Arts and Culture

In 2018, the community created a vision in which the Huon Valley is “A vibrant community in which arts and culture is an expression of place, story and people that is unique to the Huon Valley’.

This vision acknowledges that Arts and Culture incorporates:

  • Heritage – structures, places, history, language and stories.
  • Art practices including but not restricted to visual arts, multi-media, music, performance, writing, digital, dance, festivals, events, and
  • All creative endeavours that have creative, economic, social, cultural or community benefits and outcomes.

Local Tasmanian Aboriginal artist Bronwyn Englert leads
a smoking ceremony as part of her rich Welcome to Country
at the 2021 NAIDOC week exhibition

Huon Valley Council is committed to supporting a strong creative sector and engaging with and connecting with creative products, services and experiences.

Huon Valley Council’s Arts and Culture Officer
T: 03 6264 0300
E: hvc@huonvalley.tas.gov.au
Street Address: 40 Main Street, Huonville
Postal Address: PO Box 210, Huonville TAS 7109

Subscribe to our Creative Huon newsletter to keep up to date on Arts & Culture in the Huon Valley.

Creative Grants 2023/2024

We have $7,000 left in our creative grant money for this financial year. We will split this in two: $2,000 for a youth grant, and $5,000 for a winter grant.

Key dates youth grant:

Monday 18 March 2024: Applications open
Monday 15 April 2024: Applications close
Monday 22 April 2024: Successful applicant announced
Wednesday 24 April 2024: Project Start
Tuesday 31 December 2024: Project completion
Friday 31 January 2025: Project acquittal

Download your youth grant application and guidelines to get started.

Key dates winter grant:

Monday 18 March 2024: Applications open
Monday 15 April 2024: Applications close
Monday 22 April 2024: Successful applicant announced
Wednesday 24 April 2024: Project Start
Sunday 1 September 2024: Project completion
Friday 4 October 2024: Project acquittal

Download your winter grant application and guidelines to get started.

Questions? Contact the Arts and Culture Officer on 6264 0300 or email hvc@huonvalley.tas.gov.au.

ARTBOX MOBILE EXHIBITION SPACE

ARTBOX is a mobile exhibition space in the Huon Valley and is available to all artists in the Valley. ARTBOX supports community arts, and creative and cultural projects.

One of the aims of ARTBOX is to bridge the gap between art and the community. If you are an artist, a creative community group or organisation, you can hire ARTBOX to share your art with the community.

Visit ARTBOX for more information.

The minimum amount of time to hire ARTBOX is one month, and we still have April and October available for this year.

If you are ready and have an exhibition in mind, please fill out an ARTBOX Expression of Interest form and email it to hvc@huonvalley.tas.gov.au.

HUON VALLEY HUB EXHIBITION SPACE

The Huon Valley Hub provides exhibition wall space and two glass display cabinets that welcomes proposals from artists, designers, festivals, curators, community and cultural groups in all art forms. Whilst providing a professional exhibition space, the Huon Valley Hub Exhibition Space also provides opportunities for regional and remote communities in the Huon Valley to experience and engage with arts and culture. An Expression of Interest (EOI) is now open for the Huon Valley Hub Exhibition Space for 2024. Visit Huon Valley Hub Exhibition Space for more information and an online application form.

HUON VALLEY ARTISTS AND MAKERS NETWORKING SESSIONS

Arts and creativity are crucial to a thriving community. We have two exhibition spaces, ARTBOX and the Huon Valley Hub, that artists can use for an exhibition.

All communities need to connect, and as an artist, you can sometimes feel like the odd one out. This is where our networking sessions can help you find your clan. You can find out how you can exhibit in ARTBOX and the Hub and meet with other artists.

Networking is about guidance, opportunities, inspiration, and connection. As an artist, you know best how hard it can be to find your feet.

Research shows that connecting and networking with other artists can help you build your business, more so than staying in your own bubble. Recognition goes up the more connected you are.

In 2024, our networking sessions coincide with new exhibitions. Come and hear fellow artists talk about their exhibition and support each other.

Check the Huon Valley Creatives Connect page for the next artist talk and networking session.

HUON VALLEY COUNCIL ART COLLECTION

Each year the Huon Art Exhibition Group (HAEG) runs the annual “Huon Art Awards” in the Cygnet Town Hall, starting on the first Friday of March every year.

The Huon Valley Mayor presents the Mayor’s Choice Award to a local artist.

Each of the winning entries are proudly held in the Council’s art collection.

Visit our COLLECTION for more information.

ARTS AND CULTURE LINKS

LOCAL DIRECTORY

Our local  directory can help you to find and connect with local Huon Valley Arts and Culture businesses and experiences.

Visit the Huon Valley arts and entertainment directory to check it out.

HUON VALLEY ARTS AND CULTURE STRATEGY 2018 -2022

In 2018 Huon Valley Council engaged Kylie Eastley Consultancy and PDF Consultants to undertake consultation with the Huon Valley Council, community and stakeholders to produce an Arts and Heritage Strategy 2018-2022.

The consultation process included face-to-face interviews and structured workshops with the arts community.

This Strategy:

  • Provided a key document to inform Council decision making in relation to arts and culture.
  • Communicated Council’s long-term direction to the community and other stakeholders.
  • Guided the community and relevant stakeholders wishing to deliver arts and cultural activities in the valley.
  • Served as the basis for annual operation and work plans.

This Strategy guided the work of the community, the Arts and Culture Committee and the Huon Valley Council. The strategy was designed with flexibility to accommodate the changing needs and dynamics of the Huon Valley community within the broader art and cultural context.

This Strategy was developed with input from the community through a range of engagement workshops, interviews and public comment.

Huon Valley Arts and Culture Strategy 2018-2022

HUON VALLEY ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE

Until December 2023, the Huon Valley Arts and Culture Committee worked to finish the goals specified in the Arts and Culture Strategy.

The Committee worked with the Huon Valley Council, stakeholders and the wider community to:

  • Support the implementation of the Arts and Culture Strategy.
  • Act as a consultative link between the community and the Huon Valley Council by providing a mechanism for feedback and promoting communication.
  • Assist in identifying and responding to key issues relating to arts, culture and heritage in the Huon Valley.
  • Support Council with advocacy on and promotion of relevant arts and cultural matters.
  • Strengthen partnerships across sectors and other relevant networks and organisations.

We would like to thank all the Councilors, artists, creatives and organisations who have worked with us over the years and who dedicated their time to support arts and culture in the Huon Valley!

Thank you by Monstera Production on pexels.com