Highlights of 2022 included our Act Belong Commit Winter's Day event, the conclusion and celebratory exhibition of our Ebb+Flow residency program, and the establishment of new creative space The Exchange+Gallery in Mingenew in collaboration with the Mingenew CRC.
2022 was another great year for North Midlands Project.
The year began with the final three of our Ebb+Flow artist residencies - Sue Helmot from the Gascoyne region, Nyree-Jane Taylor from the Wheatbelt and Marianthe Loucataris from the Great Southern. This 18-month long program, in collaboration with the Regional Arts Network, drew to an apt close with the Act Belong Commit EBB+FLOW exhibition launching as the cornerstone of our major event for the year, A Winter's Day, held across Carnamah's Cultural Precinct.
Throughout 2022 we ran a weekly program of successful Creative Lab workshops in Geraldton, engaging people in recycling, reuse and waste diversion for creative endeavours.
Collaborating with the Mingenew CRC, we were delighted to commence work on The Exchange+Gallery, a new creative, community and exhibition space in Mingenew.
Working with the Carnamah Historical Society & Museum we hosted another of Art on the Move's Activating Collections residencies, with interdisciplinary artist Sujora Conrad spending three months in the region; and through Spaced we welcomed vocalist and interdisciplinary artist Tina Stefanou from Victoria.
In the second half of 2022 we launched our second residency program, Time+Place, in response to community voice about how we respond differently to challenges during the various ages and stages of life. It was a joy to welcome back our inaugural Act Belong Commit Youth Ambassador, Gabrielle Butler, who has since established a creative career; to deliver fantastic workshops with printmaker and photographer Stuart McMillan from WA's South West; and to further photographer Martine Perret's Women of the North Midlands series.
In 2022 we were proud to promote creativity through the Act Belong Commit message in partnership with Healthway; to foster an Alliance Against Depression in collaboration with WA Primary Health Alliance; and to receive support from a range of supporters including Lotterywest; Regional Arts WA; the Regional Arts Fund, Good Things Foundation; Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries; and the Government of Western Australia's Regional Exhibitions Touring Boost through Art on the Move.
– Jane King and Andrew Bowman-Bright
Ready-Made Farms by Sujora Conrad, Mixed Media, 120x35cm (2022)
In 2022 our Act Belong Commit Creative Community Program delivered 343 activities encouraging creativity, positive mental wellbeing and vibrant, liveable towns. 6,076 participants and 42,560 spectators engaged with our activities including workshops, performances, exhibitions and events in Carnamah, Coorow, Eneabba, Leeman, Geraldton, Greenough, Mingenew, Morawa, Mullewa, Perenjori and Three Springs. Thank you to all of the partners and supporters who worked with us during the year.
