Share your ideas for the Plunge Art & Culture Festival

YOU SAID: What if we could provide assistance, development and support to Grafton Regional Gallery?

Good news - in 2018 a federal grant of $7.6 million was announced to revitalise Grafton Regional Gallery including a world-class exhibition space and essential flood protection of its $3.7 million collection. 'LIKE' this idea or add your comments 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.

get rid of the whole councile

they are a waste of time

What if the Grafton Gail was used as an inclusive Art Space and exhibition area, different areas for different art forms.

YOU SAID: What if Aboriginal language was taught?

Individuals, groups and organisations who could help make this happen or are already doing it include: schools, TAFE NSW, Community College, Arrawarra Cultural Centre, Muurrbay Aboriginal Language and Cultural Cooperative (Nambucca), Clarence Valley Aboriginal Advisory Committee, Bundjalung Language Nest at Southern Cross University. This is a just a start. Add to this list in the comments below. How would you like see language taught in the Clarence Valley? Tell us how it's already happening. What schools are excelling? Can it expand? Add your ideas below or 'LIKE' this idea.

YOU SAID: What if we supported Aboriginal artists?

As part of Grafton Regional Gallery's operations, council continues to support the Lindt Project and bi-annual Clarence Valley Aboriginal Art Award. Support can also be accessed from Arts Northern Rivers and 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 . Are you a Clarence Valley Aboriginal artists? Start a conversation below. How can we support your artistic endeavours? Add your ideas to this thread.

YOU SAID: What if we developed an Aboriginal cultural event in the Clarence Valley?

Let's brainstorm. What would an Aboriginal cultural event look like in our region? Location? Who could run the event? How can you help? Events that inspired this idea (as mentioned by you) include the Saltwater Freshwater Festival in Coffs Harbour and Deadly Days Festival. Share your ideas below or vote for this idea with a 'LIKE'.

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.

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 we worked with creatives from Southern Cross University and TAFE NSW?

How would this relationship work? Any ideas for projects? Are you a creative SCU or TAFE NSW student? What do you think of this idea? Have you got a project in mind? Put your hand up. Collaborate. Let's make this happen. Share your ideas below.

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 developed an inclusive community so people felt they belonged and were valued?

Let's use this idea to highlight inclusive art and cultural projects in the Clarence Valley. What projects are working? What more can be done? Who is being ignored? Put your hand up if you see an idea you can help with. Share your ideas below.

YOU SAID: What if some vibrancy was injected into Prince Street?

Good news - Council is trialling a Vibrant Places initiative, removing red tape to allow businesses to add colour, products, busking, outdoor dining options and entertainment onto our streets, and it's working. What more would you like to see happen? Do you have specific ideas? Share your ideas below - and let's expand the focus to include main streets in all Clarence Valley towns and villages.

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 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 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.

YOU SAID: What if we held a feast on the old Grafton Bridge for the opening of the new bridge? Food stalls, local produce, music etc.

What do you think of this idea? Can we do this? Who could help make this happen? TAFE NSW? RMS? Lions Club? Could we replicate the event at Harwood? Hands up who wants to make it happen.....share your ideas below. Click the heart to 'LIKE' the idea. Every vote counts!

YOU SAID: What if events were planned to suit the climate? In summer we should have more twilight events.

To highlight the popularity of twilight events, look at the success of Yamba Food Truck Festival, hosted by Yamba Golf and Country Club. Let's brainstorm some more ideas for twilight events. What sort of events would you like to see? Who could run them? Where? Tell us about your event? Cinema under the stars? Twilight markets? Picnics? Share your ideas 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 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 we utilised the iconic Jacaranda in our signage?

Good news - We have billboards on the highway promoting Grafton and Jacaranda Season. What do you think of this idea? Do you think jacarandas could be used to promote the entire Clarence Valley or just Grafton? Share your thoughts below.

YOU SAID: What if we promoted the islands in our river? The islands could be signposted on the highway and driving to Yamba.

A wonderful project for 2019 is 53 Islands, an arts and cultural celebration of Clarence River islands from 7th - 20th October 2019. The project aims to inspire Clarence Valley people and groups to salute the islands with art, photography, land care, science, Aboriginal culture, stories, navigation, fishing etc. Do you have an idea? Get involved. Share your ideas below and contact 53islands@gmail.com for more information. As for signage, our major islands are already signposted including Woodford Island and Goodwood Island. Signposting of islands on the highway and driving to Yamba can only be done where there is a suitable pull over/rest spot such as the sign posting of Ulgundahi Island. Which islands would you like to see signposted? Join in the conversation below.

YOU SAID: What if there was a big Jacaranda tree on the highway covered in lights to entice cars to turn into Jaca Town (South Grafton)?

What do you think of this idea? Do you think we build a tree, grow a tree or use an existing tree? Best location? Who would be responsible for maintenance of the tree, lights, cost? Share your thoughts below and if you like this idea, vote for it or put your hand to make it happen.