West Darling Art’s core business is to provide advocacy, support and advice for the arts sector in the Far West. For example, we provide letters of support for grant applicants and information about opportunities for individual artists and groups. We also build connections across our region for artists and organisations.

Over the past 12 months we have been reminded how tenacious and valuable the arts has been in keeping us all connected during difficult times. The following events and projects were delivered by us over 2021:

* The Life Drawing + Live Music Month held in February with Create NSW ArtsRestart funding. This event was so popular we repeated it again in March!

* Puppet shows in Wentworth, Broken Hill, Wilcannia, White Cliffs and Pooncarie with Create NSW ArtsRestart funding.

* Four Art Residencies with artists Dale Collier in Menindee, Janet Meaney in Wilcannia, Kathy Najar in White Cliffs and Graeme Armstrong in White Cliffs. Funded by Create NSW.

* Culture Maps were developed and printed to promote the arts in the Far West with Create NSW ArtsRestart funding.

* Live Music Month was held in Broken Hill and Silverton in May with Create NSW Arts Restart funding. This popular event promoted 14 local bands in 14 venues.

* The Wilcannia Aboriginal Story poles were moved to Wilcannia and are currently located in the Queen’s Head Gallery.

* Jeweller, Mel Young, facilitated a jewellery workshop for Aboriginal participants with Indigenous Languages and the Arts (ILA) funding in April.

* A Weaving Workshop was facilitated by Cathy Farry in Tilpa for Rural Connect Child + Family Fun Day.

* The Menindee Film + Media Hub is under development, facilitated by Homelandings Media, Otis Filley and Dan Schulz. West Darling Arts is auspicing the grant from the Murray Darling Basin Economic Delivery program.

* West Darling Arts sponsored a prize for the Maari Ma Indigenous Art Exhibition in partnership with Maari Ma and Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery.

* Our partnership with Outback Arts allowed local artists to participate in the Outback Archies, a touring exhibition to venues in Western NSW.

* West Darling Arts curated an exhibition Wirtu’wirtulinya (Three Sisters), by three young Barkindji women, Taya Biggs, Jade Cicak and Elisha Mangal for the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery

* The WDA component of the Sturt’s Steps project is well underway. The Milparinka artwork made by Broken Hill artists, Gritta Walker and Bonnie Quayle, has been installed. The Tibooburra artwork is in final stages of manufacture at the artist, Ivan Lovatt's property in SE Queensland. Ian Marr, an artist living part of the time on a station outside Wilcannia, has commenced carving the stone monoliths at Packsaddle. His four stone benches have been delivered to be carved on site once the other stone elements have been installed.

Visiting Artist in Residence, Lizzie Buckmaster-Dove, commented recently ‘I am loving building a relationship with WDA, your places & community; connecting the coasted fringe to inland.’

Our office will be closed from Thursday 23 December, reopening on Monday 17 January. Take care and have a happy and creative new year and we look forward to connecting with you in 2022.

Cathy, Jo and Kelly.

Image: Lainie, our life model for Life Drawing and Live Music Month. Photo Cathy Farry.