If last week was sublime Tropicana in Cooktown, this week was equally sublime in the far West of the State in the heart of Channel Country: Windorah, Barcoo Shire. 316 kilometres South West of Longreach; population about 80. Barcoo Shire covers an area of 61,974 square kilometres and hosts a total population of 350 people. It’s vast, red and beautiful. And still they came. The good denizens of Barcoo drove in from Stonehenge, Jundah and Windorah for a couple of days intensive training on the Regional Arts Development Fund and the good oil on writing winning funding applications. A great time in the pulsating red heart of the State with a group of wonderfully enthusiastic community champions. All power to you. Thank you all for your energy, good humour and great catering! And thank you Barcoo Shire.

Public art will be the focus of a new plan for highlighting the past, present and future of the Caloundra region on the Sunshine Coast. Sponsored by the Sunshine Coast Council, the plan is a new project for the Goodthinking Group following recent success in Flinders Shire. Public Art can add considerable social, cultural, civic and economic value to the community and we look forward to working with stakeholders to deliver a plan that will provide the direction for a public art program that will stimulate, challenge, entertain and engage residents and visitors.

Image: Sustainable. Hue Chee Fong + L M Noonan

Hooray! The Arts and Cultural Development Policy and Development Plan for Flinders Shire have been signed off and formally adopted by Council. The Shire now has a blueprint for arts and cultural development for the region which can deliver myriad social, cultural, civic, environmental and economic value to the community. What a joy it has been to work on this (and the Public Art Strategy) with Council and the community and the very wonderful, committed and enthusiastic Council staff. A great joy with the best yet to come.  Woohoo!

Last week, a happy return to one of my favourite remote towns – Cooktown. Such a splendid tropical paradise.Tropicana aside, I spent two busy days working with the local cultural champions honing skills in workshop facilitation and grant writing. Alas, after the hard work was done I was forced to spend an extra day in paradise to make the airline connection. So hard. Thank you Champions for your hard work and good humour and good luck with all your exciting cultural projects. And thank you Cook Shire for the invitation. Look forward to many happy returns.

Welcome the bright New Year. No doubt you’ll be well underway already. No rest …….. as they say.

For me the year is already galloping apace with continuing projects in Flinders Shire and the Sunshine Coast and coming trips to Cook Shire, Barcoo Shire and the regions of Charters Towers and Gladstone. Lucky enough also to pick up an exciting new Public Art development project for the Sunshine Coast Regional Council.

Planning for the rest of the year continues ‘tho and this is just a quick reminder that along with policy, planning and development, ArtReach Queensland also offers an extensive suite of arts business and management training modules, ranging from half-day to one day and weekend programs.

Whatever your needs and interests ArtReach Queensland is able to provide consulting, project management and/or training services especially tailored for regional and remote communities.

• Policy Planning and Management Services
• Training and Development Services

If we can be of assistance at any time please give me a call or send me an email. We are now taking bookings from April onwards.

And Happy New Year!

Stephen