Upper Hunter artists Grace Barnes and Jane Richens are two of twenty-nine artists from across NSW that have been announced as participants in the state-wide Regional Futures project.
Regional Futures is a two-year state-wide creative project funded by Create NSW and delivered by the NSW Regional Arts Network which represents 15 members organisations
that support and promote artists and creative practice across regional NSW.
At the heart of the project is collaboration across sectors bringing artists and other experts together, exploring the future of the regions.
The artists will participate in a ten-week self-directed creative development program that will involve weekly online sessions with various thought leaders and studio visits from the
project’s Creative Director.
Regional Futures will culminate with the showcasing in Sydney of new works developed as part of the project.
Grace Barnes is a multidisciplinary artist and animator. Grace will create a series of illustrations and animated artworks that explore the bold truths of what the future looks like. Ever the optimist, she will be using an environmental lens, hoping we will choose innovation to bring prosperity, life and a safe future for us all.
Jane Richens is a multidisciplinary visual artist and biodiversity farmer living on Gringai country in Dungog. Inspired by dialogues with people in her region about possible ‘futures’ and regional issues, she will create a series of site specific performative portraits and tableaus, telling stories of ‘person and practice’.
Photos. Left “Yellow Portrait” Grace Barnes 2022. Right Jane Richens. Photos are courtesy of the artists and Regional Futures.