It’s been a long haul but the Longreach Youth Development Plan foundation research is done, dusted and delivered. Grappling with youth issues is challenging enough in Australia and young people in regional and remote areas face a unique set of challenges. It was a rewarding time of meetings, discussions surveys and desk research. Longreach Shire is a wonderful region with many wonderful people committed to making it the place to be. The young people were especially generous with their time and ideas. Thank you all and good luck with the next phase of the project.

Terrific workshop in Brisbane on Sunday with an enthusiastic group of artists and arts workers keen to develop their skills in workshop planning and facilitation. We covered  a range of topics including facilitation skills, workshop planning, leaning objectives, overcoming nerves, learning styles, group dynamics and presentation skills. Some were even brave enough to present their outlines back to the rest of the group. A pretty intensive and productive day … and some wonderful workshop outlines. Hopefully everybody came away with some new found skills and confidence. Thanks to workshop host Flying Arts.

Round two at the Old Ambulance Station in Nambour. This day our hardy group of local artists and arts workers fronted up for a workshop on project and event planning and management. All participants will at some stage or another be involved in a project or event and taking a more systematic approach to planning and implementations can certainly help to ensure things will run more smoothly on the day.  An intensive and very productive day’s work. Thanks everyone for your enthusiastic participation.

Spent a very pleasant Saturday morning hosted by the Arts Council Toowoomba discussing, and drawing, ideas about dealing with change and the future of Arts Councils in the region. Communities and circumstances have changed enormously over 50 years and in light of most recent changes many local arts council branches are feeling vulnerable. Change is inevitable, it is how we respond to change which is the mark of sustainability. Through discussion and drawings this group of cultural champions gained greater insight into the current situation and a better sense of what the future may hold and how to get there. Thanks everybody; a great mornings work… and play.

Had the good fortune to stop over at the Ambulance Station yesterday … the Old Ambulance Station in Nambour that is, which has been transformed into a thriving community art centre. The occasion was the first professional development workshop in a series of six I will be running for the arts and cultural champions in the Sunshine Coast – courtesy of the SSC Regional Council. A quite intensive but fruitful day on the heady topic of Effective Association Governance. One down and five to go with this wonderfully eclectic group of artists and cultural workers. Thanks everyone.

A happy return to Dalby for a series of workshops on event planning and management. Another wonderful group of hardy cultural champions keen to hone their skills to help deliver great events and cultural projects for the Western Downs community. The region turned on a stunning winter weekend as we sharpened our understanding of the essential principles of even management and, on the second day, put these ideas into practice either developing new event ideas or reviewing current events with view to planning for sustainability. Thanks to host Western Downs Regional Council through the agency of Flying Arts Alliance. A great weekend. Excellent work everyone.