Back in Hughenden last week to continue the front line consultation work for the Arts and Cultural plan (and Public Art Policy) for Flinders Shire. Lots of interviews, meetings and an enthusiastic public meeting. Much touring around and many many photographs. Always an interesting and learning experience. This place has a remarkable history and a warm, friendly culture. Thanks to the good people of Flinders for being so welcoming and willing.  Early days yet but already some good ideas emerging.

Backed up Hughenden with two days in Charters Towers. I spent this time in the company of many of the special event and festival organisers in the community; firstly in an intensive workshop on event planning and management for sustainable success and then, the next day, a series of one on one consultations with event organisers to complete the diagnostic process. Great people, all making an enormous contribution to the community through their enthusiastic and tireless efforts to make good cultural things happen in the region. Here’s to your sustainable success.

Fresh off the ‘plane from Mount Isa and into two back to back intensive workshops sessions for Brisbane City Council’s September Edition arts training and development program. Both sessions went well with enthusiastic participants keen to get the inside information on how to write a grant or funding application that will have a greater chance of success. Good luck everyone – remember those few secrets of success. Thanks to BCC & Flying Arts for the gig. Great to be on the ground in BrizVegas.

304 ks south of Mount Isa is a delightful Channel Country oasis; Boulia. It’s a joy to arrive at the destination and an amazing drive out of Isa to get there. Such extraordinary country. The thrill of the journey quickly turned into a day of yakka as the enthusiastic members of the local Regional Arts Development Fund and I got down to the nitty gritty of policy, planning and operations. These are the cultural champions that keep the arts agenda alive here. We had an intensive, enjoyable and productive session but there was more for me to look forward to; the drive back to Isa through this incredible county and lunch at the Buff Club. If you love Queensland and love to drive, this is a trip to put on the wish list anytime but especially after the rain. Thanks to Boulia Shire Council for the invitation and the hospitality.

Another pleasant trip up to the Sunshine Coast to visit my (now) old friends for the next workshop in the Arts Business & Management Series. This time it was about looking outside the square to find support and assistance to realise creative projects and events. Traditional funding programs have made a big difference over the years but there are many other ways to garner resources and support, with a bit of lateral thought. And why wait. Once again the hardy group of artists and arts workers was as enthusiastic as ever. Thanks everyone.

383 kilometres west of Townsville is the historic centre of the Flinders Shire – Hughenden. Not the first time I’ve been there and not the last as work gets underway on the new Arts and Cultural Plan. Council is committed to enhancing the role that arts, culture and heritage can play in community well-being and prosperity. And so is the community. A more friendly Out Back town would be hard to find and I look forward to returning in a few weeks to continue the consultation and begin to develop a plan that will help to make a difference. Hard to find a better job.

Third session with Sunshine Coast artists at the Old Ambulance Station Community Arts Centre last Tuesday. This time the topic was the seemingly mysterious art of writing funding applications – that have a greater chance of success. Once again our curious and conscientious group got stuck into the ideas and produced some terrific outlines into the U Beaut One Page Project Planner. Certain success on the way

Stimulating time with enthusiastic artists in the Gladstone Region last week. Three jam packed days visiting Calliope, Agnes Water and Gladstone City consulting for the new Public Art Policy and conducting training for artists on the joys of public art planning and management. Gladstone is no stranger to public art but this current program of policy development and training marks a new energy around the role that public art can play in cultural vitality and community development. Watch this space for the roll out of an innovative public art-in-parks project destined to ignite imaginations and push creative boundaries in the region. Just the beginning.

Lucky enough to get invited back to the Scenic Rim this week to deliver a workshop on Setting Up and Running an Arts Business to a hardy group of visual and performing artists and then to address an Arts + Business forum on the heady topic of Cultural Vitality = Economic Vitality. Although shorter than normal the workshop was jam packed with goodness as the group got stuck into the leaning process. So keen were they, they want more! The forum presentation was a great opportunity to roll out the research I’ve been doing and an opportunity to stimulate thinking about culturally vital communities and the demonstrable link with community well-being and economic development. A great day out; with thanks to all at the Scenic Rim Regional Council.

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.