As we face increasing crises caused by floods, fires, droughts and other natural disasters and now viruses such as COVID-19, the arts can play an important role in the response and recovery process.
Creative Recovery covers the growing network of artists, cultural and community workers taking the lead in helping communities recover from the impact of such disasters through creativity.
Arts Mid North Coast have partnered with QLD based organisation, Creative Recovery Network and is working together for:
- the arts to meaningfully support communities to recover and rebuild;
- the arts to be integrated into and valued as part of broader community recovery efforts;
- local artists and arts workers to gain increased knowledge, skills and confidence to respond to communities in recovery;
- arts and cultural organisations to enhance their capacity to work with communities in recovery and respond in a coordinated way.
The Creative Recovery Mid North Coast project was initiated by Arts Mid North Coast in response to the 2019 / 2020 Black Summer Bushfires which devastated our region. The project was funded by the Bushfire Community Recovery & Resilience Fund, Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal and Primary Health Network and we partnered with the Creative Recovery Network to deliver this project.
Our project comprised three main components:
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- Creative Recovery Facilitator Training Workshops: Delivered by Creative Recovery Network, these trauma-informed workshops trained 51 creative responders with disaster recovery and preparedness skills and understanding of creative recovery approaches. Participants included artists, community and emergency workers, health practitioners and educators
- Community Projects: Arts Mid North Coast provided quick-turnaround grants to training participants and other practitioners to implement localised Creative Recovery projects. Fifteen projects were supported, engaging diverse groups, including remote and isolated communities, Indigenous communities, older adults, and young people. A Project Officer was employed to support facilitators in developing partnerships and project delivery.
- Research and Evaluation Framework: An extensive framework included engaging a researcher to evaluate the project, development of case studies, creation of online resources, and video documentation.
At the project’s conclusion, a group exhibition was held at the Bowraville Phoenix Gallery, bringing together project participants and communities to showcase their work and share learnings and outcomes. This exhibition celebrated the resilience and creativity of the communities, highlighting the powerful role of the arts in disaster recovery.
Our Creative Recovery project exemplifies that the arts are vital in disaster recovery, offering emotional support, fostering community cohesion, and renewing hope. The initiative met immediate psychological needs and bolstered long-term community resilience and unity.
Arts Mid North Coast's Creative Recovery Project was funded by the Bushfire Community Recovery & Resilience Fund - a joint initiative of the Commonwealth and NSW State Government, Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal and Primary Health Network.
Creative Recovery Facilitator Training
Arts Mid North Coast delivered three Creative Recovery Facilitator Workshops in the region - in Taree, Kempsey and Bellingen. The trauma-informed workshops were facilitated by Scotia Monkivitch from the Creative Recovery Network and included local First Nations Elders and cultural leaders.
The workshops equipped 51 artists, community and emergency workers, health practitioners, and educators with disaster recovery and preparedness skills and understanding of creative recovery approaches. The training was also an opportunity to create a community of practice around Creative Recovery in the region.
After the Fires: The Art of Recovery Exhibition
Arts Mid North Coast's Art of Recovery Exhibition was held at the Nambucca Valley Phoenix in September 2023 showcasing the creative work of artists and community members who participated in our Creative Recovery Program.
The exhibition celebrated the conclusion of the program and showcased the resilience and creativity of the communities, highlighting the powerful role of the arts in disaster recovery.
The event was also an opportunity for project participants to share their recovery experiences, as well as learnings and outcomes with each other and with visitors and audiences.
Creative Recovery Projects
Arts Mid North Coast supported 15 projects through our Creative Recovery on the Mid North Coast Program. These projects were delivered by local artists and facilitators for their communities impacted by disasters and engaged diverse members including Aboriginal communities, older and young people.
These projects have been included as case studies below, along with some previous projects delivered by local artists and facilitators.
You can also watch videos of some of these projects supported through our Youtube playlist.
Dorrigo Creative Recovery Workshop
Kempsey Youth Mural
Let’s Zine About It
Biripi Students and Elders Mural Project
We Are All Born Creative – Creative Recovery Program for Young People
Power of Song Workshops
Bellbrook Drumming Workshop
Up Armidale Road and Other Tales – Upper Landsdowne Hall
Weave to Heal – Wingham
Ties That Bind – A Creative Recovery Project
Yarrahapinni Stuarts Point RFS Creative Recovery Project
Creative Connections
FABULOUS! – Mooral Creek Creative Recovery Program
Dawaandi Creative Recovery Workshops
Women’s Recovery Stories from the Black Summer Bushfires 2019/2020
Black Bird Bushfire Creative Recovery Project
Up Armidale Road – A Bushfire Tribute to Nymboida
Bushfire Creative Recovery Project – Orara Valley
Creative Recovery Network is a specialist service provider and advocate for culture and the arts within the emergency management sector. They partner with government, community service, and private sector providers who work in disaster preparedness, response and recovery.
Impacts of Creative Recovery
Creative Arts Therapists Directory
Red Cross Resources
Arts offer the armour to battle Australia’s mental health crisis
National Taskforce for Creative Recovery
Make your Museum or Gallery COVID Safe
Managing your Mental Health After a Disaster
Creating Well Report
Creativity in Crisis: Rebooting Australia’s Arts and Entertainment Sector After COVID
Plans and Policies
Networks and Groups
Christchurch Earthquake
Queensland Floods
Black Saturday Fires, Victoria
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