Arts North West, the regional arts and culture organisation, has changed its management structure, and moved premises.
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New board
The organisation adopted a new skills-based board at their annual general meeting on May 11, following a state government review two years ago.
“The best practice for not-for-profit organisations is to have a skills-based board,” executive director Caroline Downer said. “You want people who have the skills to strategically drive the organisation.”
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The new board is smaller and leaner; it has nine members, with expertise in law, finance, governance, regional development, and the arts.
The previous board had 16 members, representing local government authorities that the organisation services. They will now sit on a Strategic Advisory Council, alongside community arts organisation representatives.
“In our new structure, we also feel it’s very important to keep that partnership with local government very strong,” Ms Downer said.
Some members of the previous board continue their positions, including Glen Innes’ Anna Watt, who has been re-elected as Chair.
New home for Arts North West
Arts North West also has a new home, at 16 East Avenue, in the middle of the King George Parklands.
“We have the loveliest spot in Glen Innes, probably!” communications officer Steph McIntosh said.
Arts North West moved here last month, after nearly 17 years above the Tourist Information Centre in Church Street.
"We've had really good, generous support from the Glen Innes Severn Council, in keeping our office in Glen,” Caroline Downer said. “We're very grateful for that
Their new location is closer to the centre of town, while having its own building makes the organisation more accessible.
“We’ve moved down here for a bit more street presence,” Steph said.
“I think there’s going to be a lot more engagement with the community,” office manager Christine Davis said.
She believes it should be an open house for New England’s creatives.
“I'd like to make it someplace we could also say to artists in the region, ‘Come and have a cuppa!’ and just discuss in a very relaxed and laid-back way any opportunities there may be for them to access funding or workshops.”
New staff member Christine Davis
Christine herself is new to Arts North West; she only joined a month ago, after working as the regional Landcare facilitator.
When she left Landcare, she applied for many jobs – some of which, she said, she was disappointed at the time not to get.
“I think the universe was planning for me to get this one!” she said. “I fit really well into the organisation. I’m involved in the music industry, and Arts NW auspiced a grant I applied for before I worked for them!”
Christine organised Deepwater choir, and met her future colleagues on many occasions.
She gigs in Glen Innes and Tenterfield, and is looking for live musicians to collaborate with.
“When I first started off in the music industry, many years ago, it was with live people,” she said, “and now I use backing - I much prefer live people!"
Future projects
Arts North West has plenty of exciting projects lined up.
To coincide with the Chill N Glen festival in late July, they’ve organised an open weekend for the North West Arts Trail – a map of cultural venues, museums, galleries, and places of interest between Glen Innes and Tenterfield.
They’re also working with Aboriginal communities in the region about telling their stories through film, and running an art group in Ben Lomond for a year, to help drought-affected farmers with mental health & resilience.
"Coming together, chatting & creating art has been a really positive thing,” Caroline Downer said.
The organisation also runs professional development workshops for artists. This year, it's focused on grant-writing.
Inverell Shire will rejoin the Arts North West network on 1 July, having withdrawn in 2013.
"It's absolutely fabulous to see that they're back again,” Ms Downer said, “and there are lots of things we can do down in Inverell.”