Rosie McKeand and Matthew Fargher have been approached as established practitioners for a professional learning day for the facilitators of the start program at Salamanca Arts Centre. We asked them to share their experiences in providing creative engagements, how they plan and structure sessions to offer spaces of trust that allow participants to feel comfortable, clear about expectations and, most importantly to have fun. 

9.00 Arrivals / Welcome to Country / Introductions9.15 - 10.15 Matthew Fargher10.15 -10.45 Coffee break10.45 -11.45 Rosie McKeand11.45 - 12.30 Reflection and group discussion

Biographies: 

Rosie McKeRosand

During her career as an artist and art educator Rosie has worked with communities and in cultural and educational institutions. Her way of working engages people of all ages and backgrounds with contemporary art and art practice. Rosie’s approach recognises and values creative thinking and art making as a way to develop and enhance lives. 

Matthew Fargher.

Community producer, educator, composer.

Matthew has produced, composed and directed music across many genres with a remarkable array of collaborators since the early 80’s.

He works freelance and for a number of major organisations (including the Tasmanian Health Service, RFtas and Moonah Arts Centre) as a community producer and creative programs coordinator. He has worked with communities across dozens of language groups, and helped develop careers and cultural practices amongst refugee, first nations and migrant musicians.

Having worked with Aboriginal dancers and Musicians in remote locations since 1995, Matthew has a deep connection with Country and Culture. For the last 14 years he has played alongside Dougie Mansell and many of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Elders at musical events and festivals. In the context of Community development and Arts Health he has worked with the TAC and Karadi supporting many young Aboriginal musicians including Dougie’s grandson Codie Mansell, building confidence, skills and musical knowledge.

Notable Events and projects over the last decade include:

In 2018 Matthew produced a major Project A Luta Continua (Oz Co), which involved 20 Visual Artists and 45 Musicians exploring protest in Tasmania and Internationally. Moonah Nights, Moonah Taste of the World, “Continental Drift” (OZ Co) and “Moonah Taste of the Future”(Regional Arts) with refugee musicians from 3 continents also collaborated with Moonah Arts Centre. “Origins” ( Writer, producer, performer) with migrant and indigenous musicians from Hobart and Broome (Arts Tas Funded).  Since 2003 he worked on numerous film and performance projects with Kickstart Arts. “Press Play” “My First Time” amongst many youth events with Youth Health, for the Tasmanian Health Service.

Nationally and under the alias Bedlam Music, Matthew has composed music for dance, film, and theatre since 1982. He has produced, engineered, mixed and mastered dozens of diverse albums with musicians of every age and culture.