S5 Ep6 - From Western Sydney to Newcastle: art making and producing

The Colour Cycle Podcast by Diversity Arts Australia

On this episode of DARTS’ StoryCasters-led Colour Cycle podcast, we partner up with Newcastle, NSW-based arts organisation, Octapod, to talk to five regional artists about working in the arts outside metropolitan areas. Western Sydney StoryCaster producer Vir Kaula hosts an important discussion about the strength of the local community and what it’s like being an artist in the Greater Newcastle region.

We’ll meet Octapod talents Indeah Clark and Tamahae Puha, the duo behind the Skux Az, an art collective focused on bringing dynamic and more ‘unconventional’ art into Maitland. Also, Jamie Bastoli, a multidisciplinary artist, discusses finding a supportive community, and Gunggandji photographer, DJ and visual artist Wanjun Carpenter speaks about the political power of art. Vir is also joined by actor and theatre maker Roger Ly, talking about the value of producing art for multicultural communities.

This Colour Cycle season is a takeover by Diversity Arts’ StoryCasters, a collective of young culturally diverse content producers.

Produced on the unceded lands of the Cabrogal and Mulgoa of the Darug nation and the lands of the Awabakal, Worimi, Wonnarua and Darkinyung peoples. Always was. Always will be. Aboriginal Land.

A production of Diversity Arts Australia.

Guests: Skux Az (Indeah Clarke and Tamahae Puha), Wanjun Carpenter, Jamie Bastoli, Roger Ly

Interviewer: Vir Kaula

Research and presentation: Vir Kaula, Claire Cao, Sonia Mehrmand

Season 5 Host: Sonia Mehrmand

Regular Host and Executive Producer: Lena Nahlous

Producers: Sonia Mehrmand and Vir Kaula, with support from Claire Cao and Colin Ho

More information (Hyperlinks to featured orgs / artists / work):

Skux Az

Newcastle Art Gallery

Octapod

Jamie Bastoli

Roger Ly

Music: Melvin Tu and Ali Saganci

Thank you to our major partner in this episode, Octapod.

StoryCasters is a project of Diversity Arts Australia and provides training and mentorship to young culturally diverse digital producers. Visit STORYCASTERS.NET for more.

This season is supported by Multicultural NSW and Create NSW. Diversity Arts also receives core funding from Australia Council for the Arts.

StoryCasters trainer/ mentors: Jennifer Macey, Phoenix Eye, Sweatshop Literacy Movement, Nicola Morton, Del Lumanta.