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.

It might have been a bit chilly and wet but that didn’t stop the hardiest of Dalby’s cultural champions turning out for a couple days training on governance and Association management. The times they are a changing so a brush up on the principles of governance and some extra knowledge and skills on how to help Association’s run more effectively went down well with the small but enthusiastic group. Thanks to the agency of Dalby Regional Council and Flying Arts, Associations in Dalby might run a little more smoothly now and be better placed to realise their aspirations. Great to be out and about in the Western Downs again.

A joy to be back in one of my favourite regional towns, Charters Towers. This time it was an RADF Committee induction workshop backed up with a special RADF briefing and grant writing workshop for the community. The incoming RADF committee is an enthusiastic, eclectic group which bodes well for stretching the reach and diversity of the program throughout the Shire. The grant writing workshop was also a stimulating session, working with a hardy and inspirational group of arts, cultural and community stalwarts. So great to work with the community champions.

Had a stimulating trip to Gladstone on Saturday to consult on a new project that could transform regional arts service delivery as we know it.  Certainly seems time for a new paradigm. We’ll see how this one plays out. Stay tuned.

Old Petrie Town and the Pine River Heritage Museum might seem unlikely places for a workshop on the mysteries of Strategic Planning but what a great day we had. The hardy and courageous group of participants from all walks of life from around the region was up for the challenge right from the get go and enthusiastically embraced the topic. Along the way we managed to explore principles, ideas, stories from the front line, case studies and have fun. Thanks to host Moreton Bay Regional Council and the agency of Flying Arts Alliance for making it happen. It was a pleasure to facilitate. Old Petrie Town and the Museum are definitely in my diary for another visit; a must see destination.

Happily just finished the literature review for my current research project: Measuring the return on investment in arts culture and heritage. Quite amazing how much great work there has been done in this area of research and practice, around the world. Quite amazing how policy makers of all shapes sizes and colours can’t grasp how significant investment in arts, culture and heritage can be for our development, well being and prosperity. On so many levels. Really excited about the next phase of this work.

Great day with some of Brisbane’s emerging/practicing artists and educators in the workshop: How To – Plan and Write Grant/Funding Applications (that have a greater chance of success). A lot to cover in one day on what can be a challenging topic but everybody hung in well, asked good questions and generously contributed from their own experiences. Hopefully they all got something that will be useful when it comes to writing the next grant/funding application. There is no magic formula but there are a number ways to increase the chances of success. Good luck everybody and thanks for a stimulating day. Thanks to our host Flying Arts Alliance.

Another great and successful trip to Longreach this week as work continues on the research for the Youth Development Plan. This time lots of primary research with students, young people and community stakeholders. The public forum was a bottler with some great contributions and robust discussion about the well being and future of the youth in the Longreach region.  AND we had rain. Don’t want to say too much but this is the fifth time a trip to Outback Queensland has resulted in bringing rain. Must be a coincidence. Anyway the youth of the region are well served by the keen community interest in a plan for their future.