MRAG Maitland Regional Art Gallery

River Stories is a project combining the efforts of ABC 1233 Newcastle, MRAG and Hunter Council's Environment Division.

The Hunter River is the lifeblood of the Hunter Valley.

River Stories is a series of radio interviews, videos and photos about the Hunter River. 1233 ABC Newcastle’s Phil Ashley-Brown first travelled down the river ten years ago and in 2011 he is tracking down the river again to see what has changed. The series is being broadcast on 1233 every week and it features the people who live along the river and the unique challenges they face.

Hunter Councils Environment Division (HCED) and MRAG have combined resources and expertise to develop the River Stories Partners Program in support of the 1233 ABC Radio series: River Stories.

The workshops and events presented are part of a series of complementary and exciting artistic and environmental events that will engage with locals living alongside the Hunter River and share the life passion that they have had with this wonderful river system over the years. Come and join your story with theirs…

The program will culminate in an innovative multimedia exhibition between February – April 2012 at MRAG and will be featured at Hunter Council’s Regional Sustainability Conference in March 2012.

Project Partners:

1233 ABC Newcastle

Hunter Councils Environmental Division

ABC OPEN

Calendar of Events (in brief)

For full details of the River Stories Partners Program, go to our Whats On page.

River Stories Partners Program: Workshops and Events brochure.

Saturday 3 September 2011: 10am – 4pm Muswellbrook Scout Hall, Ford St Muswellbrook.

• Oral History workshop: Making River Histories, presented by Janis Wilton
• ABC Open workshop, presented by Anthony Scully

Sunday 4 September 2011: 10am -4pm Muswellbrook Scout Hall, Ford St Muswellbrook.

• Scientific Illustration workshop: Drawing and Illustration, presented by Trevor Weekes

Saturday 15 October 2011: 10am – 4pm Singleton Civic Centre, Queen St Singleton.

• Scientific Illustration workshop: Drawing and Illustration, presented by Trevor Weekes

 Sunday 16 October 2011: 10am – 4pm Singleton Civic Centre, Queen St Singleton.

• Painting workshop: Mixed Media explorations of the River presented by Judith White
• ABC Open workshop, presented by Anthony Scully

Saturday 5 November 2011: 10am – 4pm Maitland Regional Art Gallery, High St Maitland

• Oral History workshop: Making River Histories, presented by Janis Wilton
• ABC Open workshop, presented by Anthony Scully

Sunday 6 November 2011: 10am – 4pm Maitland Regional Art Gallery, High St Maitland

• Painting workshop: Mixed Media explorations of the River presented by Judith White

On all the dates mentioned above:

ABC Open is running One on One: River Stories, a special individualised workshop program at each of the venues. One on One is a series of first person stories told through photos and sound made by people with a strong connection to the Hunter River. Participants need to contact ABC Open producer Anthony Scully to express your interest and reserve a place in a workshop program.