Submissions Now Open!

Last year I was one of a dozen passionate creatives invited to a council think tank about arts and creativity on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. At the end of the night I was inspired, so went home and brainstormed practical ways to increase my community’s participation in the arts, since that was the council’s main goal (read more about the think tank itself in my post about ‘setting a vision for arts & creativity‘). One of my ideas was to create more local opportunities for writers over 18. Young writers have an annual community competition, but there’s nothing for after they leave school.

Of course nothing happens in life unless we make it happen, so a few weeks later I organised meetings with various stakeholders and told them I wanted to edit, organise and publish a community anthology. It would feature stories selected through blind reading, as well as artworks created in response to those stories. Those artworks and stories would then be launched and displayed at the local 2019 Arts Festival. The collaboration would be the first of its kind!

They loved the idea! Financing it was of course another matter. In my free time, after work hours and at weekends, applied for grants and sought private sponsors. I approached 45 different companies and organisations and was knocked back again and again. I cannot even begin to estimate how much time I spent trying to raise the money.

Finally, I found two wonderful companies with an appreciation for the arts – the amazing nationwide real estate One Agency and equally amazing nationwide store OZ Design Furniture, both of whom very kindly agreed to sponsor the project. My local Officeworks were also prepared to pitch in. Yay!

Then… the Northern Beaches Council’s Library Services and Manly Art Gallery & Museum offered to finance the entire project, and help me run the whole thing. Amazing!

So, the anthology is going ahead! In fact, submissions are already open! And the theme is ‘Saltwater’ – which is kinda funny given my last post! I assure you I selected that theme last year, before my harrowing day in the ocean!

Below is the pitch and entry details – please enter and/or share them far and wide! Anyone with a connection to Sydney’s Northern Beaches can enter.

Saltwater invigorates and sustains us, yet destroys land and takes lives. It surrounds and informs the rhythm of life. Artists and writers are invited to create artworks and stories inspired by the theme Saltwater, to be included in an anthology celebrating community creativity. Successful candidates will receive an artist’s fee and a complimentary copy of the Anthology.

Important dates

• Closing date: 5pm Friday 15 March 2019
• Launch & Exhibition open to the public: Thursday 6 September 2019 at Manly Art Gallery and Museum, 1 West Esplanade & Commonwealth Parade, Manly NSW, as well as displayed at Northern Beaches Libraries
• Manly Arts Festival Exhibition dates: 6 – 12 September 2019

How to Enter

Entry form for writer submissions

Entry form for artist submissions

More Information

For further information see the webpage or contact: ArtAndWordsProject[at]northernbeaches[dot]nsw[dot]gov[dot]au

Continue the Conversation!

I’ll also be appearing at the council’s ‘Continue the conversation – Information Evening’ to talk more about increasing everyone’s participation in the arts. Creativity is good for your health!

Come along to find out more: Glen Street Theatre, Wednesday 6th February, 6-8pm. Register your FREE spot here.