July 2010
QERDP10 DATE CHANGE!
Regional event organisers well know the importance of flexibility, and handling the unexpected. Due to a conflict with the new date of the Queensland Tourism Awards on 19 November, the QERDP10 Regional Event Conference will now be held on 12 -14 November 2010 at the same location, Rockhampton. The team at QERDP10 sincerely apologises for any inconvenience caused, but we know that many of our conference delegates will be nominated for awards or wish to attend the award ceremony, and we don’t want you to miss QERDP10. For more information, visit www.qerdpconference.com.au. www.qerdpconference.com.au
LAST CHANCE FOR ROUND 19
Applications for QERDP Round 19 funding closes Friday 6 August 2010. To be eligible, your event must be held between 1 January 2011 and 30 June 2012 (inclusive). Applications must be postmarked 6th August or received by the office by 5pm on the 6th August. For more information including program guidelines and application forms, please visit www.queenslandevents.com.au or contact the Townsville-based secretariat, phone: 1300 881 225 or email: regionalevents@qldevents.com.au
CONGRATULATIONS MARGIE RYDER
The remarkable Margie Ryder, organiser of the Julia Creek Dirt n Dust Festival has been appointed organiser of the McDonalds Townsville Running Festival (8 August). Margie, who will continue her Dirt n Dust role, says she is thrilled with the new challenge of the Festival, which is the biggest event on the area’s running calendar. The Townsville Road Runners, who host the Festival say Margie’s appointment is ‘a major coup and an important step of achieving the strategic vision of growing the festival’. We always knew you were a star, Margie!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The QERDP10 conference sounds like fun but is it really the best use of our time – we’re so busy organising our event!
You bet – you’ll learn enough in a weekend to keep you going all year! ‘Team QERDP10’ is busy at work planning the second annual regional event conference, to be held in Rockhampton at the Leichardt Hotel. QERDP Manager Sandra Garvin, Program Coordinator Rebecca Alferez and Coordinator Linda Bryce have some exciting plans underway and will reveal the new program as it is confirmed closer to the event … but we already know there’ll be lots of help for your websites, marketing and more. Not convinced? Just listen to what some of the organisers who went to last year’s conference have to say:
“I learnt more about making the event sustainable and made us look seriously at other income streams rather than just sponsorship.” Margie Ryder, Julia Creek Dirt and Dust Festival
“Event organisers often operate in the dark – at the conference in 2009 the team from The Drumley Walk realised other events have similar problems, face similar challenges – and importantly, that there is help out there.” Rory O’Connor, Drumley Walk
“It’s easy to get disheartened when your event is a bit ‘stalled’, but the QERDP conference allowed us to hear how other events handle things that we ourselves are facing. It really opened our eyes to what is possible, and showed us other ways to look at situations and opportunities for our event.” Robyn Stephens, Winton Outback Festival
What will you learn at QERDP10? Register now and take advantage of early bird rates at www.qerdpconference.com.au.
Do you have a question for Regional Round Up? Email carla@qldevents.com.au.
EVENT ORGANISER PROFILE
Natasha Edwards is organiser of one of the hippest events to be held in Queensland this year – the Swell Sculpture Festival (10-19 September, Currumbin). This weekend of uplifting sculpture set against inspiring coastal landscapes is all about connecting art and people, and in celebrating our beautiful Gold Coast beaches. Natasha tells us a bit about the event’s philosophy and its savvy use of electronic media.
The theme of the Swell Sculpture Festival is 'getting art out there'. Tell us a bit about what you mean.
We want to foster a spirited arts and cultural environment, present our artists and their works, build and strengthen community engagement, offer learning and development and, ultimately, inspire a creative future. Getting art out there defines what we do: we bring the artwork to the people. It is inspiring how the area and vibe changes when you bring people, place and sculpture together – the transformation is dynamic! It also defines us as an open-air exhibition.
You've taken a proactive approach to attracting volunteers through your website. Why have you done this, and how effective has it been?
The internet is so fast and inexpensive and, on all accounts, the most effective way of reaching everyone. Many of our volunteers access the website so they can keep in touch with the upcoming goings-on of the event. It also enables us to reach people outside our community and those who may want to volunteer and do not know how. We welcome everyone including people from non-English speaking backgrounds, youth, older people and people with disabilities and students. Many of these people access us via the website and those that actively seek us are most likely going to be enthusiastic because they have come looking for us. Social networking sites have also proven effective as it is the casual contact that evokes people's belief that they are a part of a much bigger picture.
We look after our volunteers by providing exciting volunteer packs, training, experiences such as meeting artists and the public and opportunities to meet other like-minded people. New friendships are formed and they are always made to feel special for the time and energy they give to their community.
The event has also shown a lot of initiative in selling ad space in your pocket-sized program. Can you explain why you decided to do this?
Many organisations want to contribute and show their support for the event. The program is a high-quality, glossy publication profiling all the artists in the exhibition and the program of events. Businesses who advertise in the program, receive exposure and are recognised for their support.
Swell's on Twitter! Do you have a few tips for those events still intimidated by Twitter and other social media?
Keep an open mind about these new advanced communication links and give it a go.
We love your photo of the day on the website! What was your motivation behind that?
Every year we are inundated with fantastic photos from photographers of all levels – even children have emailed their images. It is wonderful to see the artwork through the eyes of another as it is their story and their reference of their own experience and connection with the sculptures. When people’s photos are featured on our website, they are thrilled. The exhibition is all about participation. We create these avenues and opportunities when the support is there for them.
What do you enjoy most about organising this event?
This is a hard question, because I really do enjoy all aspects of organising the event – there is so much pleasure, excitement and adrenalin. My favourite moment is installation day, when the artists arrive with their sculptures and the preparations begin to ensure that every sculpture is handled with care and placed with precision. The logistics and preparations for this day are huge (and the Swell team remain calm throughout all the action of the day!). The unveiling of the sculptures is truly breathtaking – a very proud moment for everyone, and we get to experience it 55 times in one day.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
Gambling Community Benefit Fund: Applications for the next round close 31 August (unsuccessful applications are automatically considered for the following round). Grants of up to $35,000 (more for complex projects) are available to not-for-profit organisations to help provide community services or activities that benefit the community. Find out more at www.olgr.qld.gov.au/grants/gcbf/index.shtml.
celebrate … raising your event’s profile: A new free online database produced by Queensland Events is giving travel journalists throughout Queensland, Australia and the world, access to fantastic feature stories based on your great events, and the people and places that give them such colour. If you have an idea for a story, please don’t hesitate to drop us a line at carla@qldevents.com.au.
USEFUL INFORMATION
If your event involves group outdoor adventure activities like horse-riding, kayaking, mountain biking or bushwalking, you should familiarise yourself with new safety guidelines released by the Queensland Government. The voluntary guidelines have been developed in partnership with industry groups and authorities and are aimed at helping organisations and leaders know what is expected of them when conducting activities, taking appropriate duty of care for those participating and the environment. www.sportrec.qld.gov.au/Recreation/QldAdventureActivityStandards.aspx
FINAL WORD
If your event includes a competition involving judges, be sure the judges have a special shirt or badge so that they can be easily identified by competitors, event workers and volunteers and the public.
Taken from How to organise special events and festivals in Queensland, prepared by Rob Tonge in partnership with Queensland Events, 5th edition, 2010. Download your free copy at www.queenslandevents.com.au
