Born in response to the 2019 Bushfires in the Nambucca Valley, Black Bird Creative Recovery Project provides communities an opportunity to experience simple and relaxing arts activities to support wellbeing and promote social connection after catastrophic events.

Lead by artists Nancy Sposato and Marg Coutts, these workshops offer an experience of how creativity can support well-being through simple and relaxing arts activities. The focus is on gentle movement, painting, journal writing and inner reflection within a safe, inspiring, supportive and calm environment.

Since 2020 Black Bird Creative Recovery Project has offered a number of workshops across the Nambucca Valley.

“When the participants debriefed at the culmination of the reflective creative process, people spoke of the devastation, though what seemed more prominent was a collective focus on the natural regeneration that was occurring around them. Looking out at the fresh buds of life in the landscape seemed to be a great source of internal strength for them.”

Nancy Sposato, quote following first Nambucca Valley workshop.

Images courtesy of Nancy Sposato with thanks to all the artists and community involved. 

See ABC News coverage of this project here. 

Watch a video about the project here:

This project has been funded by the Bushfire Community Recovery and Resilience Fund project through the joint Commonwealth/State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal, Healthy North Coast, Primary Health Network, Lifetime Connect and Arts Mid North Coast.