Welcomes
pulingina* / welcome
*In palawa kani, the language of the Tasmanian Aborigines. With thanks to the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre.
Welcome from Regional Arts Australia
I am particularly delighted to welcome you to my home, Tasmania, for Artlands 2021. Tasmania is a place where creativity in everyday life abounds. There are creative people of all ages everywhere across this land. From shell necklace makers, choreographers and dancers to cheesemakers, curators, and ceramicists. How fitting to be once again in Launceston and alongside Junction Arts Festival 10th anniversary, an initiative that grew from Artlands 2010 and has since become an annual Tasmanian festival of the arts.
In 2020 technologies enabling national connections transformed the way we work and connect. The 2021 Artlands is responding to these innovations by creating more opportunities for people across the country to join this critical gathering of hearts and minds. Integrating with existing activity across the country, the new Artlands invites all of us in the arts, city or country, to come together to share, consider and connect diverse and emergent approaches that feed the rich ecology of the arts across Australia.
Over the last three years Regional Arts Australia has become a louder voice for arts in regional and remote Australia. We have been working closer than ever with our friends at the Department of Communications and the Arts, The Australia Council for the Arts, The Australian Communities Foundation and NBNco to support creativity in times of crisis now and by securing future commitments to supporting this sector for years ahead. Moving forward Regional Arts Australia needs you to help build the vision for the many places of the arts in Australia.
For just a few days, slow down and treasure some time for reflection at Artlands 2021.
Simon Spain – Chair Regional Arts Australia
Welcome to Junction Arts Festival 2021
The Junction Arts Festival brings artists from across Tasmania to transform Launceston into the perfect stage for unique performances that celebrate Tasmanian stories, and life on this, our heart shaped island.
Over the last 10 years, Junction has become a significant contributor to the cultural and social wealth of Launceston, helping to support the transformation of Launceston into a vibrant and creative city.
Artists cherish the authenticity of Junction and its emphasis on immersive, intimate Tasmanian experiences. Artists feel the long lasting benefits of their work, and how through community collaboration the festival cross pollinates arts experiences into the mainstream.
Our Junction program includes newly commissioned works by Tasmanian artists, intimate performances and large-scale community-engaged productions.
We celebrate the amazing food and wine of the region, and showcase the unique architecture and public spaces in and around Launceston.
On behalf of Liz Frankham, Chair Junction Arts Festival, the Board of Directors, the festival team and artists, we welcome you as we celebrate the 10th Junction Arts Festival.
Welcome from the City of Launceston
I am delighted Launceston has been chosen to host Artlands 2021, alongside Junction Arts Festival who will celebrate their 10th Anniversary.
The timing feels right for Australia's largest regional art gathering to be in our City - as we have just launched the inaugural City of Launceston Cultural Strategy, providing pathways to ensure our visitors and residents will associate a positive vibe with their experiences in the greater Launceston area.
As a community who recognise and celebrate the benefits of cultural diversity, we welcome you. By bringing an open mind and a willingness to listen, we can all benefit from shared knowledge, we can collate and respond to new ideas and connect in culturally appropriate and meaningful ways.
Launceston is Australia's 3rd oldest city and has a unique lifestyle centring around elegant, historic streetscapes, being by the river, century old parklands and the QV Museum and Art Gallery. Make the time to enjoy some of these or take a 15 minutes' walk from our CBD, to the beautiful Cataract Gorge - home of numerous walking trails with lookouts, as well as the world's longest single span chairlift.
May your conference provide opportunities to explore new ideas that respect this diversity, enable our environment to be enjoyed and sustainably cared for and allow communities to be enhanced through strong connections.
Mayor van Zetten
Welcome from the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts
It is my pleasure to welcome you to Artlands 2021, which this year is connecting regional communities in a new way, with hubs across Australia in addition to its host home in Launceston.
The Australian Government values Australia’s vibrant arts, cultural and creative sector and we think it has a really important role in regional communities.
The cultural and creative sector entertains and educates us, promotes a sense of belonging and connectedness, and makes a profound contribution to our national identity, through the sharing of unique Australian stories and experiences.
Artlands 2021 is designed to build and enrich the national network of artists and practitioners working in regional and remote Australia. The event will provide a place for cultural exchange, where artists can showcase new thinking, present contemporary work, generate exchange and conversation.
Regional Arts Australia does important work – and the Australian Government supports it through funding measures such as the Regional Arts Fund and the Festivals Australia program.
I congratulate the organisers of Artlands 2021 and wish the participants the best with their collaboration on enhancing the future of our regional arts sector.
Hon Paul Fletcher MP