Congratulations to artist Mary Elizabeth Barron and Elysha Gould from Flying Arts for the successful completion of the Sam Rit Artist Residency Program in Thailand. This project was cooked up 18 months ago as a business innovation and outreach project for Flying Arts and a great career development opportunity for a Queensland artist. The cultural exchange project saw Mary working alongside the women of the rural Sam Rit area sharing and exchanging their creative skills and turning recycled materials into arts and crafts products. A wonderfully successful project for Mary, the Sam Rit villagers, the Australia-Thailand Institute via DFAT (who funded the project) and Flying Arts. Planning for Stage 2 of the project is now underway.

An inspiring couple of days working with two courageous and enterprising Brisbane women going through all the right steps to set up a sustainable arts business.  Business planning can be tough going but these hardy committed artworkers were more than up to the task. With careful thought and good planning it’s possible to make any great idea happen. Look out world, this one’s going to be a winner. Good luck Natalie & Robbie.