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December 2008

Welcome to the December 2008 Positive Solutions newsletter. This issue provides an update on BoardConnect - a new service for the boards of arts organisations - and details our new and ongoing projects including a state-wide cultural facilities audit for the Queensland Government, a review of NSW Writers' Centres, The University of Sydney’s Seymour Centre, strategic planning for the Hong Kong Arts Festival. We also provide some exciting updates from past projects which have helped our clients make significant progress towards their goals.

RECENT NEWS

Success of BoardConnect

Since its official launch in August by James Strong, Chair of the Australia Council, BoardConnect has generated demand amongst arts industry leaders for 6 round-table discussions, developed diagnostic programs tailored to arts companies’ specific needs, published online fact sheet resources, and received and referred help-line calls.

Please click here for the recent BoardConnect enews.

LAUNCH Clayton Utz Travelling Scholarship

Jimmy Edgar by Dane Lovett, Clayton Utz Travelling Scholarship Winner, Round 2 2008.

The second and final round of the 2008 LAUNCH Clayton Utz Travelling Scholarship was judged by Mr Philip Bacon AM on the 9th of December at Metro Arts.

He selected Melbourne based painter Dane Lovett, who grew up on the Gold Coast, as the award recipient for his artwork titled Jimmy Edgar. Mr Bacon described the artwork as a “strong and evocative portrait” and as an “edgy and slightly disturbing study for a young man”.

Mr Bacon gave special mention to three other artists - Paul Adair, Nick Ashby, and Luisa Rossitto - of the 25 artists who have been included in the exhibition at Metro Arts Gallery and will continue to have their work displayed in the Clayton Utz Brisbane offices for the next six months.

Clayton Utz Brisbane managing partner Michael Klug said the firm was proud to support emerging talent in Queensland's arts community. “There are so many talented artists waiting for the opportunity to showcase their work and a means by which to develop their careers. We hope that the LAUNCH initiative will give a few of them the chance to do so,” he said.

NEW CLIENTS

Arts NSW Writers' Centre Review

Positive Solutions is currently undertaking a review of writers' centres in NSW to develop a better understanding of the needs of professional, semi-professional, and emerging writers and the role of writers’ centres in meeting those needs.

As part of the review Positive Solutions consultants' David Fishel and Sylvia Langford have visited each of the nine NSW writers’ centres. The report to government will include an analysis and mapping of each writers’ centre including an examination of governance arrangements, objectives, funding sources, priorities, outcomes and membership.

Arts Queensland – State Wide Review of Cultural Facilities

Positive Solutions has been engaged by Arts Queensland to develop a database of all publicly owned cultural facilities throughout the State, to determine the location, nature and scale of existing assets, as well as the different models of ownership, management and financing. We are also engaged to assist Arts Queensland in developing a methodology for the assessment of future demand for such facilities, taking into account a range of issues including population growth, cultural trends such as the impact of new technologies on both the production of art and audiences, and the arts and cultural funding policies of the Australian, State and Local Governments.

Hong Kong Arts Festival

The Hong Kong Arts Festival is acknowledged as one of the world’s great arts festivals. Presented annually since the early 1970s the Festival is exploring its future directions in light of the economic and cultural development of the Region. Positive Solutions and colleagues from GHK in Hong Kong are assisting the Festival in this strategic planning and development process.

Euraba Artists and Papermakers

Positive Solutions Director Cathy Hunt is currently working with Euraba to develop a new three year business plan for the organisation. Euraba was formed ten years 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. Cathy is being assisted by marketing and planning consultant Judith James.

Inala Wangarra

Inala Wangarra is an Indigenous Community Development Association providing the communities of Inala with a growing range of cultural and social benefits. Positive Solutions is assisting the Association with the preparation of its Strategic Plan

PROGRESS REPORTS

Gentle Cocoon by Alex Seton (Commemorative Stone)

Opening of Mater Mothers' Hospitals

Officially opened by Her Excellency, Ms Quentin Bryce AC, Governor of Queensland and blessed by Most Reverend John A Bathersby DD, Archbishop of Brisbane, the new Mater Mothers’ Hospitals were unveiled at a ceremony on Friday, 30 May 2008 to celebrate this historic event.

Set against the backdrop of the brand new facility - which includes public and interior artworks curated by Positive Solutions - hundreds of guests and dignitaries including The Honourable Kevin Rudd MP, Prime Minister of Australia and The Honourable Anna Bligh MP, Premier of Queensland, Sisters of Mercy, past and present patients, and Mater staff gathered in the historic Aubigny Place forecourt to acknowledge the procession from the old to the new.

Positive Solutions has been appointed to advise Mater Health Services on the ongoing development of art and cultural activity in the organisation.

Arts Northern Rivers

Jason Cambell in Full Spin. Photo by Sean Spencer. Image featured in Northern Rivers Creative Industries Strategy

Following wide-ranging consultation in and beyond the Region, we have now prepared a draft Arts and Creative Industries Strategy for Northern Rivers. Following completion of the Strategy we are preparing specific reports to each of the local governments in the Region.

Northbridge

Local Queensland artist Lincoln Austin has been commissioned to design the Northbridge Art Wall located in the heart of the emerging North Quarter Brisbane precinct.

Lincoln was selected by a judging panel that included Ross Nielson (Director, Nielson Properties), Brian Donovan (Director, Donovan Hill Architects), Genevieve Searle (Public Art Officer, Brisbane City Council), and internationally renowned UK artist and designer Jason Bruges.

Lincoln Austin will work closely with Donovan Hill Architects to realize an iconic artwork for the laneway on the ground floor of Northbridge – a commercial office tower located near the Tank Street Bridge.

COMPLETIONS

The Seymour Centre
For over 30 years the Seymour Centre at the University of Sydney has played a significant role in the theatre life of the city. The University engaged Positive Solutions to assist in identifying the range of cultural and educational benefits that the Centre provides, both within the University and for the wider community, to inform future planning for the Centre.

Fortitude Valley Cultural Planning

We are currently finalising our report to Brisbane City Council on the cultural mapping and plan for Fortitude Valley. We would like to thank the many artists, creative businesses, cultural organisations and members of the public who participated in the study.

Pah Homestead - Auckland City Council

Pah Homestead

We have recently submitted concept and business plans to Auckland City Council for the development of Pah Homestead in Monte Cecilia Park as a new centre for the visual arts for Auckland. Core to the concept is a place of exchange between artists, other visual arts specialists, and the wider community – a centre for exploration and dialogue. Pah Homestead is also a striking heritage property set in a beautiful park and will contribute more broadly to the cultural life of the community.

Auckland Theatre Venues

We recently provided specialist advice as sub-consultants to Auckland-based Horwath who were engaged by Auckland City Council to review and prioritise theatre facility needs in the city. Positive Solutions has previously worked with both Auckland Theatre Company and Q Theatre on facilities-related developments as well as undertaking several projects on arts and facilities development for City Council.

OUTCOMES

West Kowloon Cultural District

Following completion of our work as part of a GHK-led team providing advice to the Hong Kong Government on financial aspects of the West Kowloon development the Government approved a HK$21.6bn (c.US$2.7bn) fund to progress the project and to proceed to establishment of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority.

OTHER NEWS

Welcome to new staff

We would like to welcome Meri Robson, Project Manager and Anna Jones, Project Administrator of BoardConnect who have the responsibility of running the pilot. Jennifer Upton has also joined the Positive Solutions team in the role of Administration and Finance Officer.

Farewell

The last few months have seen our Curator and Associate Director Renai Grace depart from Positive Solutions after six successful years. Renai has taken up the challenge of Principal Sponsorship and Grants Officer at the Queensland Art Gallery/ GOMA and we wish her all the best in this new endeavour. Benjamin Hampe, Manager, Visual Art Projects, will be looking after all our existing visual art projects' clients and working closely with Cathy Hunt on the future direction of this area of Positive Solutions work.

Diana Hargreaves and Erin White, our two valued part-time administrators have also left Positive Solutions. Diana will be spending more time with her young family and Erin has taken on the role of Company Administrator for Circa.