Innovation Hub Gets Green Light

BY Danaella Wivell

The Macquarie House Innovation Hub is set to bring local entrepreneurs together in the heart of Launceston in order to help kick-start new businesses.

The Innovation Hub was approved in July by Senator Whish-Wilson, who worked alongside a team from The Catalyst Project in order to provide this unique opportunity to Tasmanian residents.

James Riggel is one of the masterminds behind the Innovation Hub, which was brought to life through The Catalyst Project.

Riggel previously taught at the Human Interface Technology Laboratory at the University of Tasmania, and says that there is a way of thinking embraced in universities that cannot be easily found elsewhere.

“To succeed in innovation, you also need a certain amount of infrastructure, and you need a certain culture,” Riggel said in an interview on ABC’s Drive program.

The building is set to have two levels reserved for private business people, while the bottom two floors will be open to the public.

Having the top floors open to innovators and business-minded people is hoped to give impetus to Australian projects. This increase in Australian projects will lead to greater economic opportunities for all the entire country.

Through opening the bottom two floors to public access, including a basement café, it is hoped that Macquarie House will be given a new lease on life. The heritage listed building has not been open to the public before the proposal from The Catalyst Project.

Redeveloping Macquarie House is estimated to cost three million dollars. Riggel says that this sum of money will flow back into Launceston’s city council, as they work to improve the building for IT students and young business owners alike.

It is hoped that Macquarie House will be a catalyst for heritage listed buildings to be transformed into similar innovation hubs across Australia.

Shakespeare Showcases Rising Stars

BY Danaella Wivell

Emerging talent is given a head start in their careers after performing in Macbeth this month.

The Queens Gardens transformed for Macbeth. PHOTO: Ahlia Drew

The classic Shakespearean play, produced for Shakespeare Under the Stars as an initiative of Theatre in North Queensland (Theatre iNQ), was performed in Queen’s Gardens. The play employed many young performers and crew members, who were given the opportunity to test the waters of being professional theatre-workers. 

“All the children and young adults are expected to behave as if it were their first job in the industry, because it essentially is,” said 17-year-old James Thomasson, who portrayed Malcolm. With performers ranging from kindergarten-goers to retirees, there were plenty of role models for the young theatre-workers.

Crew members were also given plenty of opportunities to explore their skills in the unusual park setting of Macbeth. “As part of the tech team, we set up everything electrical. We rig lights and run all of the cabling required to run the show. As lighting operator, I control the lights during the performance,” explains 19-year-old electrician Thomas Roach.

“As this event is in a park, instead of a theatre, the tech team has to set up the entire venue, including lighting and sound systems. There are many things that can go wrong… when you’re working in a theatre, the staff take over and fix any problems, but out here it’s all on you.” 

It is agreed on by both actors and crew that working under such challenging conditions has helped to provide artistic inspiration for when they are producing their own shows in the future.

“I think without a doubt that we as a community are growing in both appreciation for the performing arts and a yearning for more,” Thomasson said when asked about the spike in artistic appreciation in Townsville. Ticket sales reflect this spike, with Macbeth tickets selling out in record time.

Following the first week of Macbeth performances, Theatre iNQ held their third annual Jean-Pierre Awards, in homage to Jean-Pierre Voos, who is known as the father of Townsville arts. Thomasson was awarded The Martin Gibson Medal for Best Emerging Talent on the night.

The Bridge Project is another initiative supported by Theatre iNQ, which helps to cultivate the fresh talent in Townsville. Their next show will be The Shape of Things, written by Neil Labute.

The Shape of Things will be running from 6^th to 9^th of November. 

Local Artists Give Artistic Locals a Head Start

BY Danaella Wivell

Art is being made more accessible to local citizens, with Townsville Gallery Services working to provide more artists to teach in the community.

The Perc Tucker Regional Gallery

Placing artists in schools is helping to integrate art and youth in order to increase art appreciation and help expand Townsville’s reputation as a culturally rich region.  

Michael Pope, Education & Programs Co-ordinator at Perc Tucker Gallery, says that the staff at Gallery Services completely understand the need for more artists to be present in local schools.

“We pay artists to spend 10 hours at a high school, working with students to create artworks which are publicly exhibited at Perc Tucker.” Through exhibiting the artworks, Pope explains, local youth become more engaged in the artistic process. 

Bonney Bombach, a prolific Queensland artist, recently gave a public lecture and workshop as her exhibition The Personal and the Political (Selected works 1990- 2012) travelled through Townsville.

On the matter of working with the artists in schools programs, Ms Bombach said, “I’ve always enjoyed working in schools with teachers who are passionate about having a real, living artist coming in to work with the kids and stimulate them artistically.”

As an artist, Ms Bombach can also see the need for art to be made more accessible to regional youth. 

“Most of these children have never stepped foot into this [Perc Tucker] gallery, or even in Pinnacles, so to me that says that schools are struggling to fund arts programs. Children are always very excited to work with artists, and that’s what you really want to see.”

This economic disadvantage leaves Gallery Services working harder to provide artistic education to children in Townsville. “We try to get artists who travel with every major show that comes through [Townsville] to do talks or workshops,” explains Pope.

“We also try to support local artists with our five spaces - The Gallery, YourSpace, Showcase, the Niche, and Access Space - which are available free to local artists to exhibit their art.”

Gallery Services also provide support for upcoming artists by designing, printing and mailing invitations to local shows, as well as providing web content for the artists for free.

The Strand Ephemera is just one exhibition that is co-ordinated by Gallery Services. The bi-annual exhibition this year boasted 31 artworks, created by 38 regional artists.

Artists who participated in the ephemera held master classes in order to give Townsville residents the opportunity to create their own art.

As someone who resides in a regional area, Ms Bombach says that infrastructure is needed to help artists succeed in outlying areas.

Townsville currently has Perc Tucker Gallery and Pinnacles Gallery as their two permanent council-funded exhibition spaces.

Pinnacles supports young artists through the ArtNow annual exhibition, which showcases art from senior high school students, and recognises their contribution to local art.

The gallery also holds The Creative Generation Excellence Award in Visual Art, which helps young artists make their way to the Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane.

Groovin the Moo Grazes Through Townsville

Music lovers were treated to a rare rural opportunity to see their favourite bands at the 2013 Groovin the Moo music festival.

Musical guests included The Amity Affliction, The Temper Trap, and Tegan & Sara. Several local bands also performed at the event, such as Townsville’s Finding Luna. 

The Temper Trap performing at Groovin the Moo 2013

Along with musical acts, festival goers were able to attend meet and greets with band members. The chance to snag a signature or two was the icing on the cake for many music lovers attending the event. Kim Schifino, of musical act Matt & Kim, even took the time to tell one festival goer that she found Townsville weather to be pleasant and the people even more so.  

Groovin the Moo also helped to create many jobs for the weekend, with many hotels and restaurants struggling to keep up with demand. Lucy Alfred, a local hotel employee, said, “It’s good to see the hospitality industry in Townsville so busy.” 

As the festival continues to grow in popularity, so do the number of international acts, with speculation already beginning as to who will be making an appearance in Townsville for Groovin the Moo 2014. No matter whom the musical acts are, however, locals such as Alisha Newnham continue to say that they will definitely be attending next year.