Friday, October 19, 2007

The last TINA blog

Although this is my last blog for the TINA placement, it is definitely not the last thing I will have to do with TINA. I'm meeting with Marni next week to have a general chat about how I went at TINA and probably to have a drink or two! To complete this blogging process, I feel I should give an overall evaluation of the whole event and how I now feel, half a month after it has finished.

WHAT DID I LEARN:
I think the greatest thing I learnt in terms of event management was to be organised and have a plan for everything. There is so much that needs to be done and having lists and plans are essential to making sure you know you're doing, what other people are doing and a whole heap of other things. Obviously communication is a large part of this and there is definitely areas which could be improved upon next year.
Secondly I think I learnt how to relax a little. Marni was a person who taught me that it is no use making a huge fuss over things - you have to keep a cool head and just work them out with the input of other people. This is something I have struggled with before. Seeing other people calm relaxes and calms everyone else down as well.
I also learnt how to work as part of a team to bring together this amazing event, see it come to fruition and just have it be beyond what I had imagined it would be. Relying on other people was a large part of this process and I know I have previously been bad at this. I've learnt to delegate, share workloads and ideas and be an active part of a team.

Technically, I feel my awareness about PR has increased. Although I work as a journalist already and feel accomplished in my writing skills, this placement allowed me to see what is needed from the other side - such as a communications plan! I've already talked about areas within my role which need development.
I've also improved my skills in web design and maintenance greatly - mostly this was because I had no-one else to ask how to do things and just had to fiddle around and figure it out!

It's interesting to see what I have learnt compared to another girl in this course, also doing the TINA placement. Tahnee and I worked pretty closely at the festival club and I definitely agree with the suggestions she makes about time in her blog. Check it out at http://place-me.blogspot.com/

SIGNIFICANCE OF PLACEMENT:
I think the most significant part of this placement was just being a part of the whole process and seeing this event that so many people have slaved over and dedicated so much time towards, actually coming to fruition and more than that, being a resounding success. It's bought me pride I haven't felt for a long time and it's been such a positive experience for me.

I found it challenging to say no to things - and consequently sacrificed my uni marks for this placement. There was so much that I needed to get done - and it was like, if I didn't get it done, no-one else would and it wouldn't get done. So I found I was spending way too much time on what I would call the hours for this placement instead of doing uni work or earning money work, but at the same time, I became such a part of this event that I couldn't not do it! does that make sense? ha ha ah ah.

OVERALL:
TINA is amazing. Enough said. I loved my time there and although it was stressful and took so much time and dedication, it was something I was willing to put my effort towards. Attached below is my preliminary ideas for the TINA evaluation I have done as the Newcastle media liaison. These are only ideas and there is certainly more that needs to be added, but this is the general gist.

-------------------

Publicity Team Evaluation: Newcastle Media – Allyson Horn

The coverage from Newcastle print media was resoundingly positive during the festival. Key messages such as what the festival is, the popularity of the festival and major highlights were reoccurring through the coverage. Of all Newcastle commercial print publications (5), only one did not cover the festival. This is something to work on next year, along with my following suggestions.

Primary roles I carried out as the Newcastle Media Liaison:

- Distributed media releases weekly leasing up to event and then daily when needed during the event. These releases also reinforced key messages and provided general This Is Not Art details. (Releases are on the media section of the TINA website)

- Designed a (mini) communications plan for the Newcastle media and how to approach and implement it – consequently implemented it.

- Organised picture opportunities for local media or researched and provided material to media.

- Liased with local media personalities to get them to attend and cover events, such as the launch for the social pages.

- Updated and designed sections of the website, including half-daily during the festival

- Organised photography for the festival and how to have this shown on the website - a flicker site.

- Designed and formatted logos for print and website publication

- Assisted Claire in anything else that needed doing.

Ideas:

- We need a communications plan to be developed. It should be designed to be implemented as a year long project (not starting just months before the festival. This will include:

o A breakdown of who our key publics are (media wise) and how we can contact them (and lead times/deadlines)

o A list of measurable objectives – we need to have objectives we can show we have either met or not met and use these positive results as a marketing tool

o Strategies and implementation that would include consideration of different mediums and media tactics for before, during and after the festival.

o Timeline

o Methods for evaluation and what we need to find from our evaluation – also a discussion on how these results can be used for future sponsorship etc

- We need to record what is being published – eg – there were radio interviews and things that we have no record of and so we can’t accurately show the coverage we are getting. A media log would be a good idea so that when things come in or are published, they could be recorded then and there. This will also speed up the evaluation process.

- I would like to focus on the different sections of the Newcastle Herald. Such as Orbit for youth orientated participation or the arts pages for exhibitions. I believe they will cover the festival, but only in certain sections, which we need to discover and tap into.

- The website needs to be done earlier than 2007. We did not have sponsor logos up three weeks before the event and the website was still undergoing construction. This needs to be addressed. Of particular concern is coverage during the festival – ie – how can we get pictures from the festival up there and online, and also a section on program changes.

- There is a lack of internal communication between directors and TINA staff in general. Directors often had no idea what was happening with other aspects of the festival.

Newcastle based Print Media Coverage: - note – Still a whole other folder to file – situated at the Octapod

02/09/07 Sun Herald, Hunter Extra “Festival to pull in crowds” – Small filler on This Is Not Art festival, when it is on, major attractions and new events, such as the Bike Corral.

09/09/07 Sun Herald, Hunter Extra “Got any room for an artist?” – small filler on the shortage of Newcastle budget accommodation and the call for local residents to ‘adopt an artist’.

27/09/07 The Newcastle Herald, The Word “Hamming it up” – small article and picture (of artists) on the Lunchbox Theatre as Part of This Is Not Art, including local performers and where they will be performing.

26/09/02 The Post “TINA all-embracing, creative talents combine at festival” – standard article on the This Is Not Art festival. Describes the event, the four special programs, highlights of the festival (such as Charles Firth from The Chaser) and how to get more information. Small picture of Marni Jackson (festival coordinator) included.

30/09/07 Sun Herald, Hunter Extra “National Exposure for local culture” – half page picture and lead story on producer Marcus Westbury and new television series he has produced called ‘Not Quite Art’. Discusses Marcus being a featured artist at This Is Not Art and his preview screening to be held at the festival.

30/09/07 Sun Herald, Hunter Extra Social Pages “Painting the town red” – small article on the This Is Not Art launch mentioning accidental fire, National Young Writer’s Festival and Electofringe. Accompanied by three small photos of people at the launch.

01/10/07 The Newcastle Herald, Social Pages “This Is Not Art party” – half a page (five) of photos on people attending the This Is Not Art launch. A small blurb on the launch mentioning hundreds of people attended.

27/09/07 The Daily Telegraph, Newcastle Extra “Not art, but drawing everyone’s attention” – A lead piece on the This Is Not Art festival and major attractions including Charles Firth from The Chaser. Key messages included having events for the general public and number of people the festival attracts. Large picture of Electrofringe Director Cat Jones and a local designer.

1-2/09/07 The Sydney Morning Herald, Life “The gentle art of zine” – Full page article on zines – reference to This Is Not Art as a festival that holds zine culture together and a place where zines can be swapped for other zines and offerings.

07/02/07 The Post, TE, “Experimental Rock that pushes the boundaries” – Short article on Sydney band Pivot which makes reference when they played in Newcastle previously at the 2006 This Is Not Art festival.

April-May 07 Sydney Performance Magazine “The cool of entertainment” Full page article by Electrofringe Director Cat Jones on the Japanese Media Arts Festival. Mentions of Electrofringe but not specifically This Is Not Art.

15/05/07 The Daily Telegraph, Newcastle Extra “Culture is the lose, events cash cut by $200,000” – half page lead on the threatened loss of funding from Newcastle City Council towards local events including This Is Not Art. Comments from Marni Jackson and quarter page picture of Marni and the 2006 TINA program.

---------------------

And so comes the end of this blog. Now I just have to start on TINA 2008!

Allyson.

Sunday, October 7, 2007

TINA over for 2007

I can't believe it's over - but I'm glad it is. I've had to have a week to recover from it- hence the huge gap since my last post. Over the 5 days of the festival, I got about 15 hours sleep, which made me incredibly worn out and tired to say the least.

So how did it go? It was a huge success. It was long, and full of excitement and entertainment. There's so much to tell that this may come out in dribs and drabs - when suddenly I remember something more. From the beginning may be best:

TINA was already packed from the moment it started. There were people from all across Australia and even from other parts of the globe who had made the trek to Newcastle for this explosion of creativity. My days pretty much consisted of the following

- 9am: be at TINA to set up the Bike Corral and update the website
- 11am - 1am: work on the Bike Corral
- 1am - 3pm: Compile a media release and update the web with photos, program changes, new media information and anything else I saw that needed doing.
- 3pm - 5pm:
- 5pm - 7pm: Take down Bike Corral equipment and clean up area
- 7:30pm - 12am: Work behind bar in the Festival Club
- 12am - 3am(next day!): Clean up festival club - included getting guests out of venue (way harder than it sounds) and dealing with angry people who don't understand why we've closed the bar.
- After: Make my way home and finally get to sleep at some point around 4:30 - 5am ish - then up again at 7-7:30ish for the day.

All the while I was also making sure everyone was ok, doing general coordination, helping people and assisting media with anything they wanted (while still trying to keep our end of the bargain with our sponsors). Let me say, there was no time for rest and I was completely burnt out after 5 days of this. Hence the huge gap (which has mainly been spent sleeping!). But all I can say is it was worth it. It's hard to explain how emancipated I feel after being a part of this team who have achieved this beautiful and amazing event. I feel incredibly proud and lucky.

Media wise, we had ok success. Every Newcastle media outlet picked it up and ran a god piece EXCEPT the Newcastle Herald. I don't know why, but obviously this is what I need to evaluate from my side - where did I go wrong in the communications aspect? We had The Post, The Star, The Daily Telegraph and The Sun Herald all do stuff in print, and Triple J, 2HD and ABC radio show a huge amount of support, with everything being positive. The Herald however, only ran us in socials, which I thought was a bit of a cop out. It's like they are too good for their own town. Anyway, I need to look at how I can increase our exposure in The Herald.

What is happening now goes along the lines of post-tina clean up and getting ready for our board meeting. We've started on the evaluation part of TINA. During the festival, we made up surveys (many many hundreds) and asked volunteers to go around and hand them out for people to complete. At the moment we are compiling the results. We have an evaluation meeting coming up halfway through this month, which is where we deliver the success of the event to the board and look towards next year.

Speaking of next year, I have already started on the communication side. It's funny that what started as a placement has resulted in a new love being found and followed - as in my love for TINA. I never really thought that I would like it as much as I have, but I really feel as if I have contributed to something amazing and well worth the effort.

I think there will be another post to go after this - like an evaluation of what I got out of TINA sort of post. But I might get my thoughts together a little bit more before I put that one up.

Allyson.

If you want to check out pics of the event, head to http://www.flickr.com/photos/thisisnotart_festival/
This is what I set up to get the photos available, but I am yet to post them all up.

Thursday, September 27, 2007

day two of TINA 2007

It's morning and I feel like I haven't slept. This is the reality when it comes to event management I guess.

Today the Bike Corral starts. Dan, my other half of co-ordination team, has just been at my place and we've been collaborating and getting ready to go into the city and set up. Real exciting.
I also have to go and do drop offs for head count sheets. We have recruited a whole heap of vollies to come in and do head counts at each of the events and venues to see how many people we have coming to the event.

Last night was the modular party - at 6pm (3hrs before event) we had sold more than 200 tickets! - an amazing effort and a real indication of how exciting TINA is for this year.

There are a couple of higher profile events happening today which I will be covering, which include The 2007 Soapbox Election with Charles Firth from The Chaser and also the Balkan Gypsy Wedding featuring Mojo Juju and The Snake Oil Merchants - a local band who are a real crowd pleaser.

Also working on the bar again.

This morning though, I have to drum up some more media attention and get some people down there.

Got to get to it.

Until this afternoon/night,

Allyson.

Day one goes off with a blast

It's 1.37 in the morning and I have just arrived home from the first day of This Is Not Art 2007.

AWESOME!!!!!!

There is nothing like seeing something so many people have devoted their lives to, come to fruition. Today went so amazingly well. Because my mind and body is one million per cent exhausted, I won't be able to remember everything. But the first event we had today was packed out - and it's only Thursday!

We've had a few glitches website wise which I am trying to fix. I'm noticing a whole heap of things haven't been updated, so got to do that.

I actually attended one part of the event today - the student media roundtable and discussion. More on that in later posts, but it was wonderful to get to participate in the actual event. I realise this often isn't the reality, but things just seemed to work out for me today.

The launch was HUGE! There were so many people there and the place was buzzing. I got to socialise/direct and assist media and VIP guests for two hours, before jumping behind the bar and serving beer all night. It was still amazing though.

We've had some great coverage in the media the last couple of days. We've been in the Post, the Star, the Daily Telegraph, The Newcastle Herald. I've also done some stuff for the Sun Herald on the weekend. So it's all systems go. Tomorrow (which is now actually today) will be much bigger because we'll have to help TV crews tomorrow. YAY!

I've also met an array of amazing people who are so valuable to know. The networking here just blows me away. People like Marcus Westbury, who was one of the original founders of TINA and has just finished producing his own TV series which is being screened on ABC, are people in the industry who are amazing to know and listen to and have there as a friend and contact. There's so many more, but my brain is too tired to think.

I feel so worn out but like I've accomplished so much personally and as part of TINA.

Tomorrow, my event (the bike corral) starts, so I have to now get some sleep so I can get up and set up early.

Allyson.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is the day - everything starts......officially.

We've bumped in today, with a couple of little glitches and some fun, but we're in and ready to roll.

Yesterday I met Nick Lowe, one of the organisers of the NYWF. We got into a good chat about student media and it made me realise how much I love being at TINA and how much it is suited to me. Everything about it, I enjoy.

I'm just worried about how I'm going to make it through the next couple of days. I've wokring from7am to about 2am - then trying to get a little sleep and somewhere in there fit in a little blogging!

Whoo.

Tomorrow!

This Is Not Art 2007!!!!

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Stress has set in

Whooo.....stress less is the mantra for this week.

Today is Tuesday. The event starts on Thursday. Still so many problems with accommodation, catering and insurance. Hmmm......little things keep popping up, which take up time and take me away from the big picture: TINA as a whole. My mind is mixed up as this entry will identify. Things will just pop into my head and I have to get them out or I will forget them. It comes from always thinking about what needs doing. And on top of this, I was, just yesterday, diagnosed with tonsillitis. I really just want to be in bed resting but I can't. I love TINA.

Bike Corral is nearly ok. I have all the material at my house and it won't fit in my car. Not like there is too much, but it is too big and my car is only small! I can't bring my star pickets in – which we need! Hmmmmm....not sure how they are going to get into the heart of Newcastle yet. Still have to make up registrations. Had a positive response from media callout and press drive. We've got heaps and heaps of old bikes and stuff. One lady even donated a whole garage full that her husband had collected before he died! So, I'm quite pleased with that. Looks my me media relations skills are going A.O.K.


Media has just hit full throttle. It's all about accommodating for the media now. They want to know what's, who they can talk to, where good pic opps are, and on and on and on. I seem to be catering to their every little whim. Now when the actual event starts and we get them on site, that is when it is going to get interesting. I'm going to have to be looking out for them so they don't feel like we don't appreciate their support and direct them to spokespeople, people for pics, where to go, what to do yadda yadda. That's in the back of my mind as it's a little further away (2 DAYS!!!!!).

I'm trying to figure out my timetable! Where am I going and what am I doing? I'm starting to see that I actually won't get to see much of the event (or take part in as such). It's all going to be organisational, keeping things working and happening. Stupidly (well not really but I'll it was stupid anyway), I said yes to working on the bar, so my nighttimes, and the wee hours of the morning, are going to be spent pouring beers for happy TINA-ers. So I'm barring, photographing, media-ing and more.

I have already burst into tear three times today! Argh!

Allyson.


Friday, September 21, 2007

so scared but excited......

A week until the event and I'm running my little socks off! I've written up numerous releases this week including one on local performers, exhibitions, gigs listing AND the THIS IS NOT ART LAUNCH!!!!, and sent them out. I've found the best way to actually guarantee (or as much as you can) getting some media coverage is to do personalised emails with the releases attached. So instead of just blindly shooting off releases, I've spent some time finding out who are the people I want to be targeting. For example, with looking at the exhibitions, I pitched personally to Jill Stowell from the Newcastle Herald. I schmoozed her and made her feel special; another trait I'm beginning to learn is very useful. This way, it shows an interest from my side and also that I have taken the time to understand who Jill is and why she is important to This Is Not Art. Likewise with the local performers releases; I've rang Tahnee at The Post and I know now that we are going to get some coverage in that. As a journalist I have always been so skeptical of on block media releases because I thought they never really showed a journalist you wanted their individual attention and wanted them to write about the issue at hand. This is fine if you have a multitude of media to choose from, but Newcastle is small and we have very little media to choose from. So when I found myself falling into that trap from a PR side at TINA, I knew they wouldn't be working as effectively as they could be.

The rest of my TINA time (and time that seems to be dedicated to TINA…..argh!) is spent with answering media inquires and attending to all their needs. It's sort of like we're at their mercy – so much depends on the positive coverage we get - not only getting crowds, but showing the positive coverage as encouragement of the event so we can get funding/grants/sponsorship/in kind material, next year. As well as this, I'm trying to figure out how to pitch this to University students. I'm going to do up a 'student's guide' type thing, with a list of events which would be really useful for students. It's just a matter of actually getting around to that – I will do that tonight.

Everything is going well. We all seem to have our heads screwed on…..if only just. Marni and I took half an hour to have a cup of tea the other day and I think it relaxed us both. I'm really having fun at TINA and feel like I am part of the event and dare I say it, the event is part of me. I guess we just have to keep plugging along!

Allyson.

Local lineup for TINA

LOCAL LINEUP OF ACTS AT THIS IS NOT ART 2007

Locals from across the Hunter Valley will take to the stage alongside national and international performers in the 2007 This Is Not Art Festival later this month.

For more than 100 local artists, This Is Not Art is all about mixing it with the best for five days of workshops, panels, events, and performances from the hottest emerging writers, electronic artists, independent music makers and cultural theorists.

Hunter talent will be on display in bands, film screenings, discussion panels, poetry performances, music events, dramatic spectacles and much more.

Many are ready and rearing to go with just over a week until the festival kicks off.

Local group, Ergo B Bag and His All Action Allstars will present a spectacle for the audience, as they perform a dramatic and eccentric piece about love, egotism and partying.

The 14 piece group are known around Newcastle for their unusual and experimental performance at the 2006 ABC Music Awards, which stunned audiences and judges alike. Rumor has it the Lycra one-piece suits they will be wearing channel the glory of Jesus Christ Super Star.

Other local highlights, the Balkan Gypsy Wedding, will be appearing on Friday night. This themed evening encourages everyone to dress up 80s euro-gangster-style for the chaotic celebration of a gypsy matrimony. Newcastle theatrical band, Mojo Juju and the Snake Oil Merchants, will open the night, setting the scene for a night of side splitting belly laughs and twisted fun.

These, and more than 80 others, will fly the Newcastle performance flag during the five day event.

Ergo B Bag, the Balkan Gypsy Wedding and Mojo Juju and the Snake Oil Merchants are available for interviews and photo opportunities. For more information please contact Marni Jackson or visit www.thisisnotart.org.

-ends-

Media Contact: Marni Jackson

This Is Not Art Festival Coordinator

Phone: 0423 613 904

Email: marni@thisisnotart.org
Please see attached a day by day run down of when and where some of our local performers will be on show at This Is Not Art 2007.

· Streetsweeper – An independent and locally written, directed and produced feature film shot on HD equipment in 72 hours, with no sets and lights, by a crew moving 6km a day on foot. The film follow's a ramble from sunrise at Nobby's Beach to sunset at Hexham Bridge, Newcastle’s streetscape whispered in a poem of moving pictures, found text, and transcendental guitars. Introduced by the Director. www.streetsweeper.net.au. Screening to be held at the Civic Arcade(The Studio) on Monday 1 October at 3pm.

· Casio Gloria – Performing in Speechless. Spoken word gets mashed with sound and lights at the National Young Writers Festival cross-platform performance showcase. From cross-dressing sound poetry bunnies to full-frontal audience intimidation, join Australia’s most innovative show-offs as they push the boundaries of what can be done with a microphone. Jenna Gill as Casio Gloria performing Friday 28 September from 7.30pm at the Festival Club.

· Ergo B Bag and His All Action Allstars – at the Modular Party. For the first time ever, inspirational record label Modular will be hosting a party in Newcastle, as part of Sound Summit. Held at King St Hotel, Thursday 27 September from 8pm.

· Ivy Ireland – A local poet, harpist and performer will come to life launching Incidental Complications a book published under the Poets Union's Australian Young Poets 2007 Fellows award. She will be joined by local performers interpreting her work. A local poetry focussed extravaganza not to be missed. Performing at the Royal Exchange, Bolton St on Saturday 29 Sept, 8-10pm.

· Neda Moskovsky and Claire Albrecht – Two young event producers who have curated the Sunday Fair gigs stage, featuring performances by local acts dog_boy_lover and Throbgoblin vs Base Electron and a return by ex-Newcastle electronica outfit Ionic. Also,local DIY art and craftists will sell their wares at the fair in Civic Park, Sunday 30 September, 12-6pm

· Newcastle Zine History Walking Tour hosted by local zine maker and DJ Ash Baker, takes in a number of sites in Newcastle's underground cultural history. Tour departs from the TINA Info Booth, Civic Park Monday 01 September, 1pm.

· Lunchbox Theatre by Tantrum Theatre involves young actors, writers and directors performing short works in local cafes each day of the festival. Thursday 27 Sept 12pm Three Monkeys Cafe, Darby St; Friday 28 Sept 12pm Bodega Espresso Bar, King St; Saturday 29 Sept 12pm Juicy Beans Cafe, Wheeler Place.

· Balkan Gypsy Wedding – featuring Mojo Juju & the Snake Oil Merchants and local roving theatre troupe Lovelorn Living Party, plus other acts from across Australia. At the Festival Club, 5 Auckland St, Friday 28 Sept, 9.30pm

For more information on local performers and their events, contacts and photos, please contact Marni Jackson.

This Is Not Art 2007 Gig Listing Release

For Immediate Release

18 September 2007

The program for This Is Not Art is released and positively bursting out of it’s little online seams with excitement. The festival is just over a week away, and with around 400 artists, makers, thinkers and tinkers in more than 200 diverse events in 30 venues over five days, it’s shaping up to be the most dynamic and engrossing October long weekend Newcastle has ever seen.

To entertain visiting festival audiences after the day's stimulating events, This Is Not Art presents a series of showcase gigs spanning the range of genres – from electronica to gypsy, hip hop to hardcore:

THURSDAY 27th SEPTEMBER

MODULAR PARTY @ KING ST HOTEL – 8pm until late. $15

Modular will be bringing its finest bands, DJs and a wealth of party knowledge to Newcastle for a onenight stand it’ll never forget. Bringing Muscles, Yacht (USA), Ergo B Bag & his All Action All Stars, Kato, Dan De Caires and many more.

HARD DNB DAY'S NIGHT @ FESTIVAL CLUB- 10-midnight. FREE

DNB Djs shake up some Newcastle flavoured DNB and Jungle science. Featuring LSDJ and Quotient. Event is free.

FRIDAY 28th SEPTEMBER

THE BALKAN GYPSY WEDDING @ FESTIVAL CLUB – 9.30-midnight. FREE

Theatrical performance: We are very excited you have come to our village to make party party party with us. For celebrating the cousin’s wedding we are inviting Nina Tzatziki and Sol & The Speaking Tribe for drama and passion, Lovelorn Living Party for helping you to get into a mood, and The Slipovitch Orchestra and Mojo Juju & The Snake Oil Merchants for warming you up and shaking you down. Please be making sure you have finest threads and pickled herrings to be keeping your Baba happy. Event is free.

SOUND SUMMIT PRESENTS TINA OFFICIAL GIG @ THE CAMBRIDGE – 8pm-late. $12

FreQ Nasty (UK), Aloe Blacc (LA), Mark Pritchard (Harmonic 33, Troubleman), Steve Spacek (UK/LA),Foreign Heights , Ivens and Plutonic Lab (VIC), Blastcorp (NT), Catcall, Wire MC, S.Y.L.K., Sleater Brockman /Spruce Lee/Jimmy Sing (Ro Sham Bo), Radge, Captain Franco & Count Doyle (Dynamite Sounds). Tickets cost $12 at the door or presale at www.moshtix.com

COST: $12 on the door.

DAVE ARKLESS MEMORIAL GRANT GIG@ THE LOFT YOUTH VENUE – 6-9pm. FREE

The Loft Youth Venue & Indent present A CD & Artzine Launch, curated and managed by local emerging event producers. With local bands, an illusionist, art projections and a BBQ. All-ages, no drugs or alcohol. Featuring: Men Who Drip With Germs, Littleroom, Sam Shephard, Matt Niccoli, Dangerboy. This is a free gig.

SATURDAY 29th SEPTEMBER

GET UP, DOWN AND DIRTY@ FESTIVAL CLUB – 8.30-10.30pm. FREE

Join outspoken hip-hop / dub purveyors Elf Tranzporter and DJ Wasabi, experimental performance outfit Business As Usual and manic grime-hop crew The Hobby Whores for a night of lightning lyrics, dirty bass and poetry in mashy motion. Another free gig.

ELECTROFRINGE PRESENTS A TINA OFFICIAL GIG @ THE CAMBRIDGE – 8pm until late. $12

Featuring: Tim Hecker (Canada), Darrin Verhagen, Pimmon, Leafcutter John (UK), Sebastien Roux (France),Jason Kahn (USA) & Ralph Steinbruchel (CN), Machina Aux Rock, Seaworthy, Sanso-xtro, Robin Fox, Jim Denley & Peter Blamey, Heil Spirits, Snawklor, Anonymeye. Gig costs $12 from the door or from www.moshtix.com.

SUNDAY 30th SEPTEMBER

THE NIGHT SHARE LIVE TO AIR @ FESTIVAL CLUB – 8.30-10pm. FREE

Radio National's The Night Air broadcasts live to give the nation a taste of This Is Not Art 2007. Featuringperformances from Toydeath, Ross Bencina, Wire MC, Vanessa Berry and more. Free gig.

CLOSING NIGHT PARTY: TWO CROWDED HOURS OF FESTIVAL DEATH THROES – 10pm-midnight. FREEMy ears hurt! I’m having a panic attack! I’m on fire! I live in a share house! Too bad!!!!! It’s the

Electrofringe 2007 Closing Party! Everybody knows that elongated Harshcore is the only way to party and makes a fitting end to what will have been a lovely festival right up until this point. Featuring Passenger of Shit, Mainstream, Autoclave, Drill Bit, rev777. Event is free.

SUNDAY FAIR OUTDOOR STAGE @ CIVIC PARK – midday-8pm. FREE

Featuring: Ionic, Throbgoblin vs Base Electron, dog_boy_lover, Gail Priest, Secret Killer Of Names, Ross F Manning, Hetleveiker, Fugal Quese, Undecisive God, Anna Chase. Free day event.

THE GREATEST INDIE DANCE PARTY EVER @ CBD HOTEL – 7pm-midnight. $5
PhDJ (the brains behind Sydney parties Purple Sneakers and Bad Kids Recreation Club)
teams up with DJ Streetparty (creator of Melbourne's Click Click , Colours and Shake Some
Action nights) to create what is sure to be the craziest indie dance party ever!
With PhDJ, DJ Street party, Sleater Brockman, Spruce Lee. Cost is $5 at the door.

For more information visit www.thisisnotart.org .

-ends-

Media Contact: Marni Jackson

This Is Not Art Festival Coordinator

Phone: 0423 613 904

Email: marni@thisisnotart.org

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Time for TINA approaches

It's nearly here and yet there is still soooooo much to do!

My time has been focused around media, media media. To put it simply, we've pretty much got the actual organisation of the event under control, but no-one even knows about it (well maybe that's an exxageration, but we need to get it out there more).

I've been working on a huge amount of media covering so many different angles. The thing with TINA is, because there is so much going on at the event, it means we need to try and cover it all - in one page press releases! Very difficult.

Here is some examples of the work I have been doing:

MEDIA RELEASE

11 September 2007

BROKEN BIKES AND BITS – WE'RE BEGGING FOR THEM!

Want to get rid of those spare bike parts and daggy old helmets taking up space in the garage? Sick of looking at that pile of rusting bike locks and lights? Why not donate them to the 2007 This Is Not Art Bike Corral?

The Bike Corral is a new event at the 2007 This Is Not Art festival and are we are desperately seeking old and used bike parts to repair and restore for the event.

Together with This Is Not Art, the Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre will offer free bikes and tips on how to fix them yourself at the Bike Corral- in less than two hours!

During the festival, people can drop into the Bike Corral for a personalised workshop on repairing and reclaiming a bike destined for the tip.

To run the DIY workshops, we are seeking an array of old bike materials including adult helmets, bike locks, lights for safe riding, and any other spare parts people can donate.

Anyone wishing to donate broken bikes and bits, can deliver them to the Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre, 106 Robert St, Islington, between 8am and 7pm daily.

Also at the Bike Library , people pay a refundable $20 deposit for a ready-to-ride pushbike to borrow for the course of the festival. Bikes which were previously junk have been repaired by volunteers so that visitors to Newcastle can have clean and cheap transport for the duration of their stay. Old helmets will help make this a safe option too!

The Bike Corral is part of more than 200 events to be held at the 2007 This Is Not Art festival, which is Australia's largest independent, experimental and emerging media and arts festival. It will be an excellent opportunity for Novocastrians to take part in a clean energy initiative, with the added bonuses of cheap transportation and and recycling.

And you get rid of your junk too!

For more information visit www.thisisnotart.org.

-ends-

Media Contact: Marni Jackson

This Is Not Art Festival Coordinator

Phone: 0423 613 904

Email: marni@thisisnotart.org


---------------------------

So that was something for the Bike Corral Event I am organising.

MEDIA RELEASE

11 September 2007

EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS FOR THIS IS NOT ART 2007

This Is Not Art is Australia’s premier festival for independent, emerging and experimental arts, engaging the nation’s most exciting culture makers for five days of panel discussions, hands on workshops, exhibitions, performances, screenings and presentations. From Thursday 27 September – Monday 01 October 2007 Newcastle hosts more than 200 free events which invite you to engage with current trends in media, music, writing, electronic arts and critical research.


This year a series of exciting visual arts exhibitions adorn the program, bringing a dynamic group of artists for our workshops and panels. Exhibitions include ARTETEXT, an interdisciplinary investigation into the use of language in art, an exhibit of comics and adjoining panels and workshops, a shop front full of wearable art from
reSkin Wearable Technology Lab, and an entirely online exhibit of current Australian and International Net art practices.


Head to the website for full details on all exhibitions and artists.


Artetext

Podspace Gallery: 3/231 King St, Newcastle NSW

Opening Friday 28 September, 17:30 – 18:30.

This Is Not Art presents an exhibition of visual, installation and sound art that takes and transforms text. Discover the madness of life in a Darwin housing commission, find desire in the erasure of old books, control your world through braille or lose yourself in the sound of words under extreme pressure. Featuring works by Chayni Henry, James Stuart, Justy Phillips, Rebecca Giggs, DKDC Collective, Jeremy Arie John Bakker, Krista Berga, Stranger of the Month, James Newitt, Jessical Tyrell, Nicolas Low and Thomas Knox Arnold.


Taking eye-candy from strangers: the NYWF comics exhibition

Sushi & Cigarettes: 305 Hunter St, Newcastle NSW

Opening: Friday 28 September 17:00 – 18:00

Shift your reality into the second dimension and enter the weird world of Australian comics. It’s a mini-showcase of sequential art, with artists bringing their twisted worlds to life on the backs of napkins, in full-colour mags, on walls, in graphic novels and more. Featuring Ben Constantine, Jo Waite, Shaun Tan, David Blumenstein, Mel Stringer, Tony Newton, Hayden Fryer and Nicki Greenberg.

Wear Now Shopfront Exhibition

High Tea with Mrs Woo: 74 Darby Street, Newcastle NSW

Opening Thursday 27 September 17:00 – 18:00

An exhibition of works from the reSkin Wearable Technology Lab integrating electronics and new materials into traditional craft practices and design. Featuring works by Alexandra Gillespie, Keith Armstrong, Celia Heffer, Leah Heiss, High Tea with Mrs Woo and Sarah Kettley.

Electro-Online

www.electrofringe.net

Launching 27 September

Electro-Online 07 samples current Australian and International Net art practices. A gateway to different constellations of works, it presents the navigator with a choice of trail and invites discoveries en route. Featuring works by Aaron Oldenburg, Alan Bigelow, Alan Perlin, Alexander Mouton, Anders Weberg & Robert Willim, Andy McKeown, Annabel Castro Meager, Dennis-Kratz, Francesca Roncagliolo, Heather Raikes, Henry Gwiazda, Jody Zellen, judsoN, Kate Pullinger & Chris Joseph, mez breeze, Michael Takeo Magruder, Olivier Vanderaa, Peter Horvath, Richard Vickers, sadmb (Sadam Fujioka + Osamu Sambuichi), Stanza, Pip Shea and Jenny Fraser.

Special Event

This Is Not Art Art Walk Walk

Meet at: TAFE Front Room Gallery, 590-602 Hunter St, Newcastle NSW

Friday 28 September

This guided walk and talk will take in all of the festival Art Sites - galleries, shop windows, and The Lock-up’s prison cells. Starting at 3pm, the tour then winds its way through the city centre, finishing the excursion with a free bus back to the Podspace exhibition opening at 5.30pm. A great way to see all of the works, with some insider info from the artists and curators.

Several of the artists across the exhibitions will be in situ for their exhibition launches on Thursday or Friday – check out the Exhibitions link on the Online Program for more details.

Exhibition artists are involved with additional programmed events, including artist presentations and panel discussions.

For more information on the exhibitions, artists (including other events these artists are involved in), openings and the full program of events, visit www.thisisnotart.org

-ends-

Media Contact: Claire Hargreave

This Is Not Art Publicity Coordinator

Phone: 0406 159 062

02 4927 1475

Email: tina.publicity@gmail.com


-------------------------------
And that was one on the event as a whole

At the moment, I'm working on specialised releases so we can get lots of local coverage.

More on them tomorrow once I have them done.

Allyson.

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

what to do when your artists have nowhere to stay and decide to not come........

This was today's major debacle. It seems the whole (budget/cheap) accommodation in Newcastle is booked out over the TINA weekend and consequently, we don't have anywhere to put some of our performers. This is a bit of a problem because if they don't have anywhere to stay, then basically they won't come. If they don't come, there goes events at the festival. It's one toxic circle that stems from the fact that there are only 600 accommodation beds within Newcastle!

So it was a case of think hard - what I came up with is the chance for Novocastrians to 'adopt an artist' sort of thing - like billeting. I basically had to figure out how the hell we were going to run it, and after going through many options (such as already established billeting sites, using blogger and using stikipad - thanks to the uni lecturers who have made us get in touch with technology) Marni and I came up with a system whereby we can run it from the TINA website. So it was then just a case of making up register sheets - and tonight I'm doing up a press release so we can actually get it out there in the public and get the whole process working! I need to do it tonight because for a paper that is to come out next week, deadline is tomorrow. The inner workings of the media is so essential I'm learning. How exciting :) If anyone wants to open their homes to some artists during the festival just visit www.thisisnotart.org.au.

Then it was just a case of getting the bike corral happening. This is underway well and truly and fully under control. Summarising the list of things I have been doing goes as such:


This is Not Art: The Bike Corral

Task

Done by

When Done By?

How

Done

Source star pickets and Hessian

Allyson

Monday 24th September

Call out over email list – NBEC list, NUSA lists

Sourcing star pickets, hessian in art corner at the pod

Risk Assessment

Allyson – to do with Marni

ASAP!!!

Marni and Allyson to do together

Banner Making

Allyson and volunteers

Monday 24th September

Need to call out for equipment and volunteers. Banner = DIY Bike Repair Workshops. Banner = Bike Library

Banners will be made on Saturday 8th and 15th September at the pod – volunteers have already been recruited and material provided at the pod by TINA

Signage

Allyson

Thursday 27th September

Outlining borrowing fees, contact details for NBEC, when library will run. Allyson to source board to make signs on: to make at the pod in the coming weeks.

Survey Form

Allyson

Tuesday 25th September

Allyson to make up a sheet so we can collect peoples details for further use. To include name, address and contact – phone and email.

Spareparts Drive

Allyson

11-15 September and again 25, 26, 27th September

Contacting media outlets as outlined in media lists and contacts – sheet 2

Callout for volunteers

Allyson and Dan

From now until TINA

Using mailing lists as outlined in Media List and Contacts – sheet 2


Basically all the big things I have done and it's the above list that I have to organise. Dan Endicott from the Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre (NBEC) is doing an amazing job restoring bikes and the NBEC will be the drop off for all of the spare parts. Now I just have to get it out in the media and public - which is much easier than it seems.

I have to get to it now.

Allyson.