ARTISTS who worked with disaster-impacted communities traumatised from the 2019/2020 Black Summer bushfires are staging an exhibition in Bowraville.

Through their community-engaged arts practise with people from Coffs Harbour to Taree, artists were trained to use a different skill set to work within settings where shared trauma has been experienced.

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This work is part of the Creative Recovery program, initiated by Arts Mid North Coast and funded by the Australian and NSW Government’s Bushfire Community Recovery and Resilience Fund, Primary Health Network and the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal.

“When the fires tore through our region, we realised it was no longer ‘business as usual’,” Olivia Parker, Executive Director of Arts Mid North Coast told News Of The Area.

“As an arts organisation, we knew we had to respond to the crisis, and in the best way we know how – and that’s through art and creativity.”

Three facilitator training workshops were held in Bellingen, Kempsey and Taree for artists and arts workers, emergency service workers, local council representatives and Arts Mid North Coast staff.

It brought people together to understand what creative recovery can offer in a safe space where people can channel their grief and express emotions.

“The subtle thing is that making art can shift the brain from the flight or fight response,” Olivia said.

“When you are focusing on doing it, one lets go of trauma and at the same time, when sharing the activity, it’s a really healing process.”

Videos of such exchanges will also be on show.

The Art of Recovery Exhibition opens at the Phoenix Art Gallery, 88 High Street, Bowraville on Saturday 9 September and runs until Saturday 23 September.

The opening event will be held at 11am on Saturday 9 September with talks by the project team.

By Mary KEILY