BREC calling on South West and Great Southern artists for expressions of interest in biannual artistic retreat

Artists in the South West and Great Southern regions are being encouraged to take up an exciting opportunity to develop their projects in an idyllic retreat setting. Expressions of interest are open for the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre’s biannual artistic retreat, set to take place September 1-3 at Donnelly River Village. Promoted by BREC, Margaret River HEART, the City of Busselton and the Harvey Recreation & Cultural Centre, the BREC Artist Retreat offers attendees the opportunity to develop performance-based concepts, contemplate new collaborations and explore possibilities across art forms. The country setting of Donnelly River will provide great inspiration and a unique opening for old-school analogue connection. Up to 20 artists will have the chance to work with five mentors from various artistic disciplines across Australia to guide the development of their respective projects with a distinct WA identity, create artist networks and build their artistic capacity. Artists from the Perth metropolitan area or regions outside the South West or Great Southern will also be able to join in on the fun, with two places on offer to help further expand and facilitate artist networks from across the State. BREC artistic administrator Stephanie Reeve said she had seen the transformative experience the retreat brought for attending artists firsthand. “Many of our previous attendees commended that it changed how they felt not only about their project or discipline but of their perception of themselves,” she said. “They gave themselves permission to be ‘artists’ and to identify as an artist with a voice and a story worth telling. “That shift in identity and self-belief is monumental and extends much further and deeper than the art projects themselves, though they certainly benefit from it. “Seeing artists form a clear way forward and fall in love again with their craft, ideas and point of view — to be inspired to create and network with each other — it’s really moving and makes this the most fulfilling of projects for me.” Expressions of interest are open until June 21, with successful participants set to be notified by mid-July.