The PaperBoats has worked in close partnership with Country Arts SA over the past four years to develop models of regional engagement that are slow-brewing, deep and enduring. These programs have had a very significant impact on the delivery of arts activity to children across regional SA.
There have been two main thrusts to our strategy:
- A 4-year “Deep Dive” program of targeted engagement with the early childhood community in Mount Gambier through the delivery of performances, workshops and arts activity to over 1,000 children annually.
- A “Regional Reach” program of arts engagement through the delivery of free performances by The PaperBoats to 3-12 year old children in small communities that regularly miss out on opportunities that larger communities take for granted – with three tours to over 3,000 children in mid-north and limestone coast communities in 2020-21.
Touring Summary 2019-2021
- Three seasons of new performances at the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre (2019, 2021, 2022)
- Three Small Communities Regional Tours to the Mid-North and the Limestone Coast. (2020-21)
- One six month deep incursion to Claire, Millicent, Naracoorte, Robe and Rendelsham (2020, The Chrysalis Box)
- Over 7,000 regional children engaged in high quality arts performances and activity.
- New work, Seven Little Wonders, was created exclusively with Mt Gambier artists.
- A hard-won culture of support developed with the Mt Gambier community and a host of small regional communities across the state.
| The PaperBoats – Small Communities Regional Tours 2022 | ||
| Season | Where | When |
| Especially on Birthdays | SE Limestone Coast Small Communities ArtsSA |
5-10 June, 2022 |
| Especially on Birthdays | Lower Eyre Peninsula Small Communities James and Diana Ramsay Foundation + CASA |
1-5 August, 2022 |
| Especially on Birthdays | Murray-Mallee Small Communities Thyne Reid Foundation + CASA |
10-18 November, 2022 |
South East Small Communities Tour – A week long tour of 10 free performances of Especially on Birthdays to SE Communities in and around Padthaway, Naracoorte, Francis, Penola, Lucindale, Millicent, Rendelsham, Robe and Kingston has been funded by ArtsSA with money re-purposed from COVID cancelled China tour.
Lower Eyre Peninsula Small Communities Tour – The PaperBoats with generous support from the James and Diana Ramsay Foundation and Country Arts SA will present a week long season of 11 free performances Especially on Birthdays to communities in and around Pt Lincoln, Cummins and Coffin Bay.
Murray Mallee Small Communities Tour – The PaperBoats with generous support from Thyne Reid Foundation and Country Arts SA will present a 7 day season of 14 free performances of Especially on Birtrhdays to communities in and around Murray Bridge, Lameroo, Loxton, Glossop, Barmera, Berri and Waikerie.
Cast and crew were highly professional and exuded warmth and pride for their show. I will definitely be booking them for next year!
Lyndsey Martin, Principal ~ Gumeracha PS
| South East Regional Reach Tour – June 6 – 10, 2022 | |
| Session | School / Kindergarten |
| Monday 6 June at 10.00am | Naracoorte Primary School (R-Yr 2) |
| (Naracoorte Town Hall) | |
| Monday 6 June at 2.00pm | Naracoorte South Primary School (R-Yr 2) |
| (Naracoorte Town Hall) | |
| Tuesday 7 June at 10.00am | Michelle DeGaris Kindergarten |
| (Naracoorte Town Hall) | Naracoorte North Kindergarten |
| Padthaway Primary School | |
| Tuesday 7 June at 2.00pm | Lucindale Area School |
| (Lucindale Area School) | Balharry Kindergarten |
| Wednesday 8 June at 10.00am | Apsley Primary School |
| (Apsley Hall) | Frances Primary School |
| Goroke Area School | |
| Wednesday 8 June at 2.00pm | McKay Children’s Centre |
| (Penola – Mary MacKillop School Hall) | Mary MacKillop Memorial School (R-Yr 6) |
| Thursday 9 June at 10.00am | Robe Primary School (R-Yr 6) |
| (Robe Hall) | Robe Soldiers Memorial Kindergarten |
| Thursday 9 June at 2.00pm | Rendelsham Kindergarten |
| (Millicent North PS Gym) | Millicent North Primary School (R-Yr 2) |
| Millicent North Kindergarten | |
| Friday 10 June at 10.00am | Millicent North Primary School (Yr 3-6) |
| (Millicent North PS Gym) | |
| Friday 10 June at 2.00pm | Kingston Community School |
| (Kingston School Gym) |
|Thank you so very much for coming to visit Robe Primary School today.
The performance was outstanding – one of the very best I have ever seen.
Some really powerful and relevant messages woven into the narrative.
Congrats to the artistic team – very, very clever!
The kids were completely engaged the whole time with hardly a word spoken – amazing!
Student comment – ‘That was the best thing I’ve ever seen!”
Student comment – “That was awesome!”We look forward to you visiting us again – SOON!!!!!
| Lower Eyre Peninsular Regional Reach Tour ~ August 1 – 5 | ||
| Name of School: | Student No’s: | Performance Dates/Times: |
| Tumby Bay Area School R-6 | 128 | Mon 1/8 at 10.00am |
| Tumby Bay Kindergarten | 23 | |
| Cummins Area School R-4 | 120 | Mon 1/8 at 1.30pm |
| Cummins Kindergarten | 31 | |
| Wangary Primary School R-6 Kindergarten | 75 | Tues 2/8 at 10.00am |
| Navigator College R-3 | 126 | Tues 2/8 at 1.30pm |
| Navigator College ELC | 30 | |
| Kirton Point Primary School R-6 | 150 | Wed 3/8 at 10.00am |
| Poonindie Primary School R-6 | 110 | Wed 3/8 at 1.30pm |
| Poonindie Kindergarten | 16 | |
| St Joseph’s Catholic School | 440 | Thursday 4/8 9.45am, 11.45am and 1.50pm |
| Port Lincoln Junior Primary School | 130 | Friday 5/8 at 10.00am |
| Port Lincoln Junior Primary School | 130 | Friday 5/8 at 12 noon |
| Total attending: | 1,509 | |
When the Mirror Bird Sings – presented in association with Country ArtsSA and ArtsSA |
| Mt GAMBIER SEASON 2021 – Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre – 22-27 March 2021 |
| MONDAY 22/3/21 |
| 4.30pm – Teachers Preview |
| TUESDAY 23/3/21 |
| 10am – Tenison Early Learning Centre, Rendelsham Kindy, Gladigau Kindy, McArthur Park Kindy. |
| 12pm – Acacia Kindy, St Martins Lutheran College. |
| WEDNESDAY 24/3/21 |
| 10am – St Martins Kindy, Glenburnie PS, Akuna Kindy, |
| 12pm – Compton PS, Millicent North Kindy, Robe Kindy, Tenison Woods College |
| THURSDAY 25/3/21 |
| 10am – Glencoe Kindy, Glencoe PS, Akuna Kindy, St Martins Kindy, Kalangadoo Kindy, |
| 12pm – Mt Gambier Children’s Centre, Suttontown PS, |
| Kirinari Kindy, Tennison Woods College. |
| FRIDAY 26/3/21 |
| 10am – Limestone Coast Home Schoolers, Melaleuca PS, |
| Mt Gambier Children’s Centre. |
| 12pm – Gordon Education Centre |
| OTHER SE REGIONAL COMMNUNITIES |
| MONDAY 29/3/21 |
| Naracoorte Town Hall Performances |
| (supported by Naracoorte-Lucindale Council) |
| 10am – Michelle DeGaris Kindy, Naracoorte North Kindy, |
| Naracoorte Sth PS |
| 12pm – Naracoorte North PS |
| TUESDAY 30/3/21 |
| St. Anthony’s Catholic College, Millicent |
| 11am – Performance 1 |
| 2pm – Performance 1 |
| WEDNESDAY 31/3/21 |
| Apsley Football Club – Apsley PS, Francis PS, Goroke PS |
| 11am – Performance |
| MID-NORTH COMMUNITIES TOUR 2021 |
| In schools community performances 27 May – 4 June, 2021 |
| TUESDAY 25/5/21 |
| 11am – McLaren Vale Primary School |
| 1.30pm – McLaren Vale Primary School |
| WEDNESDAY 26/5/21 |
| 9.30am – Lobethal Lutheran School |
| 2pm – Lobethal Primary School |
| THURSDAY 27/5/21 |
| 9.30am – Woodside Primary School |
| 2pm – Gumeracha Primary School |
| FRIDAY 28/5/21 |
| 9.30am – Faith Lutheran ELC and JS |
| 2pm – Angaston Primary School |
| MONDAY 31/5/21 |
| 9.30am – Keyneton Primary School |
| 2pm – Nuriootpa Primary School |
| TUESDAY 1/6/21 |
| 9.30am – St Jakobi Lutheran School |
| 2pm – Eudunda Area School |
| WEDNESDAY 2/6/21 |
| 9.30am – Burra Primary School |
| 2pm – St Josephs Catholic School |
| THURSDAY 3/6/21 |
| 9.30am – Clare Primary School |
| 2pm – Clare Vineyard Lutheran College |
| MONDAY 12/7/21 |
| 12pm– Lameroo Community Centre |
| THURSDAY 8/7/21 |
| 11am and 1pm – Arts Centre, Noarlunga |
Acknowledgements
The PaperBoats Partnership Platform has been assisted by the South Australian Government through ArtsSA and Country Arts SA and the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory group.
We are deeply grateful to the James and Diana Ramsay Foundation for their generous support of our Lower Eyre Peninsula Small Communities tour and to the Thyne Reid Foundation for their generous support of the Murray-Mallee Small Communities tour.
The PaperBoats is very appreciative of the many artists, advisors, educators, carers and partnership organisations who have offered their support and insights during the development and trialing of this work.
BOOKINGS and ENQUIRIES
