Join us to celebrate recovery and resilience
Since the January floods hit this year, the ACT committee has been working on a
Flood Marker project. After consultation with business owners, artist members
and the Toowoomba Regional Council, ACT has developed an engaging
community project Splashing back 2012.
Rather than the initial idea of sculptures, the committee decided that mosaics on
the walls of inundated buildings would not only mark the levels of the water, but
also tell the stories of the people affected by this disaster. We have submitted
three applications and so far two have been somewhat successful.
Creative Communities have accepted Splashing back as a Strategic Community
project and have offered in-kind assistance.
RADF funding for an experienced public mosaic artist recommended by Flying
Arts allows ACT to run workshops to increase our capacity to produce
permanent, high quality mosaic artworks that require minimum maintenance
and be able to be relocated if development changes the building. We hope to
see most of our members at these workshops 29-30 October.
We find out in November if our major RAF funding to pay the artists is
successful. Then ACT will seek expressions of interest from inundated
businesses and artists. An important part of the process will be consultation and
storytelling with business people and artists to clarify the stories of the time. We
are applying for additional funding for this part of the process.
Selected artists/members will visualise what happened at individual sites. After
approval of aesthetic designs by businesses and ACT, mosaics will be fabricated
and installed.
These mosaics will be accessible to the public and enhance the visual appeal of
the inner city. An art trail brochure outlining the stories, businesses and artists
involved and details of where to find artworks will made available widely.
Splashing back can become a unique ‘must see’ activity for residents of
Toowoomba and visitors. As well as being a celebration of creativity and
imagination it will be a symbol and focus for recovery and resilience. The works
will be important talking points for the community.
We hope that members will join in on this exciting project by coming to the
workshops and coming along to the AGM to hear more.
