Monday, November 29, 2021

MANNING DALY ARTS NAMED TO COMPLETE SAVANNAH WAY ART TRAIL


Artists Glen Manning and Kathy Daly

Artists Glen Manning and Kathy Daly have been engaged to work with communities in the Far North to establish the Savannah Way Art Trail - a new art trail that will become a drive-tourism drawcard.

Manning Daly Art was one of four shortlisted artists’ who progressed to the concept design phase to execute the project and will now work with six communities along the Savannah Way to create geographically and culturally significant permanent public art pieces.

Manning Daly Art is a collaborative and creative partnership that seeks to extend the imaginative scope and significance of art in public spaces.

The artists Glen Manning and Kathy Daly explained that that working with

communities to create public art was a way to bring people together and to tell the unique stories of regional Australia.

“We are genuinely humbled and excited to be selected to be a part of this project.

“We see so much potential in creating a trail like this and the idea of linking not just the townships but the landscape together as well.

“The abundance of such a huge space and raw landscape like the gulf country, along with its natural life, drastic change in seasons and the ecological history and culture of the area will provide inspiration for the art that is created.

“It is clear that the local communities are invested in their natural world, so there’s great potential for bringing many hidden gems to the surface through our work with them,” they said.

Manning Daly Art’s six cohesive, large-scale permanent feature artworks will be located in Georgetown, Croydon, Normanton, Karumba, Burketown and Doomadgee.

Project Manager of the Savannah Way Art Trail, Patty Preece from CQUniversity, congratulated Manning Daly Art on their success, and said the shortlisting process had been tough.

“The Savannah Way Public Art Trail will be a powerful symbol connecting place and communities, revealing layered journeys and stories about people and place.

“The series of six large scale artworks will be created to intrigue and invite the viewer to connect with the significance of each location, enhancing visitor experiences along the Savannah Way.

“All of the shortlisted artists including Ian Waldron, Paul Johnson and Braham Stevens - provided the committee with incredible concepts and unique designs,” Ms Preece said.

“We hope that the Savannah Way Art Trail will result in positive social and economic outcomes for the communities, and we believe that Manning Daly Art’s artworks will do just that.”

Assistant Tourism Minister and Member for Cairns Michael Healy congratulated Glen and Kathy on their successful bid.

“This is a wonderful project celebrating Indigenous art and culture that will unite six towns on the Queensland leg of the Savannah Way,” Mr Healy said.

“I am looking forward to seeing these works create a rich, distinctive and unforgettable experience for visitors.

“The Savannah Way project is set to join Outback Queensland’s great tourism attractions including the Australian Dinosaur Trail and Winton’s Dark Sky Sanctuary.

“Creating unique cultural visitor experiences is a big part of the Palaszczuk Government’s extended Year of Indigenous Tourism.

“We know experiences like the Savannah Way are important for bringing visitors to the Far North’s outback region and contributing to our Covid-19 Economic Recovery Plan.”

Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said the appointment of artists represented an important milestone for the Savannah Way Art Trail.

“The innovative Savannah Way Art Trail is harnessing the power of arts to create a key cultural tourism initiative that will deliver significant social benefits and economic outcomes for the region,” Minister Enoch said.

“The project will showcase local artists and advance regional development, which are key outcomes for the Regional Arts Services Network and the Regional Arts Development Fund, two statewide initiatives funded through the Queensland Government which are supporting this project.

“The Savannah Way Art Trail is an excellent example of Creative Together 2020-2030, the Queensland Government’s 10-Year Roadmap for arts culture and creativity in action, including its priorities to activate Queensland’s local places and strengthen Queensland communities.

“That’s why the Palaszczuk Government has committed a further $6 million to support continuation of the Regional Arts Service Network.

“I’m excited to see the Savannah Way Art Trail continue to take shape as a signature cultural tourism project for the region.”

The Savannah Way Art Trail, led by the Regional Arts Services Network (RASN), is funded under the Year of the Outback Tourism Events Program, the RASN, the Monsoon Trough fund and the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF).

RASN is an initiative of the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.

The RADF is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Etheridge Shire Council, Croydon Shire Council, Carpentaria Shire Council, Burke Shire Council and Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.

More information about the Savannah Way Art Trail project is available at www.cqu.edu.au/savannahway.

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