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August 2009

Welcome to the August 2009 Positive Solutions newsletter. This issue provides an announcement on the continuation of BoardConnect and details our new and ongoing projects including a collaborative research project on future funding models for artists in Australia, business planning for the newly established Parramatta Cultural Trust, public artwork curation for the redevelopment of Fortitude Valley's Chinatown Mall and a feasibility study for a Regional Performing Arts Centre and Museum for Cairns. We also provide a number of progress reports on key projects including the state wide cultural facilities audit for Arts Queensland and the launch of ONCE, AGAIN, a public art work by artist Lincoln Austin at the Northbridge Building in Brisbane.

RECENT NEWS

Arts Plus - New Models New Money

Arts Plus is a research project which sprang from last year's 2020 Summit and is funded by the Centre for Social Impact Studies, UNSW and Arts Queensland. It brings together a number of well-known artists, writers and arts philanthropists to consider ways to support individual practitioners and the development of new work in the creative arts, with its final report expected to make a series of recommendations for consideration by government. A team from Positive Solutions has conducted the international research component.

Read Arts Plus Press Release

BoardConnect: End of Pilot Event at Queensland Performing Arts Centre

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The Premier of Queensland, Anna Bligh, Professor Peter Shergold OA and Theodora Le Souquet, Chair of Queensland Writers Centre.

In August 2008 the pilot program for BoardConnect was launched by James Strong, Chair of the Australia Council for the Arts. The program, an initiative of Positive Solutions, also supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, was developed to support the boards of arts organisations. In June 2009 the pilot concluded with a review and celebration at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre. Guest speaker Peter Shergold OA gave an address on some of the challenges facing non-profit organisations and their boards; and Queensland Premier Anna Bligh presented commendations to selected board members and announced the Queensland Government’s commitment to supporting BoardConnect for a further two years. Preparations are under way for refining BoardConnect and scoping its potential future expansion. Positive Solutions is delighted to acknowledge the financial and moral support provided by Arts Queensland during the pilot program, and during this further evolution of the service.

Winner Clayton Utz Travelling Scholarship 2009

Gemma Smith, 'Boulder #1', 2009 Award Recipient: LAUNCH Clayton Utz Travelling Scholarship

The LAUNCH Clayton Utz Travelling Arts Scholarship has helped launch yet another promising artist into the next stage of their career.

Brisbane-based artist Gemma Smith was announced the winner of the Scholarship by the Hon. Judy Spence MP at a special function held at the Metro Arts Gallery (Edward Street, Brisbane). Gemma will receive $10,000 towards further travel and study.

Gemma's work “Boulder #2” a three-dimensional, crystal-like structure with panes of clear and opaque coloured cut acrylic - was one of 30 works short-listed as finalists for the Scholarship, judged by prominent arts producer and consultant Michael Snelling.

The LAUNCH Clayton Utz Travelling Arts Scholarship was developed and managed for Clayton Utz Lawyers by Positive Solutions.

NEW CLIENTS

Chinatown Mall Redevelopment

Developed design for major sculptural work to be installed into Chinatown Mall, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane by artist Catherine Chui

Positive Solutions has been working with planning and design firm Urbis to provide public art curatorial and project management services for the Chinatown Mall Redevelopment in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley. The art review panel (made up of representatives from Urbis, Positive Solutions, Brisbane City Council, and community stakeholders) has commissioned local Brisbane-based Chinese artist Catherine Cui to create a major sculptural work to be located within the mall according to Feng Shui principles. A number of other integrated artwork opportunities were also identified during the consultation process, providing collaborative art and design projects for Brisbane-based Chinese artists Jonathan Tse and Bo (Toro) Lui. The major sculptural work is currently being fabricated by Urban Art Projects and is scheduled to be completed by the end of August 2009.

A Cultural Precinct for Cairns

Trinity Wharf has been identified as a potential site for a cultural precinct, including a new Performing Arts Centre and Museum for Cairns and Far North Queensland. Positive Solutions and Architectus have been engaged to undertake feasibility studies for the Performing Arts Centre and for the Museum, and to prepare initial configurations, business plans and business cases for the two facilities. This follows on from the options study Positive Solutions has previously undertaken for the Performing Arts Centre.

Proposed Cairns Regional Performing Arts Centre site, Trinity Wharf

Parramatta Cultural Trust

Parramatta City Council is establishing a Cultural Trust, to optimise private sector support for arts development and delivery in Parramatta and Western Sydney. Positive Solutions is assisting with preparation of a business plan, and framing the work of the Advisory Committee which will provide leadership for the Trust.

Gold Coast University Hospital

Positive Solutions was engaged by Queensland Health early in 2009 to identify how the work of artists can help achieve the vision for the new Gold Coast University Hospital in both its development and operation. Specifically the consultancy was to undertake a cultural analysis of the development including historical and contemporary histories of the site and the hospital and to identify specific sites for public art including recommending procurement processes and artwork budgets. Site selection and budgets for public artwork have now been finalised and further consultation during August and September will inform recommendations for the proposed 2D art program.

For the Future

In addition to the afore mentioned new clients, Positive Solutions is commencing work on a number of new projects in the coming weeks including:

– A cultural policy for the Torres Strait Regional Authority

– A demand assessment and business case for the Geelong Cultural Precinct for Major Projects Victoria

– Several planning studies for the West Kowloon Cultural District

These projects will be profiled in our subsequent newsletter.

PROGRESS REPORTS

Board Development

In addition to the launch of BoardConnect, our governance and board development work remains as active as ever. In recent months we have:

– facilitated board self-assessments for Deaf Children Australia, Deaf Services Queensland, and Western Australia Deaf Society; and for the Moreton Bay Network (a General Practice Division)

– delivered a training and board review process for Melbourne-based Strange Fruit

– in conjunction with the Australia Business Arts Foundation delivered board training programs in Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, Hobart and Adelaide

– on behalf of the Australia Council delivered board programs in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, and provided follow-up support for the small-to-medium organisations participating

Northbridge

The Public art project by artist Lincoln Austin for the commercial office tower "Northbridge" managed by Positive Solutions was officially launched on August 5th, 2009 by Brisbane City Councillor Amanda Cooper. The work, ONCE, AGAIN, can be viewed at North Quarter Lane, the public laneway attached to Santos Place linking Kurilpa Bridge and the CBD.

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ONCE, AGAIN, Lincoln Austin, Northbridge Building, North Quarter Lane, Santos Place, 2009

Pah Homestead

In 2008 Positive Solutions completed concept and business plans for Auckland City Council for the development of Pah Homestead in Monte Cecilia Park as a new centre for the visual arts for Auckland. This project has progressed significantly since the announcement that the homestead will house the extensive art collection of businessman James Wallace, comprised of more than 4000 contemporary New Zealand artworks and will incorporate an artist-in-residence program and catering and restaurant facilities.
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Pah Homestead, Monte Cecilia Park, Auckland

Arts Queensland Cultural Facilities Audit

Positive Solutions has now completed an extensive state wide cultural facilities audit for Arts Queensland providing the government with data on more than 500 publically owned facilities providing a clear picture of current infrastructure provision. Situational data will be used by Arts Queensland to produce an interactive map of cultural facilities for public use. A further report on proposed criteria for supporting new and enhanced facilities will be delivered in September.

COMPLETIONS

Euraba Artists and Paper Makers

Positive Solutions would like to congratulate Euraba Artists and Paper Makers on the work undertaken within their organisation over the last 12 months which has resulted in a donation from the Phillip Bushell Foundation to fund a Business Development Manager for the organisation over the next two years. In 2008, Positive Solutions Director Cathy Hunt, with support from marketing consultant Judith James, assisted the board of Euraba in producing a 3 year business plan. The organisation was formed a decade ago by nine senior Goomeroi women in the Boggabilla community in Northern New South Wales to provide training and employment opportunities for the community through producing hand made paper and unique paper based art works.

Arts New South Wales Writers' Centre Review

Following site visits to all nine Writers’ Centres in New South Wales Positive Solutions completed and submitted a report to Arts New South Wales on options for enhancing support for writers in the State. The report mapped in detail the work of each of the Centres, and compared the scope of their work with interstate writers’ centres.

Varuna Writers' Centre

West Kowloon Cultural District Authority Organisation Design

Positive Solutions was engaged as part of a multi-disciplinary team led by international HR company, Hewitt Associates, to advise the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority on the Authority’s own organisational structure during the planning, construction and operation phases of the West Kowloon Cultural District. Positive Solutions’ role included securing detailed benchmark evidence from cultural precincts in Australia and Singapore. The recommendations of the resulting report were subsequently adopted by the Board of the Authority.

OTHER NEWS

Positive Solutions Director Cathy Hunt has been appointed by the Premier Anna Bligh MP as a Director of the Queensland Events Corporation. Joanna Maunder has been promoted to Research and Administration Officer due to the significant contributions she has made in project research at Positive Solutions. Joanna also completed a Graduate Certificate in Arts and Creative Industries Management at the end of last year. Our Visual Arts Project Manager Benjamin Hampe is undertaking a Master of Arts in Cultural Leadership at Griffith University. Finally congratulations to Diana Hargreaves, one of our previous employees, on the birth of baby Alexander.