Proudly Presenting
Arts OutWest UK Exchange on in September
02.09.2013
This September a dozen artists and creatives from Central West NSW will set up ‘The Australian Pavilion’ at the Wirksworth Festival in Derbyshire, England. The program is one of cultural exchange and collaboration, instigated by Arts OutWest as an opportunity for regional artists to showcase their skills internationally, exchange knowledge and practice with regional artists in another country and develop cross-collaboration opportunities, and undergo professional development on the international stage.
The Australian Pavilion
The team from Arts OutWest is taking over the Derbyshire Eco Centre, putting artwork on the famous Art and Architecture Trail – which draws crowds of over 10,000 – and hosting a theatre double bill in the English tourist town. Before and during the festival artists will also be running workshops, getting hands-on and involving themselves in local art projects in Derbyshire.
The team arrives on September 1 for the festival that runs September 6-22.
The focus is on collaboration and our Australian artists will be working closely with a dozen or so UK artists on a range of projects ranging from contemporary performance to stone carving to community workshops for children in care.
More than a dozen music acts from the Central West will also feature on the Australian Pavilion Playlist of music especially compiled for the festival opening party at the Derbyshire Eco Centre.
Prepare To Exchange
The festival will provide regional artists with the unique opportunity to exhibit, conduct workshops and collaborate with artists based in the United Kingdom. Earlier in the year, a group of UK artists from Derbyshire travelled to Australia as a first stage of this cultural exchange. The Arts Education consultant for Derbyshire County Council, Kim Johnston and dancer/choreographer Debi Hedderwick visited the Central West region to meet with practitioners, see arts practice as it occurs in regional NSW and explore collaboration opportunities. Now, this final stage of the exchange will be realised.
The Australian artists are:
- performers Adam Deusien and Alison Plevey (Lingua Franca, Bathurst),
- Kim Deacon (Hill End);
- visual artists Harrie Fasher (Oberon),
- Ken Hutchinson (Cowra),
- Lanny McKenzie (Orange),
- Aboriginal artist Nyree Reynolds (Blayney);
- film maker Christine Sweeney (Bathurst),
- writer and festival creator Merrill Findlay (Forbes);
- plus Arts OutWest staff Aleshia Lonsdale and husband Tony Lonsdale (who are both Aboriginal visual artists from Mudgee), Christine McMillan (also a visual artist, from Kandos) and Arts OutWest executive officer Tracey Callinan (who has promised to pick up an accordion and share her musical skill).
Follow the Story
Follow the story throughout September via the http://pavilionproject.com blog and the www.facebook.com/artsoutwest page.
The Australian Pavilion project is presented by Arts OutWest and supported by Derbyshire County Council, the Derbyshire Eco Centre and Wirksworth Festival.