November 2008
ART SOUNDS APPLICATIONS DUE TODAY 8 DEC
Applications close on Monday 8 December for Art Sounds, a new and innovative performance program linking Newcastle City Council (Newcastle Region Art Gallery, Newcastle Region Library, and the Loft Youth Venue), the Octapod Association, Hunter TAFE and the University of Newcastle.
SUPPORTERS
Octapod receives financial and/or inkind support from the following:
Arts NSW. In 2004 Arts NSW provided Octapod with its first grant to fund part-time staff and carry out a range of projects. Octapod now receives triennial funding from Arts NSW.
Newcastle City Council provides triennial funding for the This Is Not Art Festival, and owns the building in which Octapod is a tenant.
University of Newcastle provides triennial funding for the This Is Not Art Festival.
Ipera Communications provide discounted ISP services.
TEAM
Octapod is run by a small and dedicated team of part-time staff who work with an indispensable bunch of volunteers to create and support community driven arts and media projects.
Christina Robberds (Coordinator) is Octapod’s jill-of-all-trades – she spends her days dreaming up ideas of what Octapod could be, and enjoys getting the right systems in place, creating a welcoming environment, and listening to the heartbeat of communities in action.
Christina has a background in mental health and disability, and has generally held roles that involved her organising and advocating whilst also getting her hands dirty with community cultural activities. She has studied numerous tertiary courses, including a Postgraduate Diploma in Community Cultural Development.
Eliza Adam (This Is Not Art Festival Coordinator)
Board
As an incorporated association, Octapod is governed by a Board that is elected annually by its membership. This governance function plays a key role in supporting management practices. The Board includes members from a variety of community, educational and business backgrounds.
CURRENT OCTAPOD BOARD MEMBERS ARE:
Chairperson: Alli Hammett
Alli has extensive experience (30 years) in community organisations and management of State, Regional & Local projects. Her business management experience includes: Board Director, Chief Executive Officer (business), Manager, Community Development Officer, Project Officer. She is a Business owner, entrepreneur and consultant in Business & Organisational Development. Alli has also designed, developed, implemented and evaluated community arts programs and projects. She has experience in the delivery of art, business, personal development, and education and training workshops. Alli has experience in creating innovative approaches to engaging community and audience participation.
GOALS
OCTAPOD STRATEGIC GOALS
The following Strategic Goals provide a planning framework for achieving Octapod’s Vision. The key Strategic Goals serve to focus organisational energies in a systematic way. Each Goal is supported by achievable and realistic actions for implementation over time.
GOAL 1 RESOURCES ARE INCREASED FOR SUSTAINABILITY
GOAL 2 OPERATIONS ARE EFFECTIVE AND INTEGRATED
GOAL 3 REACH IS EXTENDED THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS
GOAL 4 OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTIC EXPRESSION ARE FOSTERED
GOAL 5 PROGRAMS ENJOY A HIGH PROFILE, ARE VALUED AND DYNAMIC
VISION
OUR VISION: By 2020 Octapod is a valued community cultural resource hub with a reputation for inspiring new ideas in arts and media practice whilst making a real contribution to cultural vitality in the Hunter region.
OCTAPOD’S MISSION: Our mission is to plan and manage Octapod as an efficient and well resourced cultural organisation according to best practice standards in order to advance our Vision and deliver core functions.
OCTAPOD CORE BUSINESS: Our core business is:
Community Cultural Resource Hub – where Octapod provides resources and services to Newcastle and the Hunter region including information, advice/referrals, meeting space, grants auspicing, and a Residency Program (offering 24/7 access to office and meeting space), a Media Space (offering low-cost video editing facilities) and a Zine Library.