A NEW ERA FOR ARTS IN THE NORTH
After 27 years of presenting contemporary artistic practice in Far North Queensland… KickArts launches NorthSite Contemporary Arts.
See the news and read the Press Release here.
- KA New brand unveiled_NorthSiteFINAL
- ARTSHUB Article – Introducing NorthSite Contemporary Arts, melding three decades of community drive and experience with a new brand that speaks more to geography and creative vision.
- CAIRNS Post Article – Fresh start, Modern Home, new name. Why KickArts decided to change its name before moving back to Centre of Contemporary Arts
AS ONE DECADE CLOSES, ANOTHER DOOR OPENS
As we approach the end of the year I’d like to thank you for your patience during this unprecedented transition.
We’ve had some false starts in terms of timelines for re-entry to the Centre this year, which has stretched our team and affected several planned exhibitions, but we are doing well in the circumstances. Thanks to the professionalism and flexibility of the artists of the north.
I am very proud of our staff and Board who have been resilient and committed as we’ve prepared to expand and retracted with building delays. Thank you.
This consolidated time has however allowed us to lay foundations that will serve us well into the future.
This week we submitted our final application for 4-year organisational funding through the Australia Council for the Arts. (A highly competitive, two-stage process for top Australian arts organisations, for which we made the first cut. More here
This week I also spoke at the international Communicating the Arts Conference about change and agile leadership alongside museum professionals from across Australia and the globe.
As we know, change the only constant in life, so as I lead this much loved organisation into the next decade, we’ve decided to be bold and brave and embrace change to give us and artists from this region the greatest opportunities for success into the future. Stay tuned.
In the coming weeks, we’ll put together an overview of some of the wins and magic moments of KickArts in 2019 in our space on Lake Street and offsite locations.
I want to personally thank every one of you that has supported us this year by buying art, renewing your membership or attending events. Also, I’d like to say a massive thanks to our first Patrons who have made fully tax-deductible donations to support our organisation at an integral time.
The instrumental support of the northern arts community has made a world of difference in a financially and operationally challenging time. Thanks also to those who’ve recently been in touch to volunteer, we’ll be forming teams as we stage the move home once final dates are known.
We also thank Arts Queensland and Cairns Regional Council, Mama Coco and The Wine Tradition who have supported us to continue to operate the KickArts shop and deliver events and Creative Programs at our pop-up space The Hive, throughout the renovation.
We are very glad to announce our partnership with Cairns Novotel Oasis Resort who are happy to provide our members with a special room rate. Contact us if you’d like to take advantage of a local ‘vaystay’ and resort swims in the centre of Cairns, as summer heats up.
We are currently working on an exciting evolution in terms of our brand, to reflect the changes that have been taking place with our organisation and with the new build. We are creating a brand identity that will best fit and reflect our organisation and equip us make our artists and audiences intervisible into the future.
I look forward to sharing more and boldly stepping into the next decade with you.
All my best, Ashleigh [with high fives to and from Rebecca, Rosie, Wilma and Bec]
A NEW ERA FOR NORTH SITE
Things happen differently in the North.
We have been pushing boundaries and defining the rhythm and the tempo at our own pace and with our own approaches to aesthetics and culture for many years.
As KickArts approaches its third decade we again refine our focus and reposition ourselves to best serve the contemporary artists of our region into the future and provide transformative experience for our wide audiences.
With vast distances and diverse artistic stories to share, it is important that our leading arts organisations are listening and agile and responsive to creative needs, creating new opportunities for artists to engage and extend their practice. That’s why we are embracing all the change and have listened to our existing and potential friends and supporters.
We are launching in 2020 with a fresh face and new name that is reflective of our place and focus.
Increasingly we are shining the spotlight on artists of the north, both looking back and re-articulating little known artistic success stories and forging boldly forward with new projects, collaborations and research. We are here to help contextualise, develop, market, celebrate and profile the incredible diversity and artists of the North.
We are of the North and for the North, increasingly looking north, east and west, across the waters off the edge of this vast continent, tracing connections and fostering exchange and opportunities for our contemporary artists.
Our programs decentralise curatorial models and allow for greater amplification of voices and experiences. We bring people up with us and co-produce projects through meaningful and proper engagement. Providing unparalleled inspiration and experiences for artists, supporters and audiences.
We want you to be part of this next exciting chapter as we create the future of visual culture in the North together. We will continue to operate our retail arm NorthSite Store (formerly KickArts Shop) as a social enterprise, supporting over 200 artists and designers each year and reinvesting all profits from sales of original works of art back into artist’s pockets and programs for our communities.
We look forward to welcoming you to the new North Site galleries within the renovated Centre of Contemporary Arts for the first celebration of many in early 2020.