Narelle Whitham_ Art

Background:

Art Relief was founded and coordinated in 2018 by Award-winning Moulamein artist Narelle Whitham.

Art Relief began with Narelle putting a call out to her networks and art suppliers for donations of time and materials to help support the mental health and wellbeing of families and friends struggling with the impact of drought in her local community.  The response was overwhelming and resulted in 18 workshops being held in Moulamein and Deniliquin from August to December 2018 – all with donated materials, venues and artist time.

 

The workshops were offered to both adults and children free of charge to

maximise participation and without further causing financial impacts on day

to day living. 

 

The aims were simple:

·         To provide fun creative art activities/tuition to inspire hope, and a sense

of togetherness during times of hardship, as well as to provide the opportunity

to learn art skills.

·         To provide social activities that give a sense of belonging to a group,

help to reduce stress and anxiety and promote good mental wellness.

·         For the workshops to occur in a friendly, positive, nonjudgmental,

non-racial, non-prejudiced or gender discrimination environment.

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 All Art Relief workshops had a person with a Mental Health First Aid Certificate present.

 

The classes were designed to suite any person, of any skill level (beginner to expert) and were facilitated by professional Artists, using quality art products. The workshops were flexible and included watercolour, acrylic and mixed mediums, offering varied techniques depending on availability of donated materials.

 

The important demand for Art/mental wellness programs in rural areas affected by drought has enabled an extension of Art Relief.

Requesting grant to broaden the scope of Art Relief to commence in the beginning of July 2019 – finishing December 2019. A workshop per fortnight being conducted in Barham, Wakool, Mathoura and Tooleybuc.

 

Outcome:

The health benefits of art tuition and creative programs is well documented, but the coordinators and volunteers got to see first-hand how this project helped reduce stresses and anxiety in participants; created a support network for each other; and provide relief, even if just for a few hours a week, from thinking about their personal circumstances.

 

Some of the participants in the 2018 program created works of a calibre capable of being displayed and sold in local galleries.

 

Giving an opportunity to provide an art/mental wellness program that has no financial impact to people in the community will allow people to participate in an art activity during severe hardship during the current drought period. The health benefits of art tuition and creative programs is well documented, Participants get a sense of belonging to a group in a friendly, positive, nonjudgmental, non-racial, non-prejudiced or gender discrimination environment.  created a support network for each other; and provide relief, even if just for a few hours a week, from thinking about their personal circumstances.

To be a part of the ever-growing art culture with Australia and having an avenue to participate in mental wellness art activities, in time of severe drought.

An activity in the community where minimal travel is required

Also, the coordinators and volunteers got to see first-hand how this project helped reduce stresses and anxiety in participants; see the severity of the drought impact on community,

Narelle won the 2019 Murray River Council Australia Day Arts and Culture Award for the Arts Relief project.

 

What’s next:

Due to the overwhelming success of the project Narelle would like to expand Art Relief to other drought-affected communities throughout the Murray River Shire region of southern NSW.  However, the current, donation based, operating format is struggling to provide the resources to implement  future worlshops.

Funding support will enable the following project plan to be implemented.

2019 Projection Plan:

 

1. Workshops - Starting July 2019 will continue for the next 12 months. A variety of techniques, from the use of watercolours, acrylic and oil, through to drawing, learning perspective art, abstract, still life and several other art mediums will be offered according to tutor’s skills and expertise.

 

1. City to Country Art Trail - From Newcastle to Deniliquin and Moulamein is in the process of being completed, where several artists have kindly donated unwanted materials to run classes in drought affected areas as they travel to this region for the 2019 workshops.  City-based artists will not only give farming communities access a variety of art techniques and skills that normally are too expense for struggling final families.

 

Negotiations with artists from around Australia have commenced.

 

1. Regional Support – Mental health Providers will be sourced trough LHAC Local Health Advisory Committee, and a Base of Operations for workshops at Country Women’s Association will continue to provide free use of their venues where possible.

 

4.       Online Networking – An Art Relief networking site will be established with demonstration classes and tutorials for those unable to attend workshops but will allow families to become part of the Art Relief Project, acquire skills from home and most importantly, become part of a growing network of community and service provider support.

 

 

Long-term benefits include:

·         Achieving a good level of mental wellness for farming families.

·         Future employment/volunteering in an artistic capacity by participants.

·         Understanding the links between art/creative skills and the development of good mental wellness.

 

What we need to continue into the Future:

Art Relief coordinator will continue to seek private sector donations of materials for workshops and  for distribution to families unable to attend a workshop due to remoteness or other issues of capacity.  This will be coordinated through the online network.

 

Funding is required to meet the operating costs for the workshops and includes:

• Materials

• Venue hire in remote communities that need hall hire fees to meet operating costs of their facilities

• Travel (fuel) for artists

• General administration costs such as printing and communications

• Establishment of online presence.

 

 

For further information

Please contact

Narelle Whitham

0428 188 773