FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE DIRECTOR SUDDEN RESIGNATION

 

It is unexpected and surprising news that Jim Cathcart, the director of the Fremantle Arts Centre has decided to resign. Cathcart was director of FAC since 2005 and responsible for making our local arts centre into an outstanding and very professional venue

Manager of Arts and Culture at CoF Kathryn Taylor commented “The local, state-wide and national credibility and success Fremantle Arts Centre enjoys today is largely due to Jim’s leadership.”

Mayor Brad Pettitt said “Fremantle Arts Centre has boomed under Jim’s leadership and I believe is a leading model for arts centres across Australia. We are so proud of having Fremantle Arts Centre as part of our City. Jim’s passion for supporting and profiling artists and ensuring FAC remains a welcoming hub for the community is why it’s so cherished locally and beyond.”

Jim Cathcart said “This has not been an easy decision. Running FAC has been the greatest and most rewarding chapter of my career. It has been an honour to lead the FAC team and contribute to FAC’s substantial development, however the time is right for me, and it’s time I let go and moved on.”

Long-standing FAC General Manager Marcus Dickson will be FAC’s Acting Director while a recruitment process takes place.

Roel Loopers

ART-THE CURE FOR EVERYTHING

 

 

PANACEA is the larges exhibition ever held of the City of Fremantle art collection, which is the biggest municipal art collection in Western Australia.

The show is a response to the Covid-19 crisis and curated by Ric Spencer and Andre Lipscombe from the 1,500 artworks in the City’s collection.

PANACEA has 150 works of art on show by 78 artists and is well worth a trip to the Fremantle Arts Centre. There was quite a nostalgic feeling in me as I know and knew so many of the artists, and many of them had their first show at ARTPLACE, the former gallery of my former partner Brigitte Braun.

The show is divided into Home, Isolation and Lockdown, a time none of us will ever forget and those in Victoria are still struggling with.

Panacea is a remedy for all diseases and difficulties, and we here in gorgeous Freo know that our panacea is the great community we live in. Together we can overcome anything!

Roel Loopers

BRILLIANT ABORIGINAL ART SHOW AT FAC

 

 

The Fremantle Arts Centre re-opened again today with a brilliant exhibition of Aboriginal art.

The REVEALED Exhibition of new and emerging Aboriginal artists from all over Australia is stunning and should not be missed, and neither should the Hunter Dreaming by Tim Leura Tjapaltjarri.

The show is on until July 26, so plenty of time to go and have a look and enjoy a coffee and meal in the courtyard cafe.

Roel Loopers

FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE RE-OPENING!

 

 

Here a very welcome message from Jim Cathcart, the director of the Fremantle Arts Centre:

“I am pleased to let you know Fremantle Arts Centre re-opens to the public on Monday 15 June.

In the galleries we are presenting Revealed 2020: New and Emerging WA Aboriginal Artists and Tim Leura Tjapaltjarri in WA: Hunter Dreaming. Both exhibitions will run until Sunday 26 July.

Our shop FOUND and reception also re-open on Monday 15 June, while Canvas Café and FAC’s beautiful grounds are already open. Meanwhile, FOUND online is open for business 24/7 at https://shop.fac.org.au/

In relation to FAC’s courses, we will present a July Kids’ School Holiday Program, with a full Term 3 Adults’ Program to follow. The classes, dates and booking information will be announced as they become available.

From Mon 15 June – Tue 30 June we will be open 10am–4pm, 7 days.

We will, of course, be implementing all the necessary public health protocols and social distancing measures that have become common over the past few months.

I look forward to seeing you soon, back at FAC.”

– Jim Cathcart, Director

To read Jim’s full statement visit https://www.fac.org.au/2020/06/fac-opening-monday-15-june/

FREO PODCAST SUPPORTING LOCAL ARTISTS

 

Fremantle Arts Centre has launched a new series of podcasts aimed at promoting and supporting local artists and musicians during COVID-19.

The podcast ‘FAC Chats’ involves FAC Events Coordinator David Craddock and other staff at the Arts Centre interviewing musicians, visual artists and craftspeople in an effort to connect them and their artwork with the Fremantle community while they are unable to physically show their work.

In addition to providing an insight into artists’ work, the episodes provide a way for the community to support artists by purchasing their work, recordings, merchandise or tickets to rescheduled events.

The first two episodes are interviews with musicians whose gigs at FAC were affected by COVID-19.

The first episode features musicians Tom Fisher, Grace Newton-Worsdworth, Justin Fermino and Brian Kruger discussing how COVID-19 is severely disrupting concerts as we know them and how WA musicians are dealing with the downtime.

The second episode features Triffids members ‘Evil’ Graham Lee and Robert McComb telling the story of how a series of unreleased demo recordings by Robert’s brother and Triffids’ frontman David McComb were uncovered and bought to life by his dear friends as part of the brand new album and live show ‘Truckload of Sky: The Lost Songs of David McComb’.

In Episode 3, released today, Curator André Lipscombe selects six significant and diverse works out of the more than 1500 artworks in the Fremantle Art Collection as part of a virtual gallery talk.

You can subscribe to FAC Chats on iTunes, Spotify or Google Play or listen to it on the Fremantle Arts Centre website.

REVEALED ABORIGINAL ART SHOW NOW ON LINE

 

 

The Covid-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of many events in Fremantle, including the fantastic REVEALED exhibition and market of Aboriginal art from remote WA communities at the Fremantle Arts Centre, but artworks from this year’s non-show are now available to view and purchase online.

Art lovers across the country have the opportunity to experience an eclectic collection of artworks by 120 of the most exciting new and emerging Western Australian Aboriginal artists by visiting the Fremantle Arts Centre website.

Fremantle Arts Centre Director Jim Cathcart said although he couldn’t hope to match last year’s Revealed sales of more than $600,000, the centre remained committed to supporting Aboriginal artists.

“We’ve developed a comprehensive catalogue for the exhibition which is available on our website so that people can view all the works, find out more about the artists and art centres and hopefully generate sales to support them through this very difficult period.”

Revealed is an annual program funded by the WA State Government which showcases WA Aboriginal art through an exhibition, art market and program of professional development for artists and art centre staff.

It’s an essential platform for nurturing and celebrating the next generation of Aboriginal artists and generates vital income.

Each artist has created new works for Revealed, which spans a breadth of styles and mediums including painting, installation, video, textiles, photography, print media, jewellery, carving and sculpture.

Revealed 2019 artist Cora Lynch said being part of the program had a lasting impact on her career.

Fremantle Arts Centre has waived all gallery commissions on Revealed sales, ensuring that 100 per cent of profits return to the artists and art centres.

The Revealed catalogue and detailed instructions on how to purchase artworks is available on the Fremantle Arts Centre website at fac.org.au.

ARTS CENTRE ABORIGINAL ART MARKET ON LINE

 

Like so many events and exhibitions the REVEALED Aboriginal art market at the Fremantle Arts Centre also had to be cancelled because of the Covid-19 crisis, but people can still view and but the works from artists from remore communities on line

Western Australia’s largest Aboriginal art market will continue to offer remote and regional artists the opportunity to earn much needed income by going online.

Revealed 2020 was due to be held in the gardens at Fremantle Arts Centre today. It is a big annual event that provides a very important source of income for the artists and the regional and remote communities they support.

Last year more than $500,000 in market sales went directly to artists and art centres across the state.

FAC have put together a list of artworks available to order from WA’s 25 Aboriginal art centres and a number of independent Aboriginal artists who were set to exhibit.

They are also compiling a catalogue of the works that would have been in this year’s exhibition and details about how to purchase works will be released shortly.

“An online order will help provide some financial support to these artists who have sadly been impacted by the event’s cancellation.”

To purchase artworks from Revealed artists online visit the Support WA’s Aboriginal Artists page on the Fremantle Arts Centre website.

To take a virtual tour of last year’s Revealed Exhibition click here.

Roel Loopers

FREO ARTS CENTRE MUSIC CANCELLED TODAY

 

The Sunday music session at the Fremantle Arts Centre today has been cancelled due to the coronavirus scare and need for the community to stay away from mass gatherings.

Cancelled: Sunday Music: Colab + Odette Mercy & Her Soul Atomics

A LOT OF FREEO ON OFFER THIS SUNDAY

 

 

Summer is almost over so make sure to go out and about in Fremantle today and enjoy this beautiful Sunday. There is so much on offer that one does not need to get bored, or has to spend a lot of money, as there are heaps of free things to do.

The Freo Farmers Market is on at Fremantle College till midday, the Sculpture at Bathers is on all day at Bathers Beach, with coloured lights illuminating the bush at night.

The traditional Fremantle Arts Centre courtyard music session is on from 2-4pm with R&B, blues and soul by Pugsley Buzzard, and also on, for the last time this season, are the Foodtrucks at B Shed and the concert on the deck of the Maritime Museum. Both start at 4pm.

And the sight of the massive Majestic Princess cruise ship in port will no doubt impress the kids, so go for a wander and appreciate how special Freo is!

Roel Loopers

A FREO SUNDAY FULL OF LIFE

 

 

It is going to be a gorgeous day in the best port city in the world, so make sure to take advantage of all that is on offer today.

Of course start the day at the Freo Farmers Market at Fremantle College, which is open till midday.

Then off to Bathers Beach for the Sculpture at Bathers exhibition, and from there to the Fremantle Arts Centre for the free courtyard music session from2-4pm. Gordon Koang is one of South Sudan’s biggest popstars, so bring your dancing shoes!

Then head of to the port where at Victoria Quay there are Foodtrucks in B Shed with DJs and a great ambience. And at the Maritime Museum the free concert is on from 5pm with Lorraine Cliiford, The Lost Quays and Dan Howls.

Have fun. I’ll see you around. ; >)

 

Roel Loopers