2018
ACCOMPLICE Annual review
ACCOMPLICE would like to acknowledge the Larrakia Traditional Owners of the land on which we create, and pay our respects to Elders past, present and future. We would also like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Elders past, present and future from across the Northern Territory where we spend time creating, developing and sharing.
2
An epic journey to find our voice
Creative Director 2018 will always be the year when ACCOMPLICE found its voice in the Territory. It has been epic and in many ways beyond my wildest dreams.
The opportunity to travel the NT for
belief in accomplices, just with a new
the NTTFF was both a personal and
found collection of questions and
professional highlight, which I will hold
processes in order to make sure we
on to for a lifetime. It reinforced to
are all genuinely listening to each other
me what can be achieved with sheer
and can share the role of driving the
determination, creativity, positivity and
project forward, or down a dirt road as
right accomplices. It also provided
required.
me with the time to reflect deeply on my practice and to undertake deep
I am proud of the 2018 programs
listening with the artists, communities
and one off event for their strong
and audiences I work in the
resonance with the landscape, history
partnership with.
and culture of the Northern Territory. ACCOMPLICE holds no place for silos
I undertook an intensive period of
of separate art practices, or a fourth
professional development this year
wall between artists, audiences and
with a focus on partnership brokerage.
communities, rather the very nature
It taught me a lot about the Territory,
of the work is inherently committed
the people and organisations I work
to collaboration, cross cultural
with and my own strengths and
communication and partnerships.
limitations. It was neither an easy
Work was always created alongside
process, nor at times an enjoyable
and in partnership with Indigenous
one as it asked me to genuinely
artists and elders, local creatives
question my role as a partner and a
and communities. Establishing new
partnership broker. I learnt some hard
contemporary ways of creating,
truths about myself, my capacity and
making and presenting that embrace
my work but this led me back to my
our unique regional context.
2018 Annual Review
Britt Guy
3
What Drives Us ACCOMPLICE is a nimble, responsive and culturally trusted creative company that is focused on creating high quality arts and cultural experiences in the Northern Territory that showcase and build capacity in our community, audiences and arts and cultural practitioners.
4
Connecting Northern Australia
Community Capacity Building
We draw influence, energy and identity from Australia’s regions, providing space and time for community to cultivate cultural connections.
We cultivate a depth and breadth of sustainable cultural experiences and infrastructure for diverse communities to connect with.
Developing art with artists and audience
Cross Cultural Collaboration
We provide opportunities for professional artists to develop and produce work within a regional context.
We build on cultural, geographic and social ties with Asian, Pacific and regional Australian practitioners, organisations and networks sustaining long-term relationships.
ACCOMPLICE is committed to maintaining: • An artistically sustainable program
allow us to share, experience, and
that provides authentic space for
collaborate in new ways, dedicated
development, sharing, presentation
to creating outcomes that have real
and evaluation.
impact, measured through:
• A financially sustainable • Agile business model that allows for
harnessing commercial opportunities
instinctual business growth, so that
to sustain the core operations,
projects involving considered risk
and drawing together business
can be undertaken to continue to
and not-for-profit partnerships and
grow and respond,
funding to build large-scale projects.
• Innovative ways of working – we
ACCOMPLICE employs staff on a
regularly ask why and how we do
project basis to access the best skills
what we do,
and experience for the job, while also
practices for creating environments that can disrupt the norms, and
organisation. We operate as a cultural enterprise,
ACCOMPLICE is interested in the best
• Boundary crossing programming
Dedicated to creating outcomes that have real impact, measured through: • Qualitative artist and audience feedback, • Quantitative collection of key statistics, • Partnership brokerage mapping of development and maintenance of
committed to bridging experience
that captures current needs and
partnerships and relationships with
gaps for creatives living in the regions
utilises emerging and future
a focus on deep listening and long-
and those in cities looking to gain
partnerships.
term partnership growth.
experience in a regional context.
2018 Annual Review
ACCOMPLICE was born out of a desire to reimagine the structure of cultural organisations, moving away from the traditional format.
5
Singapore Pushkar
Programs and Projects Northern Territory Travelling Film Festival (the appear in order) Garrmalang/Darwin, Rockhole, Ntaria, Areyonga, Mparntwe/Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Elliott, Borroloola, Beswick, Nitmiluk National Park, Minyerri, Ngukurr, Kakadu National Park – Jabiru, Gunbulyana, Palmerston, Nhulunbuy
Nona and Me Garrmalang/Darwin, Sydney, Yirrkala
Tropical Kitchen Kunnurra, Melbourne, Singapore, Melbourne, Cairns, Garrmalang/Darwin
Pub Choir Brisbane, Garrmalang/Darwin
Residencies Weniki Residency Garrmalang/Darwin and Melbourne
Raju Residency Pushkar and Garrmalang/Darwin
Matthew Residency Amsterdam and Garrmalang/Darwin
Holly Residency Melbourne, Mparntwe/Alice springs, Katherine, Garrmalang/Darwin
Ben Residency Garrmalang/Darwin, Wurrumiyanga (Nguiu), Sydney, Melbourne
6
Amsterdam
Wurrumiyanga (Nguiu)
Nitmiluk Katherine Minyerri
Nhulunbuy Gunbulyana Palmerston Jabiru, Kakadu Beswick Ngukurr Borroloola
Kunnanara
Cairns elliot Tennant Creek Garrmalang/Darwin Ntaria
Mparntwe/Alice spring
Areyonga
Brisbane
Sydney
2018 Annual Review
Melbourne
7
8
Connecting with Northern Australia Northern Territory cultural experience should be as unique as the people, culture and landscapes that make up the place!
The most powerful thing about the
Holly Macdonald has been visiting the
boundaries. The outcome was Finding
Northern Territory Film Festival is
Territory for the last three years to visit
North a transitory residency over
that the inimitable stories of NT
her sister who works as a linguist in
three months spending time with
people, landscapes and places are
the remote central desert community
Watch This Space in Mpartnwe/Alice
shared, with those who the stories
Yuendumu. In 2017, she undertook a
Springs, Katherine Regional Arts in
are about. Territorians get to see
10-day residency with ACCOMPLICE
Katherine, and ACCOMPLICE Arts
themselves reflected back to them on
Art Space delivering a two-day public
Space in Darwin.
the big screen. In the inaugural year,
workshop and begun the exploration of
remote Aboriginal communities and
a new body of work.
an event that has quickly become
Audiences imaginations were
Through this ACCOMPLICE Creative
a national treasure to Garrmalang/
captured by the festival; building on
Director, Britt Guy, and Holly began
Darwin in July. An audience of 800
the NT fables of the adventures that
to explore the notion of creating a
sung their hearts out under a sky of
awaits out bush while building a more
body of work that responded to the
stars at the iconic Ski Club. This event
nuanced story of Aboriginal culture,
contemporary landscape of the NT
had a quintessential local vibe and
connection to country and the diverse
with a focus on sharing practice
was a great chance for ACCOMPLICE
people that make up the NT.
across social, locality and cultural
to extend its community reach.
“My experience at ACCOMPLICE allowed me to share my emerging practice in a safe and nurtured way. I loved that I could include my family in the process and share the tastes of my ancestors with the Darwin community.” Resident artist – Lia Pa’apa’a
2018 Annual Review
tourists alike celebrated the program.
ACCOMPLICE brought Pub Choir
9
There is a filmmaking fervour in Ngukurr and it’s being sparked by the big screen magic of the NTTFF.Stories from community told by community in the languages of community in a cinema under the stars – it’s majestic. Courtney Collins - Ngukurr Story Projects
10
Community Capacity Building Desired new skills and experiences
Creative Director, Britt Guy, curated
Highly successful writing group Write
are identified within three key groups
and presented on a panel as part of
Now delivered in partnership with
– emerging filmmakers, established
national regional arts conference
StoryProjects and NT Writers Centre
filmmakers and young people; current
Artlands. The panel: Contemporary
was in 2018, creatively producer by
local equipment is audited and existing
Best Practice in the Remote explored
Shele Parker which saw in 2018, the
internal or external desired film
the juxtaposition between the concept
program employ a local writer to host
professional development facilitator
of the remote and contemporary arts
the monthly session providing insight
identified. Based on this a bespoke
practice through case studies from
into their practice and kicking off the
program of workshops, industry
WA artist Alana Hunt, NT curator Britt
session with writing tasks. This group
knowledge sharing and masterclasses
Guy, NT dance artist Frankie Snowdon
continues to grow and has become an
are created and delivered in the lead
and NSW artist Holly Macdonald. The
invaluable part of the creative ecology
up to the festival. The outcomes are
panel’s conversation focused on the
for artists and community.
then screened on the big screen at the
highly innovative way that art is being
NT Travelling Film Festival and were a
conceived, made and presented in a
highlight of the program.
remote context.
2018 Annual Review
The Northern Territory Travelling Film Festival’s community workshop program is uniquely designed in each community in partnership with key local arts and community organisations, local filmmakers and schools.
11
12
Developing art with audiences and artists ACCOMPLICE’s yearly program varies but its desire to connect audiences and artists never waivers. Into 2018 we delivered public workshops throughout the year with visiting, local and resident artists in Darwin/Garrmalang and across the NT. We delivered 30 workshops with 450 participants with 90% of workshops fully booked.
Our residency program grew this
artists and collaborator. The residency
cultures. This project was grown out
year, with funding through Australia
culminated in a weeklong evolving
of a desire to produce and tour work
Council, a program of local and visiting
exhibition and artist talk.
uniquely created for Northern Territory remote venues and audiences,
projects over two to three week periods.
We also began the development of
particular young people. ACCOMPLICE
Weniki Hensch Residency – Unpeeling
award winning young adults book
seeks to create high quality work for
Perceptions explored the theme
Nona and Me by Clare Atkins into a
NT young people that speaks to them,
of adoption. Weniki was adopted,
performance work. Nona and Me is
and reflects back their stories, while
virtually at birth, from one culture into
set in Yirrkala and is about Nona, an
at the same time creating a magical
another. Though she physically left her
Aboriginal teenager and her childhood
theatrical experience that develop their
birthplace and home of her ancestors,
friend Rosa, a non Aboriginal teenager
relationship with art.
spiritually it remained with her. Friend
growing up with the political backdrop
and fellow artist Lisa Waup joined her
of the intervention, and the personal
for part of this residency as a co-
back drop of coming of age across two
“Our discussions manifested into visual pieces of connection – the more we learnt about each other, the greater the visual interconnections.” Resident artist – Lisa Waup
2018 Annual Review
residencies researched and developed
13
“Darwin itself offered up no shortage of subject matter to inspire my object making and extend research into how specific objects mediate an experience and understanding of place. A faded blue water tower, voluptuous salmon gum leaves, a fire work burst of colour in an orange blossom, insistent gusts of wind animating the pleats of fanning palm fronds in all shades of green. These are some of the objects, colours and gestures that have stayed with me long after and far away from my residency at ACCOMPLICE.� Holly Macdonald Transitory Residency Artist
14
“The technique is very detailed. It’s amazing the way the different designs overlay onto each other, and everybody using the same few blocks and four colours have made something completely different,”
2018 Annual Review
Traditional Indian Block Print Workshop Participant – Sarah Smith
15
16
Cross Cultural Collaboration Ben Graetz is a local Garrmalang/
community conversations, and
Raju Rathi, a textile artist and small
Darwin man and is a descendant of
general community conversations.
business owner from Pushkar, India
the Iwaidja and Malak Malak Clans
These activities culminated in a
also undertook a residency this
in the Northern Territory and of Badu
week at Wurrumiyanga/Nguiu on
year, exploring traditional textiles
Island on the Torres Strait Islands of
Bathurst Island, part of the Tiwi
methods. Meeting with Aboriginal
Australia. He undertook a residency
Island screening the film about
artists and art centres in the Top
with key collaborators Tiwi Sista Girls
Miss First Nations – Black Divazs,
End. As part of his time in residency
- Shaun aka Shaniqua Kerinaiua and
a night of Drag Bingo and the first
he presented Traditional Indian
Crystal Love which began to explore
Tiwi Sista Gals show at the Nguiu
Block Print workshops, which saw
the lived experience of Indigenous
Club. This project will continue
participant create their own fabric
LGBTIQA+ people, particularly those
over coming years continuing to
using traditional methods and
living in remote NT communities.
create opportunities for Indigenous
handcrafted wooden blocks. This
This project in 2018 saw the team
LGBTIQA+ to explore their identity,
special opportunity to share unique
undertake filmed interviews, elder
share their stories and connect with
cultural skills with local artists and
consultation, development of
their families, communities and
the general public has become part of
performance numbers, LGBTIQA+
multicultural Australia.
what ACCOMPLICE is known for.
2018 Annual Review
ACCOMPLICE draws inspiration and collaborations from neighbouring Asian countries and from remote Aboriginal communities across the NT.
17
Hills Hoist Studios This year we ran our program from
The space morphed regularly to
Bank Masterclass by Adam Seymour,
95 Gardens Road, behind the iconic
support the needs of creative ideas
international premiere of durational
Mayfair Gallery managed by the equally
from independent artists and creatives.
reading of social commentary work
iconic David Collins. Having a pre-
18
Cup of Nun Chai by Alana Hunt plus
Cyclone Tracy elevated home to share
A highlight of the 2018 program was a
a program of workshops and talks
with local and visiting artists was a
reimagining of one of ACCOMPLICE’s
in partnership with Charles Darwin
very special way to create a uniquely
key programs - Tropical Kitchen. This
Universities Science at Sunset program.
Garrmalang/Darwin space for research,
year it became a ten-day curated
This event transported Garrmalang/
creation and many a welcome meal.
program of events during Darwin
Darwin locals into a casual world of
Fringe Festival. The program included
food, drinks and culture throughout the
Hills Hoist Studios was formed
two residencies with food artists
fringe. Creating an ephemeral space for
mid-year to support and manage the
Sam Chablani and Lia Pa’apa’a,
the growing culture and thinking around
range of artists, projects and creative
presentation of internationally
food and place.
companies that call the space home.
renowned performance work Wank
19
2018 Annual Review
20
timeline February Autobiographical Stories of the Tummy Workshop
March NT Travelling Film Festival Launch Ben Graetz’s Indigenous LGBTIQA+ Residency
May Traditional Textiles Residency and Hand Block Printing Workshop Story of My Life Documentary Photography Workshop Smack Attack - Wish Upon a Jellyfish Weaving Workshop
February-March Weniki Hensch's Unpeeling Perceptions - Work in Progress Showing exploring Adoption Residency and Artist Talk
April Become a Pickle Master Workshop Become a BBQ Legend Workshop Ben Graetz’s Indigenous LGBTIQA+ Residency
May-June Finding North Transitory Residency and Clay Body - Ceramic Jewellery Workshop
NT Travelling Film Festival Launch Tour and Workshop program
July
darwin fringe festival
Hills Hoist Studio Launch
Cups of Nun Chai Durational Reading
Ben Graetz’s Indigenous LGBTIQA+ Residency
Wild Remembering Performance and Installation
Pub Choir
W@nk Bank Masterclass Performance
September Artlands Panel - Contemporary Best Practice in the Remote
Science at Sunset Conversation: Catch, Cook, Experiment with sustainable seafood Science at Sunset Conversation: In the Hands of Women
Polymer Jewellery Workshop
Tropical Kitchen: Plant Based Native Residency
Matthew Day Choreographic Residency
Tropical Kitchen: Singapore BBQ Residency
Ben Graetz’s Indigenous LGBTIQA+ Residency “Ben Graetz’s Indigenous LGBTIQA+ Tiwi Program including Black Divas Screening, Drag Queen Bingo, and Cabaret Performance”
October
November
Nona & Me Development
Stitched Drawing Workshop
Ongoing Write Now
2018 Annual Review
Screen Printing Workshop and Pattern School
21
Looking Forward In 2018 we were very proud of the work we made in partnership with artists, communities and organisations.
We honed in on our expertise, values
For children and young people we are
and where we found real joy in
planning a program that celebrates the
the work we do. We are excited to
imagination of young people and the
show these off as we partner with
unique outdoor spaces that make up our
local companies Party Passport
tropical home.
and Darwin Production Services to produce the Opening and Closing
For the over 16+ an idiosyncratic
Celebrations of the locally loved
program is imagined which will celebrate
Arafura Games.
the Build Up our awkwardly sweaty but for locals a well loved change in not only
As we look to 2019 we will continue to build depth into our established residency program and
NT Travelling Film Festival will grow to
produced work by creating uniquely
visit more remote audiences and build
Garrmalang/Darwin opportunities
multi day programs at iconic tourist
to share research, development and
sites, which include exciting NT features.
outcomes with our audiences.
22
the weather but the pace of the year.
Accomplices Partners and Funders Airnorth Alice City Council Artback NT Australia Council for the Arts Bains Freight Barkly Regional Arts Barkly Regional Council Borroloola School Browns Mart Theatre Central Cars Rental City of Darwin City of Palmerston Colemans Printing Darwin Film Society Darwin Fringe Festival Darwin Production Services Darwin Waterfront Darwin Film Society Deckchair Cinema Djilpin Arts Dreamedia Food not Bombs Gilbert Freights
Gove Film Society Hermannsburg Potters Aboriginal Cooperation Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel Kakadu Tourism Katherine Regional Arts Live Arts Mpartnwe/Alice Macdonnell Regional Council Areyonga Ngukurr Arts Centre Ngukurr Language Centre Ngukurr Story Projects Nitmiluk Tours Northline NT Airport NT Major Events Corporation NT News NT Tourism NT Writers Centre Ntaria Youth Centre Off the Leash Office Gossip Palmerston City Council
Party Passport Power and Water Semi Pro Brewing Co Screen Territory Skinnyfish/Barunga Festival StoryProjects Tangentyere Artists Tennant Creek High School Tennant Creek Primary School The Gove Arts Theatre Tiwi Council Waralungku Arts Centre Watch This Space West Arnhem Regional Council Gunbalanya Wgularr School
Creatives and Collaborators Jamie Lewis Jett Street Jill Pope Johanna Bell Julie Blyth Karunika Premaratne Kat Byron Lara Davis and Jess Wright HOMEWORK Lia Pa’apa’a - Plant Based Native Lisa Pellegrino aka Pina Marina and Rocky Lisa Waup Lloyd Beck Maria Reynolds, Lee Frank and Lured team Matt Garrick, Mark Roy and Sumatra team Matthew Day Matthew Van Roden Meg Bartholomew Meg Nicolson Mike Hilburger - Picklehead Pickles and Shank Brothers Molly Coombs Marr Naina Sen Nathaniel Kelly and After Tracy team Nik Lachajczak and Bakala team
Phil Dean Walford Rachal Van Wyk Rachael Wellisch Raju Nitmla Rathi Robert Smith Sam Chablani Sandar Tun Shane Phillips Shaun Kerinaiu aka Shaniqua Shele Parker Tamara Howie Tara Hobbs Terrah Guymala and The Greedy Emu team Waveney Yasso Weniki Hensch White Cockatoo Dancers Will Tinapple and Snowdrops team Yvette Brady
2018 Annual Review
Adam Seymour - Rural Ranga Adele Pedder Alana Hunt Aly De Groot Amy Hetherington Astrid Jorgensen Ben Graetz aka Miss Elaneous Bernd Neumann Crystal Love David Collins Danielle Maclean and Carry the Flag team Duane Preston Dylan River and Finding Maawirrangga and Nulla Nulla teams Elizabeth Martin Emma Lupin - Taste of the Top End Emma Gardner Frankie Snowdon Gavin Shephard Georgia Beach Helen Orr HotLips Tipungwuti Holly Macdonald Jane Fox Jane Hampson, Dixi Joy Bankier and Deadline team
23
connect /creative accomplice E: britt@creativeaccomplice.com.au
@creativeaccomplice
T: 0422 232 839 Join our Mailing List: ABN: 93 612 693 973
creativeaccomplice.com.au/contact