Regional art interest renewed

Art Change  TBW Newsgroup
CHANGE UNDER WAY: Art and culture in Mount Gambier could soon be taken in a new direction with Country Arts SA yesterday announcing a restructure of the organisation to provide a greater regional focus. While Fringe Mount Gambier remains one of the region's biggest artistic showcases, new events could be trigger by the looming appointment of a creative producer, based at Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre. Picture: MOLLY TAYLOR

Art Change TBW Newsgroup
CHANGE UNDER WAY: Art and culture in Mount Gambier could soon be taken in a new direction with Country Arts SA yesterday announcing a restructure of the organisation to provide a greater regional focus. While Fringe Mount Gambier remains one of the region’s biggest artistic showcases, new events could be trigger by the looming appointment of a creative producer, based at Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre. Picture: MOLLY TAYLOR

THE biggest regional arts centre in the state will undergo a restructure with Country Arts SA yesterday announcing it would increase its commitment towards regional areas.

The realignment will see two new positions created in Limestone Coast, with a creative producer based at the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre and an arts and cultural facilitator through Naracoorte Lucindale District Council.

Up to six full-time equivalent positions will be reduced at the organisation’s metropolitan hub as part of its renewed focus, with any additional staff impacts at the Mount Gambier-based office unknown.

Yesterday’s announcement follows detailed consultation with various stakeholders across the state with the arts body announcing the staffing structure would ensure it can continue to create and support art and culture long-term in regional South Australia.

“This has been a comprehensive analysis of how we can best move into the future,” Country Arts SA chief executive officer Steve Saffell said.

“The process really has been a co-design, with all staff being involved in shaping the new organisation.

“We are fully committed to bringing the art and the stories of regional South Australia to life as seen through projects such as the current touring exhibition Vietnam – One In, All In and new theatre work Euphoria which will premiere in 2020.”

As part of the realignment, Country Arts SA will provide more employment opportunities for regional people across all parts of its business, build its capacity to produce new work with communities and continue to modernise its four regional theatres.

The changes will include a renewed focus on sourcing alternative income sources, building more relationships, partnerships and collaborations that support the arts, introducing further administrative efficiencies and investing in sustainable practices and employing staff from a diversity of backgrounds and experiences.

“As an example each arts centre will eventually have a specialist marketing and community engagement officer and a creative producer, in addition to having more local skills in finance, programming and customer experiences,” Mr Saffell said.

“In the coming months, we will be transferring roles from our Port Adelaide office to our art centres in order to better reflect the communities in which we work.”

Mr Saffell said everything possible would be done to look after staff and secure the future for arts in regional SA.

“Our staff are our greatest asset and it is regrettable the next several months will be a period of significant change and transition that will impact in some way on all staff,” he said.

“The changes will be more significant for some than others and we are offering those staff the support they need to take the next step in their career.

“Our new organisation will be sustainable – we will value our regional artists and communities.

“We will present a diversity of arts experiences that are relevant to regional communities and create new art with stories from regional South Australia to share with the rest of the world.”

The changes are already under way and are expected to take 12 months to complete.