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art at the heart is the sixth biennial Regional Arts Australia national conference and will be held from 3-5 October in Alice Springs.
The Northern Territory Government is hosting the conference through Arts NT in collaboration with the Alice Springs Town Council. The Australian Government supports Regional Arts Australia’s national conferences through the Regional Arts Fund. The Australia Council for the Arts supports the artistic program for the conference. The Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs is supporting Indigenous participation in the conference. More information on partners and supporters is available here
News
Artistic director announcement Regional Arts Australia and Arts NT are pleased to announce that the conference coordinator, Kieren Sanderson, has agreed to also take on the role of artistic director. Kieren is leading a dynamic team of artists, directors, performers and producers in creating an exceptional program that reflects national issues, grounded and shaped by local narratives.
Registrations Open Registrations are now open for people planning to come to the conference. To register for earlybird rates, complete your registration form and submit it to I AM EVENTS by 15 July 2008. Please note, all registrations close on 15 September 2008.
Further details and registration forms are at www.artattheheart.com.au or can be downloaded here: Registration brochure (1.8 Mb)
Registration form (726 Kb)
Kieren Sanderson urges people to book their spot early. “We are expecting a big response from those keen to participate and we may have to limit numbers. I strongly urge those who know they will be attending to sign up now to make sure they don’t miss out. And, of course there’s a saving if you get in early!”
“A full registration package is available which will cover admission to the opening ceremony plus all sessions and events including the Desert Mob exhibition and the gala conference dinner. It will also cover entry to the Heart Club on Thursday and Friday evenings and bus transport to and from accommodation. Delegates will get a lot of bang for their buck!”
Where will the conference take place?
It’s time to outline some of the venues we will be using for the conference. One thing we’re keeping as a surprise is the outdoor location for the dinner on the Saturday night. We can say, though, that it will be in a very beautiful desert setting and no-one will be disappointed.
Alice Springs Convention Centre
The Alice Springs Convention Centre is less than five minutes drive from the central business district and 15 minutes from the airport. It offers delegates the opportunity to experience the true essence of the outback with an abundance of natural light and spectacular views of the nearby MacDonnell Ranges. The Convention Centre is equipped with state of the art technology and facilities and was a winner in the 2006 Brolga Northern Territory Tourism Awards.
Araluen Arts Centre
The Araluen Arts Centre is the focal point of Alice Springs’ performing and visual arts scene, incorporating galleries and a theatre. The galleries feature a program of exhibitions with a focus on art from the central Australian region. The theatre hosts performances by national touring companies and many high quality local productions.
Alice Springs Town Council
The Alice Springs Town Council provides services and facilities to meet the needs of the local community. Because of its size and remoteness the Alice is home to a close-knit and engaged community. It also serves as a communications and commercial centre for the region and has also got most of the services you would find in any Australian city.
Alice Springs Desert Park
Approximately 10 minutes from the centre of Alice Springs the Alice Springs Desert Park displays hundreds of species of plants and animals in their natural settings from across the Central Desert region. There is also a collection of the regions unique fauna, including snakes and lizards, in the Nocturnal House. The Desert Park is one of Australia’s most interesting conference venues.
Become a friend in MySpace and Facebook
art at the heart now has its own page in MySpace and Facebook offering a virtual network for artists, actors, academics, arts workers, curators, filmmakers, musicians, performers, writers, producers, students, volunteers and more.
If you are already registered with MySpace or Facebook you can become a friend of art at the heart. This is a great opportunity to meet people online prior to the conference and to share your thoughts on issues concerning the arts in regional Australia.
Check out:
www.myspace.com/artattheheart
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10197789292
How to book your travel and accommodation?
Rebecca Watling and Rosemary Castro from Territory Discoveries will assist with bookings for accommodation and travel itineraries including flights, car hire and rail. They will also help you find discounted fares and provide advice on pre & post conference touring, accommodation and sightseeing.
To speak to Rebecca or Rosie quote art at the heart when phoning 1800 642 343 or email groups@territorydiscoveries.com
Look out for the next e-bulletin in May
The art at the heart e-bulletin will keep you up to date with everything you need to know about the conference.
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