Welcome to the Tasmanian Regional Arts website

Tasmanian Regional Arts is the peak organisation for regional arts and community based arts in Tasmania.

Tasmanian Regional Arts Welcomes Bendigo Bank Partnership

TRA is pleased to announce anew funding partnership with the Bendigo Bank.

The new partnership aims to support two exciting TRA initiatives - the 2012 Material Girl Exhibition and the Rhythm, Rhyme and Rhubarb music and poetry tour.

The Bendigo Bank 2012 Material Girl Exhibition partnership has also been recognised by the Australian Business and Arts Foundation which has also provided financial support to the 2012 exhibition. This new sponsorship and recognition is a fitting celebration for the tenth Material Girl Exhibition.

Rhythm, Rhyme and Rhubarb features the talents of  Alwyn and Laurie Lewis, Tony Barry, Allan Brown and Steve Martin in an all star cast that will entertain lovers of music and poetry.

Rhythm, Rhyme and Rhubarb will tour in March at the following locations

Rosebery: Saturday 17 March
Hobart: Tuesday, 20 March, Clarence City Council
Kettering: Wednesday, 21 M

arch, Channel Regional Arts
Triabunna: Thursday, 22 March, Glamorgan Spring Bay Council
St Helens: Friday, 23 March, Suncoast Jazz Club
Campbell Town: Saturday 24 March, TRA – following the Annual General Meeting at 2pm
Ulverstone: Sunday, 25 March, Leven Regional Arts

For more information and bookings call TRA on 6426 2344.

Tasmanian Regional Arts and Arts Tasmania joint grant seminars coming

The forums will take place at:

• Burnie at the Makers Market on Feb 9  from 4.00-5.00PM
• Launceston at the Meeting Room, QVMAG, Inveresk on Feb 10  from 2.30-3.30PM
• Latrobe at TRA , James and George Streets on 13 Feb from 6.00-7.00PM

Regional Arts Fund Grants application processes re-open for 2012

Revised RAF application forms are now available on the TRA website for projects to commence in mid 2012.

Questions on eligibility or any aspect of your project can be directed to TRA's Latrobe Office. Please note that the RADO positions have limited capacity to assist your applications in 2011 so it is best to direct enquiries to TRA Latrobe.

Application form hard copies can be sent to you on request from TRA's Head Office in Latrobe.

RAF applications will close in Mid March with successful applicants informed by June 2012 so get planning and writing now!

New Email Address for RAF Applications

As of 1 January 2012, TRA has a new email address for all RAF applications that are lodged electronically.

All RAF applications (both grant round and quick response grants) need to be emailed to gra...@tasregionalarts.org.au

Please use this new address when making applications, submitting your acquittal or making an enquiry about the program. We have introduced the new address to make sure that all correspondence about RAF is dealt with by our staff.

Quick Response Grants re-open for 2012

The popular Regional Quick Response Grants program has reopened for project and professional development applications in Tasmania.

Eligible small projects or professional development funding opportunities requiring funding of up to $1,500 may be supported by this program. Application processes are straightforward and the application forms are available on line or on request from the TRA Offices.

TRA encourages intending applicants to discuss their idea with the RAF Manager prior to submitting their application.

Due to limited funds and high demand levels this program is often oversubscribed. TRA's RAF Manager can advise as to whether your application is best dealt with via this or the small/major grant round processes.

Time to think ahead- RAA 2012 National Conference in Goolwa, South Australia October 18-21, 2012

The Biennial Regional Arts Australia National Conference is on again in 2012 in the beautiful regional location of Goolwa at the mouth of the mighty Murray River in South Australia.

Bill as Part conference- part festival - all art- the RAA event is the largest arts conference in Australia. Following on from the highly successful Junction 2010 Conference in Launceston, Country Arts South Australia's staff have been working hard to develop a conference program and artistic festival that will showcase and inspire delegates.

And you can be involved! The call for participation has gone out to artists, presenters and speakers with submissions closing Tuesday 28 February 2012.

Using the lenses of cultural leadership and the emerging digital cultures we invite you to participate around one or more of the following themes:

• Resilient People, Strong Communities.
• Our Responsibility, Environmental Sustainability.
• Organisations, Policies, Partnerships and Models for the Future.

There are four ways you can participate - panels/presentations, workshop, 20/360 sessions, Video Wrx.

Visit www.artsalexandrina.org.au to download the conference framework and submit your nomination.  Background information on the Conference themes can be downloaded here. There is also a reading list available on the site if you would like to find out more about the themes.

Be informed! Join the mailing list. Head to www.artsalexandrina.org.au and click on "Regional Arts Australia National Conference". Click "Be informed" and enter your name and email address.

Is there assistance available to get to Goolwa?

TRA advises that there are several options for potential delegates to seek assistance to attend Goolwa 2012:

• Arts Tasmania's Artsbridge Program for invited speakers/participants; or
• TRA's Regional Arts Fund Program. While limited opportunity exists for quick response grants, those seeking to attend the Goolwa conference can apply under the RAF small grants program which closes mid March 2012.

We encourage any potential delegates to seek these resources as early as possible in order to take advantage of early bird booking discounts.

Australia Council Review planned for 2012

Late in 2011 The Federal Arts Minister Simon Crean announced a review of the Australia Council.  The review has been brought on in response to the large number of submissions to the National Cultural Policy that made reference to the current and future roles of the Australia Council as a key national arts funding, policy and advocacy body.

While the review will be internal in nature, TRA advises that this presents an opportunity to make sure that the Council continues to provide infrastructure and support to regional artists and communities.

Further details about the review and opportunities to contribute to this review will be posted in future editions of RAW.

Community consultations for future support for Community Cultural Development

In 2011 The Australia Councils Community Partnerships section wrote to Tasmanian Regional Arts indicating the intention to move away from current financial arrangements for service delivery in 2013. The Community Partnerships section intends to develop a new national sector development initiative.

To assist in the development of this new direction, the Director of Community Partnerships, Frank Panucci, will undertake national level consultations in order to inform the development of this new apporach. 

Tasmanian Artists and Community Cultural Development Workers will be given the opportunity to contribute to this process at public forum in Hobart, currently scheduled for April 3, the forum will make sure that the needs of our sector in Tasmania are considered in any future frameworks and programs offered by Community Partnerships. All practitioners working in this area are strongly encouraged to attend this session and have their say.

To find out more about this forum, or to discuss the possible implications of this new direction, please contact Paul Jenkins at TRA.

Arts and Disability Grants now available

The Arts and Disability Grant Round 2013 is now open and Arts Tasmania are hosting workshops to assist applicants.

‘How to Apply' workshops are being held in Hobart (Monday 23 January), Launceston (Tuesday 24 January) and Burnie (Wednesday 25 January -individual appointments only).

You are able to download an application toolkit via Arts Tasmania's website www.arts.tas.gov.au/aad

Applications close 1 March 2012. Please register your interest in any of the workshops or make an appointment to speak with a Disability and the Arts Program Officer by contacting Marianne Taylor (southern region) - 0439 599 572 or
Jane Wardlaw (north and north west region) 0409 961 844.