Positive Solutions > news > Previous issues

April 2008

Welcome to the Positive Solutions April 2008 Newsletter. This issue covers some of the exciting new facilities and cultural strategy projects we are currently engaged in and highlights the recent growth of our visual arts projects division.

The issue also introduces some new developments in the area of board development and governance.

2020 Summit
On the weekend of April 19-20 Positive Solutions director Cathy Hunt attended the 2020 Summit at Parliament House in Canberra as a delegate in the Creative Australia group. A very good write up of the experience is available on Alison Croggon’s excellent blog. Platform Paper 15, 'A Sustainable Arts Sector: What will it take?' written by Cathy and UK based consultant Phyllida Shaw was provided to delegates as one of the documents for background reading. It was good to see a number of the themes and ideas in the Paper discussed further during the weekend, including the need for investment in new work, the importance of the arts and creativity in education and the creation of a new endowment fund for the arts.

Board Development Unit
With assistance from Arts Queensland we are investigating the establishment of a customised Board Support Service for arts organisations. Our consultants David Fishel and Sylvia Langford are currently undertaking interviews with a range of key stakeholders as part of the scoping phase of this pilot project. Following this initial planning phase, we will provide further details of this initiative.

Book of the Board – 2nd Edition
Positive Solutions' Director David Fishel has now completed the much anticipated Book of the Board 2nd edition. The book, published by Federation Press, will be available for purchase on the 23rd of June via the Federation press website. Alternatively, you can contact us to request an order form. In the meantime we have added David Fishel's article, 'How the CEO can get the most out of an arts board', initially featured in Connect - the Australia Business Arts Foundation magazine, to our Publications and Resources page.

NEW CLIENTS

Pah Homestead and Monte Cecilia Park, Auckland
Auckland City Council has acquired for the people of Auckland a striking heritage property and park, to the South of the CBD. During the last year a masterplan for the Park was prepared. Positive Solutions has now been engaged to assist in concept development for the future use of the Homestead and Park – with a likely emphasis on the visual arts. Once a suitable concept has been developed, we will be preparing a detailed business plan to guide Council’s decision-making and planning for the facility.

Pah homestead1.jpg

Arts Northern Rivers
In recent years the importance of the creative industries has been recognised as an economic driver in New South Wales’ Northern Rivers Region. Positive Solutions is assisting Arts Northern Rivers and other local, regional and State agencies with development of a commonly endorsed Creative Industries Strategy, building on recent research.

Suncorp
A series of new works by contemporary indigenous and non indigenous artists exploring Australian landscape was sourced by Positive Solutions Associate Director Renai Grace for Suncorp’s new executive level in Brisbane city. Lockhart River artists Fiona Omeenyo and Rosella Namok provide a Far North Queensland indigenous perspective alongside works by Jon Cattapan, Caroline Rannesberger and Nicola Moss.

Thinking of Rain, Nicola Moss, Suncorp Collection

Northbridge
Ross Nielson Properties has engaged Positive Solutions to procure a dynamic wall art solution for a new building, Northbridge in Turbot Street, Brisbane. The stunning new addition to the Brisbane skyline has been designed by Donovan Hill. This is an exciting opportunity for five Queensland artists to have their concept designs judged by an international artist in May 2008. A series of public programs with the artist will also be staged in April 2009 in association with the building's opening. More information will be available late 2008.

Brisbane City Council
Brisbane City Council is undertaking a neighbourhood planning process for Fortitude Valley and Kurilpa to guide development over the next 10 years. Council is committed to integrating cultural planning into this process and has engaged Positive Solutions to prepare cultural plans for both these areas of the City. The Plans will be informed by a detailed cultural mapping of the study areas to identify the culture of the neighbourhoods. The information will be used to inform a variety of other City Council policies for the local areas concerned including:

land using planning
development legislation, and
Council’s own community programs and activities

Further details of the planning process can be found on the City Council’s web site together with survey forms for the public, artists and cultural organizations working in the Valley.

Woomera Aboriginal Corporation
Woomera, based on Mornington Island is one of Australia’s leading Aboriginal cultural organizations, managing the internationally renowned Mornington Island Dancers, an Art Centre producing work for the fine art market, an annual Gulf Festival of Indigenous Dance and a range of cultural development programs for the Community. We are working with Woomera on a range of planning initiatives which will inform the direction of the organisation over the next decade.

NEW INITIATIVES

A creative corporate initiative between Positive Solutions and law firm Clayton Utz has resulted in the LAUNCH: Clayton Utz Travelling Scholarship. The $5,000 scholarship will be awarded twice in 2008 to talented Queensland artists who can demonstrate their commitment to artistic practice and give them the opportunity to develop their careers through undertaking travel within Australia or overseas to undertake formal study, a residency or a planned program with a professional artist or mentor, or informal study for a planned research project. The scholarship winner and 25 finalists will be included in an exhibition in the Metro Arts Main Gallery and a six month loan program at the Clayton Utz business premises (Riparian Plaza, Eagle Street, Brisbane). A catalogue will also be produced. Please feel free to view the first LAUNCH exhibition at Metro Arts Main Gallery, Level 2, 109 Edward St, Brisbane from the 2nd of July to the 12th of July 2008. For more information please visit our LAUNCH webpage.

PROGRESS REPORTS

Mater Health Services
Over 180 artworks for the Mater Mothers Collection are in the process of being installed over 7 floors of the new Hospital. In addition, three fabulous public artworks by Marisa Molin, Mandy Ridley and Lyell Bary are incredible new additions to the building. There have been dramatic scenes as Marisa’s 8 metre high artwork ‘ all the trees of the fields shall clap their hands’ had to be craned into the atrium of the new Hospital.

Installation of Marisa Molin's Artwork at the Mater Mothers Hospital

The Mater Health Services commitment to contemporary Queensland art and the role of art in health is evident through two new projects including working with photographer Henri Van Noordenburg on an artist in residence project for Prince Charles Children’s Cardic Ward to assist in their historic move to the Mater. The new Children’s Cardiac Ward at the Mater will not only be adorned with artworks as a result of the artist in residence project but over 18 new artworks will be acquired by emerging Queensland contemporary artists.

Arts on the Gold Coast
We recently completed market research for Gold Coast Arts Centre, to inform their future planning – over 50 interviews were undertaken with a range of stakeholders, along with interviews with the managers of arts centres around Australia to identify broader industry trends.

The Arts Centre is situated on the Evandale site. With a possible future relocation of Council’s administration from Evandale, the prospect of developing the site as a signature cultural precinct is being explored. Positive Solutions is working with Architectus on developing precinct concepts, in the light of the Gold Coast’s acknowledged cultural infrastructure needs – following our recent completion of a Cultural Facilities Framework for City Council.

ABAF Board Development Seminars
Throughout 2008 we will be working with the Australia Business Arts Foundation on the delivery of public and in-house programs for board members of arts organisations throughout Australia. Recent deliveries in New South Wales will be followed by others in Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.

COMPLETIONS

Open Minds
Open Minds provide support services to assist people with mental illness, intellectual disability and acquired brain injury participate in everyday life. Positive Solutions recently undertook an evaluation of Open Minds’ board, and provided advice on ways in which board processes could continue to be improved in the future. Subsequently, we facilitated planning sessions and provided advice to assist in the preparation of the Open Minds’ strategic plan.

Wyong Performing Arts Centre
We recently completed development of a detailed business plan and design brief, with Williams Ross Architects, for a proposed new arts centre at Wyong on the New South Wales central coast. Council is now pursuing further the funding options identified in the plan.

SSAT
Social Securities Appeals Tribunal engaged Positive Solutions to assess their current collection and purchase new artworks to complement their vibrant new premises. Artists such as Far North Queensland artist Charles Street and 2008 recipient of the Wynn Prize, Joanne Currie were installed in reception areas and boardrooms.

Joanna Currie Nalingu - Maranoa River Lines 250.jpg

Maranoa River Lines, Joanne Currie Nalingu, SSAT

OTHER NEWS
In April 2008 Positive Solutions welcomed a new administrative staff member, Joanna Maunder, to the team. Joanna is currently completing postgraduate study at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), in Arts and Creative Industries Management and has a strong visual arts background.