Art & Health: Drawing from the Well

We can’t imagine a world without art - it's what makes us human! Although we acknowledge it as fundamental to a good life, we rarely acknowledge that art and culture helps maintain our health, either as individuals or as a community. The Sunshine Coast Creative Alliance’s final Business Breakfast for the year examines the vital role art, music and culture play in our well–being. We’ll also explore the opportunities for innovation within the health and wellness sector, which is one of the biggest drivers of our economy. It will be a fun, poignant and engaging start to your day!

*Please note: Lynne Seear has a serious illness and can’t attend. The Board’s thoughts are with her and we wish her well. Based on Lynne recommendations, curator and art consultant Renai Grace from iAM Projects has agreed to speak.

Guest Speakers

Renai Grace (Art consultant & curator, iAM Projects)
Renai Grace is an active participant in the visual arts industry with over 20 years experience. As a director of a creative company, Creative Sight Pty Ltd (trading as Independent Arts Management (iAM), her experience ranges in varied roles that focus on working with artists/designers, non-profit organisations, cultural institutions and government agencies. Renai specializes in art and health projects that create innovative and engaging outcomes. Since 2004 she has been engaged as curator and art consultant for Mater Health Services Art Collection for Brisbane and Springfield Campus as well as Gold Coast University Hospital. Renai is currently art curator and public art manager for Sunshine Coast University Hospital. Her professional experience in management within arts organisations includes Acting CEO for KickArts Contemporary Arts, Cairns and Artisan, CEO Artworkers Alliance and Principal Officer, Sponsorship and Business Development - QAGOMA. In a voluntary capacity, Renai has also established galleries both in Brisbane and Melbourne to support the career development of emerging contemporary artists. These include: Spiro Grace Art Rooms (2010‐current), Blindside Artist Run Space (2004‐2007), Melbourne, Smith and Stoneley (1998‐2000) and Fortitude Gallery (1995‐1998). Renai was a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship at the Peggy Guggenheim Museum.
http://iamprojects.net/iam/

Mic Black (Experiential Technologist & Human Interface Developer)
Mic is a creative technologist and community engagement advocate with a specialty in artistic technology experiences. Through his work, he has motivated and introduced thousands to new concepts in self reflection and mental wellness in a positive and non-threatening way. In 2015, Mic and the local community created Pixel Mosaic, an interactive digital art project designed to give children a voice to tell their story. Delivered through government initiatives, community organisations, travelling workshops in schools, public events, art galleries and online, the project has reached over 1000 participants from 74 schools with excellent outcomes for both personal growth and communication research opportunities. As a recognised "Digital Champion" by the Department of Science Information and Technology, Creative Industries Expert consultant to University of the Sunshine Coast and local council, and speaker at TEDx Noosa 2015, Mic has unbridled passion and energy for creating positive experiences through technology as a prolific inventor. Since Pixel Mosaic, Mic has been developing and demonstrating his latest work, The Wonder Games, a series of neurogaming experiences that explore group cognition and both competitive and collaborative mindfulness concepts. Mic will be providing a live demonstration of his successful "Mind Match" EEG experience adapted for the business breakfast setting with two audience members for an unforgettable limbic experience.
www.micslab.com
www.pixelmosaic.com.au

Chris Mead (Artistic Director, Creature Tales)
A working partnership began with Stephanie Finn in 2010 and we have since flourished as an agile arts company where the core business is innovation, further developing new ideas with a diverse group of people across arts, health and education. The strength of Creature Tales work is based on brokering partnerships and nurturing engagement through intergenerational exchange that taps into collective values and ideas. Much of the work concentrates on the social determinants of health and pivotal life transitions that have the potential to map our futures. Achievements include award winning “Billy”, an annual rite of passage project for children in early years adopted by two school communities; “The Carnival of the Here and Now”, immersive theatre in aged care; “Animated Anthologies”, artist in residence in dementia care settings; “The Big Window Project”, creative approaches to person centred care programs for job seekers. Chris Mead and the work of Creature Tales has received a number of awards including Arts and Health Australia Awards for Excellence - National Leadership Award 2014; Semi Finalist, Tasmanian Community Achievement Award 2014; Finalist, Tasmanian Community Achievement Awards 2013; Arts and Health Australia Awards for Excellence - Arts and Community Health 2012.
creaturetales.com.au

Guest performance by Mason Hope
https://soundcloud.com/masonhope-music

Tickets: $35 per ticket or $130 for a table of 5 (includes buffet breakfast) +BF

*Limited subsidised tickets on offer for emerging artists and community groups. Price on application to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Time: 7.15am for a 7.30am start