of our content strategy is ensuring we don’t duplicate content across platforms; the old idea ‘create once, publish multiples’ doesn’t work. Another key element is to focus on images and video to

Anyone who follows the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) on any or all of their social media platforms, will know they ‘do’ social media very well. Whether it’s Twitter, Instagram, Flicker or Facebook, QAGOMA has it covered. The Gallery is a case study in how to use social media for marketing and promotional purposes. They successfully use a variety of social media to drive tickets sales and attendance, engage with their stakeholders and communicate events and activities. Here, QAGOMA shares some tips, insights and stories on how they best use social media.

increase engagement. Tweets or Facebook posts with a picture attached are more likely to be read. Images increase engagement.

Our current exhibition ‘Falling Back to Earth’, at GOMA until 11 May, presents major new works by global artist Cai Guo-Qiang. Cai understands the power of social media as a tool in generating word-of-mouth. He agreed to allow photography by the public within the exhibition space. For this exhibition, we’ve noticed audiences love posting selfies with the exhibition in the background. This could suggest a higher level

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of engagement with the exhibition by these visitors than posts that are of the artwork only. The digital strategy for ‘Falling Back to Earth’ has been extensive, including a variety of tactics from video seeding on YouTube to targeted advertising on Facebook to key search engine marketing on Google.

Another very important element is listening and responding to our social media audience. It’s been reported that 42% of customers who reach out to brands via social media expect a response in less than 60 minutes. A number of people have expressed an interest in how Eucalyptus – the 30m tree in the centre of the ‘Falling Back to Earth’ exhibition – actually got into the Gallery. We’ve created a video to tell this story, and you can be one of the first to see it here.

Finally, for those of you desperate to see ‘Falling Back to Earth’, but

struggling to find time in your busy schedule, we recommend coming along to Cai After Hours: Wednesday Night Viewings on 16, 23, 30 April and 7 May. The exhibition will be open from 5.30–7.30pm for exclusive access to ‘Falling Back to Earth’ including a guided tour at 6.30pm. Use the Instagram tag #GOMAselfie when you visit after hours to go into the draw to win a stunning ‘Falling Back to Earth’ prize pack.

Installation view of Eucalyptus 2013 commissioned for ‘Falling Back to Earth’. Image courtesy of Queensland Art Gallery, Gallery of Modern Art.

Grow public value of arts and culture

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Q&A with Jason Klarwein

Actor Jason Klarwein takes on one of the most iconic theatre roles of all-time, Macbeth under the directorship of the internationally-acclaimed director, Michael Attenborough. The production, a collaboration between Queensland Theatre Company and Grin & Tonic Theatre Troupe (of which Klarwein is Artistic Director), was made possible through the Queensland Government’s Super Star Fund. Here we gain some insight into the highlights and challenges of working on such a large scale production.

Q. You're a producer, director, actor and the Artistic Director of Queensland's iconic Grin & Tonic Theatre Troupe. Which role do you find the most challenging and rewarding?

They each have their own pros and cons. Acting is incredibly draining and all-consuming but the awareness, openness and clarity you can achieve as a human being is one of the greatest gifts of self-improvement. Directing is even more nerve wracking than acting because ultimately you hand over the production to the actors and it’s about the letting go of control. This is a hard process. Sitting in a theatre on opening night watching something you have directed would have to be one of the most awful tortures you can put yourself through psychologically. However there is nothing like seeing an

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daunting. I believe in myself, the cast, the crew and Attenborough. This is a world-class show. We could put it on next week in London and people would flock to it.

Q. What can audiences expect from this production of Macbeth?

The best in Queensland and Australian Theatre. This is the unification of two of the founding companies in this state—The Grin and Tonic Theatre Troupe and the Queensland Theatre Company. It brings together the best artists we have and one of the world’s best directors.

Q. What are the benefits of working with Michael Attenborough?

Michael brings with him a huge amount of knowledge for actors and approaches to Shakespeare.

Q. Can you see that there will be any ongoing benefits from this project for the Queensland arts industry?

Yes. Every time I direct from now on I will think of this process. The Grin

and Tonic Theatre Troupe will benefit endlessly from Michael’s advice and techniques. The Troupe is 40 years old this year, working with someone like Michael ensures and inspires the next 40.

Above left: Jason Klarwein as Macbeth. Photo: Rob Maccoll.

Above: Jason Klarwein and Veronica Neave. Photo: Rob Maccoll.

audience laugh or cry or sigh or shriek at something you have managed to create with actors. Producing is a lot of patience and belief. I find it the driest of all these forms. It can be very boring and a lot of the time you meet organisations that are not really interested in the project you are pushing. I find it frustrating.

Q. You're in the unique position of working on a collaborative production with QTC on Macbeth, with Michael Attenborough as Director, what has been the highlight of working on this project?

The highlight of this production, which there are many, is the joy that Queensland audiences will have when they walk out of the theatre knowing that they have seen an exceptional piece of theatre. Another is the fact that the 15 actors and crew and creatives have been pushed to another level of their craft. That does not go away, it will stay with them and influence all that they do from this time.

Q. Is this the first time you've played Macbeth? Is it a daunting thing to take on such an iconic theatre character?

This is the first time I have played the full role. I am very familiar with

the play though. I have actually found playing Macbeth not to be daunting, its a lot of work, but not

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RESOURCES UPDATE The benefits of philanthropy to the artsRaising funds through philanthropy and donations is becoming

increasingly important for artists and arts organisations seeking to

become more sustainable by diversifying income sources. If your

organisation has Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status (acquired through

registration on the Register of Cultural Organisations) then accessing this

type of funding is usually unrestricted. If you don’t have DGR status then

there are other alternatives:

• PartnerorcollaboratewithanorganisationthatdoeshaveDGRstatus.

• Checkthewebsiteofphilanthropicfunds.Dependingonthewaythe

fund has been established there may be scope for artists and arts

organisations without DGR to apply.

• TheFoundationforRural&RegionalRenewal–http://www.frrr.org.

au/ has a facility for donations to be made which can be directed to

specific projects.

• CreativePartnershipsAustralia’sAustralianCulturalFundalsoallows

individual artists and organisations without DGR to register their

project. Donors can then donate money to a nominated project and

receive a tax deduction. https://www.creativepartnershipsaustralia.

org.au/how-we-can-help/australia-cultural-fund/

Arts Queensland – Individuals Fund The Individuals Fund is open with the first round closing 28 April 2014

for individual artists and cultural workers (emerging and established)

to participate in transformational professional and career development.

Funding of up to $10,000 is available. Applicants should consider

feedback from assessors for the two previous rounds http://www.arts.qld.

gov.au/funding/funds-outcomes.html before submitting an application.

For further details, guidelines and application forms go to

http://www.arts.qld.gov.au/funding/acif/more-individuals-fund.html

Australia Council grants http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/grants

Grant programs closing in April include:

• MarketDevelopment–ArtFare;Internationalmarkets(Music

Managers); International showcase (Music Makers); Asia in Australia:

Festivals Australia: Regional Festivals Project Fund

• VisualArts–CreativeAustralia–newwork;NewWork–earlycareer,

mid-career, established

Gordon Darling FoundationThe Foundation provides funding for a range of Visual Arts projects

Australia-wide. The closing dates for applications are 31 May and 30

September. Guidelines and further information are available at

http://www.gordondarlingfoundation.org.au/index.php

Creating AustraliaCreating Australia is a newly established independent not-for-profit

company providing advocacy, support and leadership for the community

arts and cultural development (CACD) sector. For further information go to

http://creatingaustralia.org.au/

RESOURCES AND FUNDING UPDATE

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ARTICLES & REPORTS• What got lost between ‘cultural’ and ‘creative’ industries Justin

O’Connor The Conversation https://theconversation.com/what-got-

lost-between-cultural-and-creative-industries-23658

• The cultural map is being redrawn – but does it go far enough? Beatrice

Pembroke Arts Professional http://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/

magazine/271/article/cultural-map-being-redrawn-does-it-go-far-

enough?utm_source=Weekly-Good-Reads&utm_medium=email&utm_

content=The-cultural-map-is-being-redrawn-%E2%80%93-but-does-it-

go-far-enough%3F&utm_campaign=6th-March-2014

• Bad news for books? The survival of libraries lies in positive promotion

Andy Ryan The Guardian UK http://www.theguardian.com/culture-

professionals-network/culture-professionals-blog/2014/mar/17/bad-

news-books-survival-libraries?CMP=new_1194

NEWSANZAC centenary fundraising appeal launched | The Queensland

community is being given the chance to share in Centenary of Anzac

commemoration activities with a statewide fundraising appeal being

launched. http://bit.ly/QecyDO

Awards for Queensland’s top theatre in 2013 | Artistic excellence and

outstanding achievements in Queensland’s theatre industry have been

recognised at the 2013 Matilda Awards. http://bit.ly/1mtY8wi

QAGOMA welcomes 10 million visitors since 2006 | Arts Minister Ian

Walker has announced a major milestone for the Queensland Art Gallery

| Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) with more than 10 million visits to the

South Bank site since the opening of GOMA in December 2006.

http://bit.ly/1m5eIj1

American ballet stars inspiring visit | Queensland has welcomed some

of the world’s best ballet dancers, with the stars of the American Ballet

Theatre visiting the Queensland Performing Arts Centre ahead of their

exclusive season of Swan Lake in Brisbane later this year. http://bit.ly/1mtYdjy

RESOURCES AND FUNDING UPDATE

Got a great arts story? We want to hear from you. Please contact Arts Update by emailing kendall.battley@arts.qld.gov.au

About us: Arts Queensland is part of the Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts.

For more information on Arts Queensland go to www.arts.qld.gov.au or call 1800175531

For more information on Queensland Government go to www.qld.gov.au