LAST night the Orange Regional Arts Foundation (ORAF) celebrated its 30th anniversary, and its achievements, at a party held at the art gallery.
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This party was timed to coincide with the closing of the Chroma exhibition - a gift to the gallery by paint maker, artist and educator Jim Cobb.
We were fortunate to have Mr Cobb speak at our gathering, in conversation with celebrated artist Euan Macleod.
They spoke of their close collaboration, how they worked together to come up with a style of paint that suited Macleod’s needs as an artist.
We were also fortunate to have the Orange High School band provide music to welcome the partygoers, Luka Mihalich a student at the conservatorium to play the Oboe, and a few words from Ellie Swiatkiwsky about her studies in New York.
This significant anniversary is an opportune time to reflect on what the foundation has achieved and to celebrate its ongoing influence in the Orange district.
Put simply the aim of ORAF is to support activities in the arts in co-operation with the regional gallery, city library, civic theatre, the regional conservatorium and the soon to be completed museum. By encouragement in these areas Orange has become a shining example of a pro-active, arts-rich community, boasting a diverse cultural life.
In support of ORAF, a vibrant group, known as the Young Ambassadors was formed last year to encourage younger members to join the foundation. To keep in touch with their activities see their website www.popartcollective.com.au.
Over the past 30 years the foundation has given grants in excess of $500,000.
Recipients have been wide and varied, including the purchase of a grand piano and music scholarships to the conservatorium, a ballet scholarship for Ellie Swiatkiwsky to attend the Julliard School of dance in New York, the purchase of a Paul Selwood sculpture for the gallery, sponsorship of the Banjo Paterson poetry competition and more recently the funding of a book to accompany the upcoming Tim Winters exhibition at the gallery.
The foundation also supports the City of Orange Eisteddfod and Orange High School with donations.
The list is long and wide ranging and is detailed in our website www.oraf.org.au.
It is the aim of ORAF to provide ongoing support for the arts in the Orange district and to do this we need to work together as a community.
For more information about ORAF go to our website www.orag.org.au.