Regional Arts Fund: FUTURE TIDES

10 December 2025

FUTURE TIDES was a community workshop and performance program that brought together six highly experienced professional mid-career regional dance and music artists with a regional mentor, to create an exciting hub of exchange, practice and creativity. It was led by dance artist and choreographer, Kristina Chan in Taree NSW.

Through workshops, classes and talks, participants were taken on a deep dive into cultivating a creative practice together. These workshops culminated in public performances at the Manning Entertainment Centre (MEC) in Taree in July 2025.

The program engaged 17 local community members with little or no dance and performance experience and reached over 120 new audience members through 2 public performances and Q&A sessions.

The participants provided overwhelmingly positive feedback, saying:

“The richness of the journey continues to nourish my soul and has inspired me to make some positive changes in my life.”

“Being part of a multigenerational group provided such a richness with much wisdom being shared and has helped me embrace more about my ageing body.”

“It gives us a glimpse of what is possible within our small community. It reminds us how important creativity is as a tool for change and connection.”

After the devastating June 2025 floods in Taree, FUTURE TIDES offered a much-needed opportunity for healing through creativity, play, and social interaction. It supported both emerging and established regional artists and provided essential opportunities for professional development and sustainable creative practice in regional NSW.

FUTURE TIDES strengthened connections, encouraged cultural exchange, building capacity within the local community, making it a meaningful driver of social and cultural development.

Images: ‘FUTURE TIDES’, Kristina Chan, 2025. Photos by Sam James.