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It's been a big year, but aren't they all?
2014 took Big hART all over the countryside, from one incredible moment to the next. Read on for the highlights from our projects and the first word on things to look out for as we head into 2015.
Thank you for your ongoing support - we wish you a restful holiday period and all the best with your ambitions for the new year.
The Big hART Team
www.bighart.org
Image by Chris Gosfield - a packed Federation Square in Melbourne as the Murru concert launches the 2014 Melbourne Festival.
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Yijala Yala Project
What an incredible year it's been for the Yijala Yala Project, and here’s a wrap of the good things: our third digital storybook The Echidna and the Dress was completed in March, and released on iTunes. Also in March, the documentary about the making of Neomad ‘How do we get to Space?’ was completed. It recently won an ATOM Award for Best Short-form Documentary and has been selected for Flickerfest, one of Australia’s most prestigious short film festivals, and will be screening at Bondi Beach in January 2015.
In April, a creative development was held in Roebourne to prepare for the September/October performances of Hipbone Sticking Out. Roebourne and the broader City of Karratha community were treated to a unique performance of Hipbone at the Amphitheatre to open Stage 1 of the Ngurin Pilbara Aboriginal Centre, with more than 700 people in attendance. The tour then headed to Perth for a one week season at the Heath Ledger Theatre, where Hipbone received a rare five-star review from The West Australian’s theatre critic David Zampatti, calling it “a mighty show that will become a milestone in Australian theatre”.
Then it was on to the Melbourne Festival, where the Murru Concert opened the Festival in Federation Square, as well as the hearts and minds of the 6,000 people in attendance. This was also the launch of the One in Two: Unlock the Future campaign, aimed at reducing incarceration rates of young Indigenous people (please sign up here!) The following week, Hipbone opened a six show season at the Melbourne Arts Centre Playhouse, and received a standing ovation from the full house at every performance. Thank you everyone who was able to join us.
SBS/NITV recently commissioned 23 short films from the Project for screening on national TV in early 2015 - so keep an eye out for some of your favourites!
Debra, Laura and the Yijala Yala team.
Image of the Murru concert in Federation Square by Chris Gosfield
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Blue Angel
"For many seafarers Christmas can mean loneliness and separation from loved ones on December 25th - just another working day, ice-cold winds, raging seas, maybe threats of piracy for Christmas. So spare a thought for the real Santas delivering us our gifts."
Blue angel Project has a spectacular year ahead. Thank you for your support to build the project into something important - helping promote a global campaign for 'Fair Shipping'.
We can't wait for the world premiere of Blue Angel, kicking off in Hobart:
March 24 - 29th, 2015
Tasmanian International Arts Festival
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There are many organisations combating the loneliness and isolation of seafarers on our shores. To donate, here are just some suggestions:
We wish you safety and happiness. See you in Hobart, Melbourne & Adelaide in 2015!
Cecily, Holly, Sam & the Blue Angel team
Image of seafarer Peter Hegney by photographer Brett Boardman
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Namatjira
Last month, almost exactly one year since our time in London, the Namatjira team came together in Canberra for the launch of the Namatjira to Now: Five Generations of Watercolours from the Central Desert exhibition at Parliament House. It was a massive week and a great way to end the year for the Namatjira Project!
Four artists; Lenie Namatjira, Gloria Pannka, Kevin Namatjira and Mervyn Rubuntja travelled from Alice Springs, representing the artists. Three students from Ntaria school; Aretha, Semra and Cheyanne came representing the 5th generation. Senator Nigel Scullion, Minister for Indigenous Affairs hosted the event and officially announced the Namatjira Trust, which will launch next year. Funds in this trust will go directly to supporting the longevity of this iconic arts movement.
As the Namatjira project continues to slowly wrap up on-the-ground work in the community, there are still a few exciting things in the mix for 2015 - including the Namatjira documentary which we really look forward to sharing with you in the new year!
Thank you for the continued support for this great project, we look to the future with excitement and determination.
If you are in Canberra over the summer period be sure to visit Namatjira to Now at Parliament House. The exhibition is free and continues until February 9th. If you have friends or family in Canberra please also encourage them to take a look. Visiting information can be found HERE.
Sophia, Holly and the Namatjira team.
Image of Sophia, Senator Nigel Scullion and Lenie Namatjira at the launch of Namatjira to Now by Greer Versteeg.
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Acoustic Life of Sheds and our NW Tasmania projects
North West Tasmania serves as the R&D hub for Big hART’s national and international work and during 2014 played host to artists and producers from all the company’s projects.
We continued our work with local young people and, guided by our London director in residence Luke Kernaghan and supported by creatives from Yijala Yala, Blue Angel and Acoustic Life of Sheds, they created the brilliant original production To A Different Drum.
Our series of house concerts presented local and visting musicians, including Bill Chambers, Genevieve Lacey, Lucky Oceans, Madeleine Flynn and Tim Humphrey in intimate, informal settings. Plenty of smiles and applause and even some tears at the beauty of the music created.
Excitement is now building for Acoustic Life of Sheds as part of the Tasmanian International Arts Festival. There’s never been a better reason to acquaint yourself with this little-known part of the country. Breathtaking landscapes, virtuosic musicians, great sheds, wonderful farming families. It’s free but audience numbers are limited so be sure to register your interest at http://www.acousticlifeofsheds.bighart.org/
Finally, a big thank you to all our friends on the coast who’ve supported Big hART during 2014, in particular the staff at Wynyard High School and all our farming families.
Andrew Viney, Bronwyn Folden, Ellen Steiner.
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Project Cosmopolitana
From Project Cosmopolitana’s first creative development in October 2013 various workshops, live events, community collaborations and public showings have taken place and captured the imaginations of those with connections to the Cooma region.
Through workshops with young people, artists, seniors and community members, we have seen original material developed which will continue to build in the lead up to the Project's major theatre work Ghosts in the Scheme. The project has established strong community and creative partnerships, which will continue to grow over the next year. The new year will see intensive creative development taking place prior to our Cooma community showing in May, and premiere season of the final production at the Canberra Theatre Centre in early September.
You can book now for the premiere season of Ghosts in the Scheme September 2-5 - visit the Canberra Theatre Centre website.
We look forward to seeing you in Canberra and Cooma in 2015!
Sophia and Rose
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