Sweetnam Park upgrade underway

A SHORTAGE of affordable spaces for artists to work and perform has prompted a new pilot program in Tweed.

Arts Northern Rivers has launched Tweed Spaces to test ways of opening community venues to creative use after a study found rehearsal rooms, studios and workshops were in critically short supply across the region.

Flood damage and housing pressures have worsened the problem, forcing many artists out of dedicated spaces.

Executive director Jane Fuller said the program was about turning those findings into action.

“Tweed Spaces is about responding to that challenge and working with council, artists and partners to find scalable solutions,” Fuller said.

The pilot is being run with Tweed Shire Council and the Tweed Regional Museum and is backing two projects as a trial.

One is led by artist collective Public Palace, which is staging a series of events at the Tweed Regional Museum Learning Site under the program name softwash.

Its first activation, Full Foam Rinse and Spin, transformed the venue last weekend with experimental art, workshops and performances.

Two more events, Eating Together on September 27 and At the Water’s Edge on November 8, are planned.

The second project, Moving Histories by Western Sydney performance company PYT Fairfield, will be held at Pottsville Environment Centre.

It brings the group’s Bodies hold Histories ensemble to the Northern Rivers to collaborate with local artists and Bundjalung Country on a dance-based work about place, community and care.

Fuller said the program would be evaluated throughout its run to help shape long-term strategies for creative infrastructure across the Northern Rivers.

For information, visit artsnorthernrivers.com.au/projects/tweed-spaces