New Creative Regions Fund Announced!

MEDIA RELEASE

June 2015

 

MAJOR INVESTMENT FROM ROYALTIES FOR REGIONS - CREATIVE REGIONS PROGRAM TO FOCUS ON CREATIVITY THROUGH REGIONAL WA

Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council is proud to announce that they are receiving funding from the recently announced Royalties for Regions’ Creative Regions program which will see the State Government invest $24million in arts and culture in regional Western Australia over four years.

Jessica Machin, CEO of Country Arts WA which four years ago called on the State to open its eyes to the wide ranging benefits delivered to regional communities through culture and the arts, congratulated Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council and praised the State government on its investment which was unveiled this week by the Minister for Culture and Arts The Hon. John Day and Regional Development Minister Terry Redman at the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre on Wednesday 10 June 2015.

Ms Machin said the allocation of funds is the largest and most significant investment in regional arts in Western Australia and across the country would support vibrancy and capacity building and positive social impact for the regions.

Known as the Royalties for Regions – Creative Regions program, the initiative will be delivered through a memorandum of understanding between the Department of Culture and the Arts (DCA) and the Department of Regional Development (DRD).

Ainsley Foulds, current Chairperson of the Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council, stated that the organisation is excited at the prospects this funding will enable it to achieve throughout the Shire of Ravensthorpe. The committee expects to meet with Key Stakeholders and consult its Strategic Plan to ensure this funding has a long lasting positive social impact on the community and supports the committee’s sustainability goals.

 

Overview of Scheme 4

Scheme 4 will be managed by Country Arts WA on behalf of the Department of Culture and the Arts. It will expand on existing partnerships and develop new partnerships and programs to strengthen regionally based arts and cultural organisations in Western Australia. The funding will provide services to regionally based arts organisations, artists and art workers across all art forms.  Programs will be informed by regional funding priorities identified in a 2013 survey which revealed strong support for the arts for regional people.  More info www.countryartswa.asn.au

2015 Art Exhibition

GYM and TONIC!

Gin and Tonics were flowing, fabulous food was consumed and gym gear was adorned; all in the name of community spirit and the arts! The show was attended by nearly 100 people including Ross Beckett, Country Arts WA Chairperson who travelled all the way from Esperance!

 The Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council was proud to bring the Country Arts WA touring show “Gym and Tonic” to the Hopetoun Everett Golf Club on Monday May 25^th 2015. The show was created and performed by Roz Hammond, as seen on Muriel’s Wedding, The Librarians and Shaun Micallef’s Mad as Hell!
Roz Hammond played eight different gym-junkie characters in her self-penned, one woman show, based on her own work as a trainer in a women's gym. 

The vision was to make it more than just the show with additions such as delicious platters by Steele and Streets Woodfired Treats and café style cakes available after the show with proceeds going to the Hopetoun P&C.

Audience members were encouraged to dress up in their gym gear and participate in a mock “circuit” as they entered the Golf Club. Special mention to Carly Reeve who was awarded the best-dressed prize on the night. Carly won a massage voucher for Cassie’s Remedial Massage that was kindly donated by Cassie Badcock.

We thank the local community for supporting the Arts Council and coming along to the show, we hope everyone had an amazing night out!

The next Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council show is The Lost WW1 Diary by Damien Callinan at the Jerdacuttup Hall on Saturday August 29th 2015. It will be the last Country Arts WA touring show of the year that the RRAC will present in collaboration with the Jerdacuttup Community Association, so see you there!!!

 

Please enjoy these photos from the event.

 

 

Almost time for Gym and Tonic!

Tonight's Gym and Tonic performed by Roz Hammond is out at the Hopetoun Golf Club.

Doors open at 5:30pm for the bar and Steele and Streets Woodfired Treats will have tasty platters to share.  Platters will cost $35 (to feed two) and include;
-Tandoori chicken skewers
-anti pesto
-hummus
-hand rolled cheese sticks
-spinach focaccia
-roast capo and cashew dip
-smoked salmon with Cream fresh and seaweed salad
-Asian rice paper rolls
-Chorizo sausage

After the show stick around to support the Hopetoun Primary School P & C and have a delicious supper of amazing café style cakes and tea!

The FREE bus (thanks to Lotterywest) departs Ravensthorpe Community Resource Centre at 6pm.

Be sure to wear your best (or worst!) gym gear to be in for a prize!

 

 

 

Roz Hammond performs all 8 characters in Gym & Tonic.  photo by James Penlidis.

 

 

The tables are set for the show!

Jamie and Narda begin preparing for the evening meals.

 

 

A community arts project for all!

A feel-good piece about brittle bones, broken hearts and the unswerving love of mothers!

 Country Arts WA and Act-Belong-Commit present Gym and Tonic locally presented by Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council at

 

Hopetoun Everett Golf Club
Monday May 25

image by James Penlidis

Writer/performer Roz Hammond is familiar to ABC audiences through her work in Shaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell, The Librarians and The Micallef Programme, together with countless other credits including Muriel’s Wedding, The Dish, Please Like Me, Offspring, and It’s a Date. Now she brings her own one-woman show to her home state of Western Australia.

An uplifting story set in a women’s gym class where a group of strangers gradually reveal themselves as they bump and grind through a set of hilariously inappropriate routines. Exploring the themes of love, loss, loneliness and family, Roz plays all eight characters in this warm and moving tale.
First runner up for the Artrage Theatre Award at the 2014 Perth Fringe, Gym and Tonic enjoyed a sold out season at the 2013 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

"Hammond is a sparkling performer who holds our attention and gains our
sympathy as her stories unfold." David Zampatti, The West Australian

"If the likes of Calendar Girls, Steel Magnolias and Jam & Jerusalem give you the sudden urge to call up the girls for a slumber party (even if you are well into your sixties), Gym & Tonic is like a bear-hug from your best friend." Perth Culture

2014 Perth Fringe Festival, First Runner Up - Artrage Theatre Award
"A touching and superbly performed piece of theatre that explores themes of love, loss, family and loneliness" Timeout

"You will definitely leave this show feeling elated and reflective" Herald Sun

"The show is a dazzling display of her skills as a sketch-comedy writer-performer – familiar to anyone who’s seen her in multiple incarnations on the small screen (most recently in Shaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell’). However, it’s also much more than that." Crikey

"If the likes of Calendar Girls, Steel Magnolias and Jam & Jerusalem give you the sudden urge to call up the girls for a slumber party (even if you are well into your sixties), Gym & Tonic is like a bear-hug from your best friend." Perth Culture

"Hammond is a sparkling performer who holds our attention and gains our sympathy as her stories unfold." David Zampatti, The West Australian

*Tickets $25 adult, $20 concession on sale now at Hopetoun and Ravensthorpe CRCs. Ravensthorpe CRC can take over the phone bookings with credit cards on 9838 1340.

Doors and bar open 5:30pm with meals available for purchase from Steel and Streets Woodfired Treats.

Show starts 7:30pm.  Please note that meals and drinks cannot be served during the 50 minute performance.

Free bus departs Ravensthorpe CRC car park at 6pm, collect from Wavecrest car park along the way.


* Recommended Audience 18+. Minimal swearing. Adult themes (death, loss, loneliness).

Term One of Dance Finished in Style!

 

The Hopetoun Dance Group has successfully completed its first term of dance classes and it finished in style! On Thursday April 2, 2015 all dancers aged four years and up put on a performance for families and friends to showcase what they had learnt throughout the term. More than 45 children participate in Jazz Ballet and Hip Hop classes offered after school. All the dancers looked fabulous in their costumes, thank you to Astrid and Russell from Hopetoun IGA Community Chest Fund who kindly donated $200 to enable us to buy costumes. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors: The Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council, First Quantum Minerals, Hopetoun Primary School, School of Bop and Little Barrens Early Learning Centre. Bringing dance to this community wouldn’t be possible without the support of these businesses so we thank you very much.