PO Box 416 Katoomba NSW 2780
Phone: 02 4757 4992
woodlandslv@bigpond.com
The Blue Mountains Artists Connection (the trading name of Blue Mountains Artists Company) is a networking organisation aiming to connect our community of artists of all disciplines in the Blue Mountains.
BMAC is an independent body, incorporated under the Corporations Act as a Company Limited by Guarantee (ABN 72 120 813 112), and is funded mainly by membership fees, commissions on sales, and donations from the general public; BMAC is listed on the federal governments register of Cultural Organisations and all donations over $2 are fully tax deductible in Australia.
BMAC is managed by a board comprising of local artists and skilled business professionals for the benefit of our arts community as a whole.
It was founded in 2001 during a cross cultural forum which was part of the The Living in Harmony project under the auspices of Blue Mountains City Council. Four local artists, Leslie Hunter-Webb, Sondi Stankov, Annie Byron and Vic Hunter identified the isolation experienced by many mountains artists, and recognised the need for a supportive network to counter this phenomenon. From little acorns..
During 2005-06, as a client of the Australian Business Arts Foundation (AbaF) under its AdviceBank Program and working with Freehills Solicitors and KPMG, a Three Year Strategic Plan was developed specifically for BMAC. Through Dr Matthew Durban, a senior Business Analyst at Freehills, BMAC also secured advice on the organisations restructure from an association to a company. Incorporation was granted by ASIC on 19th July, 2006. Freehills continue to advise on copyright and branding matters. The significance of the BMAC/Freehills partnership led to it being nominated for the AbaF AdviceBank Award for 2006.
The association with AbaF and Freehills has provided an amazing opportunity for the organisation and BMAC is extremely grateful for the generosity of all concerned, particularly Freehills, in giving of their services pro bono! Dr Durban became BMACs first Board chair (2006 to 2008).
BMAC also has a working relationship with the Blue Mountains Heritage Resort and Spa and has obtained sponsorship for an annual major Art Prize from the Crockett Group. BMAC has also secured a multi-year agreement for an annual, two-three month, exhibition at Sydney Olympic Park. Other achievements include a significant exhibition of Blue Mountains artists at NSW Parliament House in January 2008; and a three year partnership with Grace Fine Art Transport for art freight. BMAC supplied artwork by 25 local artists for use on set of the Channel 10 telemovie, The Falls.
For its work in developing the Blue Mountains Artists Studio Trail, BMAC was awarded the Federal Governments Industry and Enterprise Development Award for 2006.
Since the commencement of 2009, BMAC has celebrated its new partnership with The Edge MegaCinema at Katoomba which has seen Blue Mountains artists showing work in the cinemas new gallery space across four exhibitions during the year. Also during 2009, BMAC has been featured in Blue Mountains Life magazine (April-May edition) and in Blue Mountains Living (August edition).
Keep watching this website for further developments.