A touring pilot program of performing arts involving more than 150 students
across eight communities has been marked a huge success.
The collaboration between the Regional Arts Services Network and
CQUniversity, with support from four regional Councils, has delivered the successful
pilot program of performing arts and workshops across the Wide Bay, Bundaberg
and Burnett regions.
Electronic music duo Patty Preece and Melania Jack of the ‘Ironing Maidens’ and two professional dancers, Georgia Pearce and Nadia Milford, toured the Wide Bay Burnett region in October, delivering 17 workshops and three performances across eight communities.
The project was aimed at bringing alternative art forms to rural communities, providing arts education and professional development opportunities, and increasing regional touring offerings.
By working collaboratively across the four Councils involved, CQUniversity Regional Arts Manager Trudie Leigo said the project could achieve cost efficiencies that would not have been possible if one council had acted alone.
“The success of this project is greatly thanks to the commitment, support and investment by the four participating Councils, but also because of the tireless dedication of the project personnel involved,” Trudie said.
“The feedback from the schools, teachers, students and community members who took part in the electronic music and dance workshops has been overwhelmingly positive.”
The program included a number of school-based workshops in music and dance, that were attended by 159 students across five schools.
In the Bundaberg Region, workshops were held at McIllwraith State School and Booyal Central State School.
Trudie said that future tours across the Wide Bay Burnett would include high quality skills development and learning opportunities.
“From the conversations we have had with workshop participants, it is clear to all project partners, that some workshop participants have been impacted in a very significant way,” she said.
“By providing affordable, high-quality workshops in this tour, we have left a lasting legacy across the region.”
The Wide Bay Burnett Touring Circuit pilot project was an initiative of the Regional Arts Services Network, developed in collaboration with CQUniversity and Bundaberg, Fraser Coast, North Burnett and South Burnett Regional Councils, and supported by Arts Queensland through the Regional Arts Services and Regional Arts Development Fund.
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