TACA BOARD NEWS APRIL 2020

TACA Board met on Friday 3 April 2020 on the Zoom platform.

The impact of the pandemic on the Australian ceramics community and the whole arts sector is profound, particularly with the need for the physical gathering aspect to our field. I empathise with everyone as we forego exhibition openings, events such as Clay Gulgong, the ability to learn and work together, travel to residencies and workshops and the variety of opportunities which come our way. We hope you can stay strong and well, and that you can utilise the many ways TACA provides to keep us connected. In this new time of physical distancing, TACA Board met by video conference. Although forced upon us, these online platforms give us an easy way to stay in touch. It has provided possibilities that we have since used for our Journal of Australian Ceramics launch later in the month.

The Board discussed the impact of Covid-19 on TACA – our member services, upcoming events and finances. Notably TACA’s CERAMIX exhibition at Manly Art Gallery & Museum won’t go ahead this May and is now postponed until 30 April to 6 June 2021. We appreciate and thank MAG&M for being able to offer new dates, the artists for their efforts and Guest Curator Sophia Cai for her flexibility. Although we have had a sneak peek of the collaborations in the CERAMIX catalogue (published in the April JAC), it will be even better when we are able to see the works in person next year.

TACA office is busy as ever, with modifications for distancing in place including Montessa and Rachael working from home. It is too early to know if Covid-19 will cause a significant financial impact on TACA, but we have carefully considered our 2019/2020 budget with a view to some activities being adjusted.

Filming of Series 3 of the Australian Ceramics Online Masterclasses has been postponed.

Plans are underway for the Australian Ceramics Open Studios to go ahead in August this year as usual, with November as an alternate date.

The Strategic Plan summary will be published in the July issue of The JAC with the full version available once we launch our new website. There has been some delay in progressing this due to the virus. 

The April launch of The JAC couldn’t take place in Canberra due to Covid-19 restrictions, so TACA scheduled the JAC launch on Zoom for 15 April. [Postscript – it was a great success with around 50 people joining us online. A number of artists featured in The JAC were present and answered questions from Editor Vicki Grima, Assistant Editor Bridie Moran and the audience.]

The Board continues to work through the goals of the Strategic Plan, accomplishing a great deal as we approach the end of our first year. We are now considering a communication plan and advocacy priorities, and to assist with that goal we will do a survey of TACA members. We want to find out how we are doing, what you want and where to focus our resources. Keep an eye out for it, please give us some feedback and tell us what is important to you.

Many artists, galleries and groups have been raising money for potters impacted by the summer bushfires, giving directly to those affected. Now with Covid-19, Vipoo Srivilasa has initiated #clayforclaycommunity on Instagram to help ceramic artists get through this period. Have a look and support each other where you can.

Take care.

The next Board Meeting is Tuesday 28 April 2pm via Zoom.

Dr Cathy Franzi President

We welcome these new TACA members who joined between 28 February to 23 April 2020:
Maleny Arts and Crafts Group Inc, Tanya Rinehart, Tassia Castello, Tony Barnes, Martine Moran, Cathy Stagliano, Angela Butler, Sharon Cameron, Russell Shaw, Simon Rosentool, Mirjana Dobson, Heike Stephan, Helen Still, Marlize De Klerk, Samantha Patton, Kate Buttery and Genevieve Fisher.

TACA BOARD 2019/2020
Avi Amesbury, NSW – South Coast; aviamesbury.com
Amanda Bromfield, NSW – North Coast; amandabromfield.com
Cathy Franzi (President) ACT; cathyfranzi.com
Kate Jones, VIC; soca.com.au/about/
Janetta Kerr Grant, VIC: janettakerrgrant.com.au
Holly Macdonald, VIC; holly-macdonald.com
Alana Wilson, NSW; alanawilson.com

Secretary: Vicki Grima
Executive Officer: Vicki Grima
Auditor: Dennis Woollam

TACA’s Annual General Meeting will be held in September/October 2020.

Like to contact TACA BOARD?
Send an email to [email protected]; Subject: EMAIL TO TACA BOARD
The Australian Ceramics Association
PO Box 677 Alexandria NSW 1435
SQ1, 32 Bowden St, Alexandria NSW 2015
AUSTRALIA
T: 1300 720 124; 0419 250 282
E: [email protected]
www.australianceramics.com