CONNECTING CREATIVES
ABOUT BMCAN
Our Purpose
We connect creatives across the Greater Blue Mountains from Glenbrook to Portland, encompassing the Blue Mountains and Lithgow LGAs, to co-create exciting and inclusive events and activities for our community.
The Greater Blue Mountains Creative Arts Network (The Network) is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to support a vibrant, sustainable, inclusive creative arts community through leadership, member services and collaborative partnerships. We operate on a philosophy of co-creation with a network of collaborating partner organisations who form our growing cultural ecology.
Donations to us are tax deductible.
Our Activities
What sets our network apart is its focus on collaboration and inclusiveness with all art forms. We provide the following:
- Support for member initiated events and projects through grant funded activities
- Quarterly ARTBytes – enewsletter reporting to our members and community and profiling events and member creatives
- Multi-arts co-created activities bringing together musicians, artists, photographers, writers, thinkers, poets and philosophers
- Intercultural activities bringing diverse communities and their knowledge systems together with the healing power nature
- Ideas leadership through the Regenesis Blog and projects, and Talking Artz and its podcasts
- Exhibitions which provide visual artists with exposure to the public and opportunities to sell their work
- Auspice support for artists applying for grants
- Collaborative Partnerships across our Network to develop events and projects
- Donations to our public fund are tax deductible
Our Member Services
ArtBytes—We provide a regular quarterly e-newsletter to members reporting on the activities of BMCAN including short articles by members
Online Services—Members can display their work on our BMCAN website and list their events and exhibitions. There are blogs for the Regenesis Collective and TalkingArtz. We also maintain four Facebook pages (two open and two group pages)
Arts Expo and home studios—We work with our members to organise events that profile their artworks through expos, arts trails, workshops and home studio visits.
Grant support (auspice)—We support artists applying for grants by providing auspice services (assistance with applications and administration of funds granted)
Regenesis Collective—Multi-arts co-created activities using the arts to explore and celebrate our interconnected relationship with nature and one another. The inclusion of all art practices with co-created events provides the opportunity to experience a broad range of ideas and learning, including thought leadership through our blog: www.regenesis.org.au
Collaborative Partnerships, for example with Gang Gang Gallery in the Seven Valleys (Lithgow) community, Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre, Gallery H Dargan, RoseyRavelston Books & Publishing, Planetary Health Initiative, Winter Magic Festival.
Talking Artz—Listen to experienced artists discuss and share the artistic challenges they face and the ideas that are informing the latest developments in visual arts, with conversations podcasted and video recorded for publication on www.talkingart.com.au
Regular exhibitions—We organise up to eight open exhibitions per year. These are held at locations such as United Cinemas The Edge at Katoomba, Gallery One88, Braemar Gallery and other suitable locations. All exhibitions are curated and judged.
Other Curated exhibitions—BMCAN, with the support of our partners, also organises exhibitions at venues like Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens, Woodford Academy, Braemar Gallery and NSW Parliament House.
Learning & Skills—As many artists are also running a small business, we support and encourage the development of business skills by our members through classes held at TAFE, Business Blue Mountains, MTNS MADE and Western Sydney Business Centre.
Public Liability insurance. As a member you are covered for Public and Products Liability insurance of $20 million when you participate in a BMCAN exhibition or event
Collaborative Networks through our developing cultural eco-system, we are linking members to partner organisations and their resources.