Stage 3 - Overview
The impetus behind Stage 3 is the strong rationale for a state-wide initiative across art-forms that provides a tangible experience for organisations and individuals to work together towards a shared vision. During Stages 1 and 2 of Mycelium, this crystallised into an interest in developing an inaugural Regional Arts Triennial.
The Triennial provides a significant promotional platform for contemporary regional art practice. Presenting new work to new audiences, challenges, inspires & emboldens. Taking art from the regions to the city reverses the dominant art touring paradigm. It positions the unique voice of regional experience central to the State’s cultural narrative.
For Mycelium, it is envisaged that the sector would engage in a single conversation topic that could be explored in any creative modality and shared with regional communities across any venue and presentation format. The model used in ‘The Alternative Archive’ exhibition series during the original Creative Grid project was suggested as a successful model for this process.
A written framework for an ongoing Triennial that is informed by the knowledge gained through the development and delivery of the inaugural event will be drafted by SFA (during Stage 4) and peer reviewed. The final model will be scalable, replicable and sustainable. Distributed to project partners and industry stakeholders it provides the case study for dedicated ongoing funding.
The Triennial offers multiple entry points along a learning continuum, integrating expertise and shared resources from across the Mycelium network. It pilots a co-designed regionally driven collaborative model that allows the sector to experiment, adapt and integrate successful elements into future iterations.
Mycelium is an initial (and achievable) step in an evolving pathway over the next decade to grow a festival in scale and scope.
It draws upon the strengths of the ambitious and successful ‘Connect to The Creative Grid’ project managed by Southern Forest Arts in 2017-19 utilising proven processes of co- design, mentorship and collaboration but expanded to include multi-artforms, access to new venues, audiences and communities.
By working in conjunction with metro-based peak organisations that service the regions (including Regional Arts WA, GalleriesWest and Art on the Move) Mycelium offers the opportunity to road-test ideas alongside other investigative tools as part of the process to build a business case to present to the State Treasury for designated future festival funding. If secured, this funding would provide a regular funding to commission new high quality artworks, presented to new audiences that enrich regional communities with regionally generated arts and culture experiences.
Proposed Activities
- During Stage 3 (July 21-June 22) 16 mentorships offered to 30 artworkers based in 25 communities across all 9 regions support 2 Lead Mentors, 9 Curator Mentees and 5 Producer Mentees to undertake 14 inter- connected Creative Developments.
- 120 regional artists receive fees to develop 9 group exhibitions & 5 performances (across any artform).
- 20+ arts organisations actively support production & prepare for presentation.
- 14 regional photographers selected, documentation of activities commence
- Fortnightly email updates to network
- Monthly zoom meetings to discuss topics of vision, progress, concern etc • Regular social media updates on project progress
- Festival title confirmed, Funding sought and secured
- Liaison between network members facilitated by Project Coordinator
- Ongoing communication with DLGSC, RAWA, CircuitWest and John Curtin Gallery (JCG) re development of business case for ongoing regional arts festival model based on learnings from Mycelium
- Festival promotion
Mentorships
Stage 3 and 4 of Mycelium provides a PD growth hierarchy for regionally based creative practitioners along a mentorship pathway designed to be ongoing within the proposed Triennial framework. It offers multiple entry points and integrates learning resources and networks of project partners.
16 mentorships provide professional development for 30 artworkers based in 25 communities across all 9 regions. This consists of:
- 2 Lead mentorships
- Lead Curator receives guidance from Director of Visual Arts (John Curtin Gallery) The Lead Producer from Director of Performing Arts (Circuitwest)
- 9 Curator Mentorships
- 9 regional mentees receive guidance from 9 regional mentors to develop curatorial skill applied to the development of 9 group exhibitions (1 per region)
- 5 Producer Mentorships
- 5 regional mentees receive guidance from 5 regional mentors to develop production skill applied to the development of 5 performative works (in 5 regions)
The Mentorship Program provides the core support and PD structure for the Regional Arts Triennial. It delivers consistency and connectivity across all 14 creative developments within Stage 3 and 20+ regional and metro presentations within Stage 4.
Insight garnered throughout the project will be shared through the network, where learning from one mentorship can be applied to others, multiplying impact.
Mycelium's series of 20 mentorships provides professional development that's personalised and relevant to the community in which the exhibition/performance is presented, benefitting not just the mentees but the mentees’ community.
Where possible (and appropriate) Mycelium’s mentors will have previously been mentees in the Connect to The Creative Grid project. In this way the festival model will build upon previous iterations, each reinforcing the skill gained as a mentee that becomes the confidence when imparted as a mentor.
Regular monthly zoom sessions will allow project participants to share insights, resources and expertise to empower others.
For info about other stages
