What if we all had a say about Clarence Valley Culture?

YOU SAID: What if we promoted multicultural arts spaces in all of our villages?

Who could give this legs? Maybe the Clarence Valley Cultural Committee, hall committees and creatives within the Clarence Valley? Let's throw some ideas around. Add them below.

YOU SAID: What if there was an inclusive art space where artists and performers from across the Clarence Valley could call home?

What are your thoughts on this idea? Where would you locate it? Who would use it? Does Grafton's Regional Gallery already tick this box? Who would pay for it? What would it look like? Does this idea tie in with the auditorium idea on this page? 'LIKE' the idea or jump in the conversation below.

YOU SAID: What if our riverfront spaces were developed and expanded for river walks, outdoor events and public art?

Good news - plans to open up Yamba, Iluka, Maclean, Ulmarra and Grafton to the Clarence River are at various stages of development, and forecast in council's Clarence Valley Cultural Strategic Plan, Clarence Riverway Master Plan, and The Clarence 2027 Community Strategic Plan. It's happening! Example: The Maclean Riverside Precinct upgrade is well underway and funded by Federal and council funding. It encompasses river walks, seating, BBQ areas, pontoons and wharf facilities, natural amphitheatre seating, and Indigenous public art. Outdoor events already being held along the river include Maclean Riverside Picnics, Maclean Highland Gathering, Yamba River Markets, Yamba Farmers Markets, Jacaranda Festival's River Festival Feast and River Light Festival in Grafton. What other public art and cultural events would you like to see along our rivers? Comment below.

YOU SAID: What if Clarence Valley's small halls were activated?

Who wants to activate their local hall? Put your hand up and make a comment below. Maybe interested hall committees could form a 'small halls forum' and meet to throw some ideas around? There could be some home baking involved. Who's in? It would be great to hear about events already being held in our small halls. What pulls a crowd? Who wants to bring this idea to life? Add your ideas and comments below. 'LIKE' the idea if you'd like to see it developed.

YOU SAID: What if we developed and supported community arts organisations?

Our plunge Arts and Cultural Festival supports and develops over 100 community art organisations and artists each year. Are you a member of a community arts organisation? What sort of support do you need? Funding? Promotion? Greater participation? More people to buy art? Do you support community art organisations? Do you attend plunge events? Add your ideas and comments below.

ABORIGINAL

12 months ago

Support local Aboriginal community cultural development and work to foster greater understanding and respect of Aboriginal history, culture and identity within the broader community.

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YOU SAID: What if someone collected and dispersed info on how cultural practitioners can become more organised and known?

Try Arts Northern Rivers, Clarence Valley Cultural Committee, and Clarence Valley Aboriginal Advisory Committee for information. plunge Art and Cultural Festival is a great event to raise your profile. You can also take advantage of workshops to kick-start your career as an artist and self promotion. Use it. It's free and a super exciting time of the year to be an artist in the Clarence. Support can also be accessed from Arts Northern Rivers Indigenous Arts Development Officer, Mark Cora. Mark assists local Aboriginal artists with projects, identifying opportunities and managing a professional development program. Contact mark@artsnorthernrivers.com.au . Have you got any tips to becoming an organised artist or boosting profiles? Add your comments below and 'LIKE' the idea.

YOU SAID: What if there was a retail outlet for Aboriginal arts in Yamba or Maclean?

Good news - in 2018 Jabiru Art Gallery in Yamba opened to showcase and sell art by Aboriginal artists from across the Clarence Valley. The gallery is a CRANES initiative and is the first of its kind on Yaegl country. Have you visited the gallery and/or purchased art? Are you an artist who sells work through the gallery? How's it going? What other ideas do you have? Share your ideas below.

YOU SAID: What if Aboriginal culture was promoted through art, stories and commercial ventures?

Events like 'Dreamtime Stories with Uncle Ron' in Yamba (pictured) are privately operated events open to the public, and attracting large crowds. Bundjalung Cultural Experience is also expanding Aboriginal culture through art, stories, and education. What other projects can you think of? How do you share your culture or learn about Aboriginal culture in the Clarence Valley? 'LIKE' this idea and add a comment below.

YOU SAID: We need an Aboriginal radio show.

You also said: We should have local Aboriginal kids sharing music and stories and interviewing members of the community on one of our community radio stations - similar to the program the Coffs radio station does in the afternoons. Would any radio stations like to make this happen? What stations could we approach? Who wants to get involved and drive this idea? 'LIKE' this idea by clicking the heart and add your comments below.

YOU SAID: There is a big gap of Aboriginal knowledge between old and young. As elders pass away, we are loosing the knowledge.

Let's compile a list of people, groups and organisations working hard to ensure Aboriginal language, dance, culture and knowledge is passed between old and young. We'll get it started.... - Pre-schools and schools across the Clarence Valley - Clarence Valley Aboriginal Healing Centre in Grafton - Dance group Us Mob Balun Ngahriga - Collaboration with Maclean High students, Yaegl Elders and Desert Pea Media. - So many more.... There are plenty of individuals and groups working hard on this. Add them in the comments below and tell us what they're doing. Let's see how extensive our knowledge network is in the Clarence Valley. Share your idea below.

COMMUNITY CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

12 months ago

Build community pride and identity and inspire community and civic participation

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YOU SAID: How can we get more people to turn up to events?

Finding ways to engage and connect with the broader community, and then converting that connection into 'bottoms-on-seats', is a challenge all cultural events in the Clarence Valley face. Let's start with some basic questions (answer below): Where are you looking to find out about events? Newspaper? Social media? Email? Posters? Word of mouth? What is the deciding factor for you about whether to attend an event or not? Cost? Location? Timing? Type of event? Other? What events pull a crowd? What are they getting right? Have you got ideas to help with event promotion and cut through? Share your ideas below.

YOU SAID: What if we focused on the next generation of leaders to create and be innovative?

Let's brainstorm ideas to encourage the transfer of cultural and artistic knowledge? Who could be involved? Elders, mentors? What sort of activities or events would make this happen? Share your ideas below.

YOU SAID: What if there was access to Indian classical dance in the Clarence?

Is this already happening in the Clarence Valley? Is there a demand? Put your hand up if you'd like to learn Indian classical dance? Who wants to teach a class? Can we make this happen? Share your ideas below.

YOU SAID: What if there was a multicultural working group?

Do we need one? Put your hand up if you're interested in being a part of this group. Add your comments below and join in the conversation.

What if we had food trails in the area that gave information on native indigenous foods that grew in the area and how they were used?

Who likes this idea?

EVENTS

12 months ago

Support the community to have vibrant events

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YOU SAID: What if someone created a mural campaign highlighting three positive aspects of the Clarence Valley?

Interested? Why not put your hand up for this project. How do you see it working? A competition? Commissions? Themes? Locations? Can you suggest any walls? Share your ideas below.

YOU SAID: What if there was a sculpture event on Yamba headland and riverbank?

Who could make this happen? Let's brainstorm ideas below. Put your hand up if you think you could make this happen or suggest someone who can.

YOU SAID: What if there was support to grow current festivals and events?

Arts Northern Rivers is a great place to start if you're looking for support to grow arts and cultural projects. Festivals and events that attract visitors to the Clarence Valley can also attract funding through council's special events sponsorship program. Contact our Events and Promotions Officer for more information. Plus, our Community Initiatives Program provides grants for events focused on the local community. Contact our Grants Officer for info. Let's keep this conversation going. What sort of support do festivals and events need in our region? Share your ideas below.

YOU SAID: What if someone conducted a live music audit for one month to collect data?

Who wants to volunteer to audit our live music scene? Could be a good chance to get a super dose of live music. Or you could read and collate live music listings from newspaper ads. Nominate yourself below or share ideas. What could we do with the data?

YOU SAID: What if we had an open air cinema and community choirs?

A number of open air cinemas have popped up across the Clarence over the years including Ford Park and the water tower in Yamba, Big 4 at Palmers Island, Solitary Islands Resort Wooli, and Market Square in Grafton. Youth week 2019 also hosted an open air cinema at Yamba Oval. Community choirs already exist including church choirs. But is there a gap in the choir market? Do we need a specific choir? Suggest people or businesses who could make these events happen. Maybe they already are? Share your ideas below or 'LIKE' this idea.

PUBLIC ART AND SIGNAGE

12 months ago

Provide opportunities for cultural awareness and creative expression and the activation of public space.

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YOU SAID: What if purple pavements were installed to celebrate Jacaranda season?

What do you think of this idea? Could it work across the Clarence Valley or just for Grafton? Where is the best location for a purple path? Purple concrete is achievable but do we want it? Do you think this is a form of public art? Like or comment on this idea below.

YOU SAID: What if Grafton had a purple waterfall or a purple fountain?

To vote for this idea, click the heart. Let's see how popular it is. Where could a purple waterfall go? Off the bridge? Anyone keen to develop the idea further? Share your comments below.

YOU SAID: What if the entrances to Grafton were marked by big billboards with pictures of grand historic buildings?

Good news - All of the towns and villages in the Clarence Valley are set to get new signs. A style guide is in the final stages of design and new signs are expected to be rolled out across the region in the near future. The signs will acknowledge our Yaegl, Bundjalung and Gumbaynggirr nations. Share your ideas for village and town signs below. What have you seen that you like? Join the conversation below.

YOU SAID: What if we got teenagers who don't feel they belong into a public art graffiti project?

Who likes this idea? In South Grafton, artist Kade Valja's Flow Space Gallery and Studio offers weekly graffiti classes for youth (creative kids vouchers cover the cost for 5 classes!). During the plunge Festival Kade will be hosting an 'Intro to Graffiti' workshop and Posca workshop. Who knows of any other graffiti workshops or projects in the Clarence Valley? Share your ideas below.

YOU SAID: What if there was an annual 'sculpture in the park' event held by the river?

You also said: It could be a themed competition and the public could vote. What are your thoughts? Where could you see this happening? Who could run it? You? Click the heart if you'd love to see it happen. Join in the conversation.