The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre have been successful in receiving over $84,000 in Create NSW funding to expand their range of programs relating to an upcoming water health exhibition, WATER presence & absence.
This exhibition is the second planetary health exhibition curated by the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre highlighting critical environmental issues facing the region.
The funding will expand on the existing exhibition and satellite programs that explores the urgent need for awareness around our most precious resource – water.
In collaboration with Penrith & Hawkesbury Regional Galleries, visitors can experience a “Water Trail” of exhibitions, public programs, talks, and events focusing on planetary and water health.
Each gallery will curate their own independent exhibition around the theme of water and water health, for the Summer 2022-2023 period, and host a series of public programs, underpinned by the collaboration between the three venues to give audiences an engaging experience.
The exhibitions and coinciding programs will involve audiences and artists as active participants in learning about sustainable solutions around water health, drawing on the shared connection to local waterways including the Hawkesbury and Nepean Rivers as well as the many water systems in the Blue Mountains that feed into those rivers, including Sydney’s water source, Warragamba Dam.
The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre’s exhibition, WATER presence & absence, will feature local and nationally renowned artists including Jo Clancy & Wagana Aboriginal Dancers, David Haines & Joyce Hinterding, Gabriella Hirst, Yvonne Koolmatrie, Rachel O’Reilly, Tracy Pateman, Will Rodgers, Jacqueline Spedding, Rochelle Summerfield, Leanne Tobin and Judy Watson.
Blue Mountains Cultural Centre are also working with Blue Mountains City Council’s Healthy Waterways Team and Blue Mountains Aboriginal Culture and Resource Centre to provide community workshops and consultation.
Manager, Arts and Cultural Services for Blue Mountains City Council Paul Brinkman said: “Our second Planetary Health exhibition is looking at critical environmental issues such as water health and a sustainable future for our regions.”
“For this exhibition we are partnering with Penrith and Hawkesbury Regional Galleries to bring you a diverse and engaging suite of programs across the 3 venues. We are thrilled to be working with Hawkesbury and Penrith in connecting audiences from the Blue Mountains and Greater Western Sydney to experience local and national artist dealing with the important environmental issues relevant to each of our regions,” he said.
Photo: Jo Clancy (credit: Ben Pearse)
