May 11, 2023 Image: Where is all our water, 2022, Grace Barnes.
Students in regional NSW will have access to free school holiday programs thanks to a new partnership between the Powerhouse, Regional Futures and TAFE NSW. This partnership will engage leading regional NSW artists, creatives and educators to expand the popular Creative Studio school-holiday program across regional NSW.
Regional Futures is a state-wide initiative to highlight regional artists through a program of creative development and conversations, placing artists at the centre of a dialogue exploring a future vision for the places where they live and create.
Regional artists will collaborate with Powerhouse and TAFE NSW students to develop a 3-day program of hands-on creative workshops that engage with the Powerhouse collection. The participating artists will have an opportunity to run a workshop in Parramatta and network with Powerhouse Creative Industries Residents, Powerhouse curators and Creative Studio alumni before they deliver the workshop in their regional town in collaboration with Regional Futures and TAFE NSW.
The first Creative Studio + Regional Futures program will be presented in Parramatta and Maitland, led by multidisciplinary artist and animator Grace Barnes. Grace will take students through her creative process of digitising and animating self-portraits using Procreate and augmented reality technology. Learn more about the workshop.
Powerhouse Creative Studio was launched in 2020, in collaboration with TAFE NSW focusing on the development of creative skills for young people in Western Sydney. Led by Sydney based artists, the program has been providing students with opportunities to immerse themselves in themed creative workshops including science, arts, design, music and storytelling on weekends and school holidays.
‘We are thrilled to collaborate with Regional Futures and TAFE NSW to deliver the Creative Studio workshop program across regional NSW. We appreciate the support and collaboration from our partners TAFE NSW and Regional Futures for bringing this incredible opportunity to regional students,’ said Powerhouse Chief Executive Lisa Havilah.
‘The Regional Arts Network is thrilled Grace Barnes has been selected for Powerhouse’s Creative Studio program. Grace is a multidisciplinary artist, representing the Upper Hunter region for ‘Regional Futures’. Her beautiful, thought-provoking illustrations and subtle animations tell the story of two possible futures; a human-centred and stagnant pathway (Anthropocene) or a harmonious, interconnected one (Symbiocene). The partnership between Powerhouse, Regional Futures and TAFE NSW demonstrates the power of collaboration across organisations. The Creative Studio is a unique and rich offer for this regional artist in the early stages of her career,’ said Creative Director at Regional Futures, Narelle Vogel.
‘We are excited to be part of this innovative collaboration with Regional Futures and Powerhouse, which will not only provide regional NSW students with access to high-quality creative education and skills, but also give them the opportunity to gain valuable work experience,’ said TAFE NSW Executive Director Education and Skills, Dr Raf Marcellino.
‘TAFE NSW is committed to delivering training and education that supports the growth of the creative industries across NSW, and this partnership is a fantastic opportunity to engage with leading regional artists and educators, help nurture the next generation of creative talent, and provide our students with hands-on experience in their chosen field.’
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MEDIA CONTACTS
Cara Lopez | Powerhouse
cara.lopez@maas.museum | 0438 147 097
About Powerhouse
Powerhouse sits at the intersection of arts, design, science and technology and plays a critical role in engaging communities with contemporary ideas and issues. We are undertaking a landmark $1.4 billion infrastructure renewal program, spearheaded by the creation of the flagship museum, Powerhouse Parramatta; expanded research and public facilities at Powerhouse Castle Hill; the renewal of the iconic Powerhouse Ultimo; and the ongoing operation of Sydney Observatory. The museum is custodian to over half a million objects of national and international significance and is considered one of the finest and most diverse collections in Australia. We are also undertaking an expansive digitisation project that will provide new levels of access to Powerhouse collections.
About Regional Futures
‘Regional Futures’ is a 2-year initiative of the NSW Regional Arts Network, representing the 15 Regional Arts Organisations that provides strategic directions for sustainable arts and cultural development in the regions. ‘Regional Futures’, funded by Create NSW, is a collective project, offering an opportunity for artists from each region to develop a new work in response to the question, ‘What does the future look like in your region?’
About TAFE NSW
TAFE NSW is a leading provider of vocational education and training in Australia. Each year, more than 430,000 students enrol in our courses and training. We aim to skill the workforce for the future through high quality education and training.
TAFE NSW has a great reputation for industry and business partnerships. These connections ensure our students get the highest level of practical training, meaning we can build skills for a high quality, job-ready workforce.
TAFE NSW has been delivering training for more than 130 years.