2013—2014 ANNUAL REPORT

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Belconnen Arts Centre Annual Report 2013–14
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Community Cultural Inclusion Program
Highlights in 2013 were the production of two Centenary
of Canberra projects that delivered arts activity to the
farthest corners of the ACT. For SPIN, Community Cultural
Inclusion Officer (CCIO) Nicola Lambert commissioned the
Spin Cube and invited participation by young people from
the Messengers, Bungee and Catholic Care programs. The
interactive cube, performances and workshops at Woden,
Tuggeranong and Gungahlin skate parks invited further
youth and community participation. As part of SPIN, basket
makers added to the open day activities of the Craft Hub at
Watson Arts Centre.
Portrait of a Nation: Unmade Edges – Distinctive Places
managed by Ann McMahon for BAC engaged 13 artists to
deliver visual arts outcomes and events for communities
in Pialligo, Oaks Estate, Tharwa, Hall, Stromlo and Uriarra.
The night time projections, community paste ups and
storytelling, public sculpture, gigantic wind chimes and
site specific installations provided a focus for a series of
launches and events. The artists and works were brought
together for a legacy exhibition at BAC in early 2014.
Responding to this year’s NAIDOC Week theme Serving
Country: Centenary & Beyond, BAC hosted a discussion
forum, Serving Country Creatively planned by Robyn
Higgins. This event featured prominent local indigenous
business and arts figures. Indigenous visual art and social
history exhibitions filled every gallery space along with
weaving workshops and a temporary public art intervention
titled Rainbow Serpent Wrap, by CIT Yurauna Centre
Students.
Vulnerable people living with disabilities and mental health
consumers have had the opportunity to participate in high
quality programs offering training and skills development
responding to the needs of participants, while also aiming
to deliver significant public outcomes. Robin Davidson
was engaged early in 2014 to continue his work in theatre
with people who have experienced mental illness and
carers through Move Speak Act. This project will result
in a performance in the BAC Dance Studio as part of the
Mindscapes Festival of Art and Mental Health under an
agreement with the Mindscapes Festival Committee.
The Disability Information Support Hub (DISH) exhibition
program has also continued on a quarterly basis,
providing opportunities for artists living with disability.
The establishment of the Namadgi Community Gallery,
with CCIO support and Tuggeranong Arts Centre (TAC)
administration, will provide rotating opportunities
to school groups, Indigenous artists, National Parks
Association members and affiliates as well as professional
artists that have participated in the Craft ACT Namadgi
artist–in–residence program.
Dance for People with Parkinsons, successfully piloted
in 2013–14 with support from an Adult and Community
Education (ACE) grant, has also expanded to TAC. CCIO
Philip Piggin has received for a Churchill Fellowship that
will allow him to travel to the UK and USA to further his
knowledge of the therapeutic application and theory of
dance in the community.
Tuggeranong and Belconnen Arts Centres worked
together in rebranding the CCIP throughout the past
year. The new brand included the development of a logo,
designed collateral and website which has allowed for
greater visibility of Programs. The Brand was launched by
the Minister for the Arts and promoted through the Send
Us a Selfie project.
With each project and collaboration, the CCIO network
has grown. Significant partners in 2013–14 include,
Centenary of Canberra and ACT Government, Disability
Information Support Hub (DISH), Black Mountain
School, Parkinsons ACT, Australian National University,
Canberra Institute of Technology, Museum of Australian
Democracy, Namadgi Park, National Parks Association
(ACT), Pialligo Residents Association, Oaks Estate and
Hall Progress Associations, Friends of the Hall School
House Museum, Belconnen Community Services, Bandu
Catering, the Mindscapes Committee, Watson Arts
Centre, Hands On Studio, Gold Creek Station and Craft
ACT Craft and Design Centre.
Artspace, facilitated by Nicola Lambert is another
participant driven program that is providing professional
visual art development for people living with disability.
The project aims to create large scale interactive visual art
displays for Shapes in Space, the annual BAC exhibition
for the International Day of People with a Disability late in
2014. It is anticipated that a thorough evaluation of this
program, led by Robyn Higgins, will provide valuable
insights and compelling evidence about the impacts of
such programs on the lives of vulnerable people.
Galamban Workshop: Weave with Storytelling