DiG Space Program Round 2

The Round 2 DiG creative team brought to life Fox Tales, an e-resource aimed at encouraging teenagers to explore their local libraries and the world of books.

Follow the fox through the genre portals to explore the different types of books available for teenagers at the Penrith City Library. Fox Tales is a collaborative e-resource aimed at encouraging teenagers to explore their local libraries and the world of books.

Creative brief:

Subject - The values and benefits of Public Library Services for a progressive community’s educational, recreational and learning needs.

Sponsor – Penrith City Library.

Background

Penrith City Library Service celebrated 70 years of service to the local community in 2018.

Public libraries have always been an important part of society and community, opening up knowledge, literature and entertainment to everyone.

Throughout history, libraries were more than just a building filled with books. They have educated the young and old, provided a place for community to thrive, and brought everyone who visited them the purest joy – a good book.

Today, like most things, libraries are very different places. There are still books, but there are also computers, DVDs and even children’s toys. And now you can even visit the library without leaving the comfort of your own home, using their extensive online collection.

But while the format and the contents may be changing, the role libraries play stays the same. The three public library branches in Penrith provide information, education, opportunity and entertainment to everyone in the community.

Patrons can borrow books, DVDs and toys from the library, and can also surf the internet, study, meet friends and new people, enjoy story time with their kids, join an art class or hear an author talk.

What is this to achieve/goal?

The goal of these artworks/music/production is to engage with the young people in a positive way to foster a greater appreciation for the range of values and benefits that Public Library Services is providing for the age group of 13 – 19 years old.

Time frame

Program Date: Monday 3 September – Friday 21 December 2018

Creative team:

The project was brought to life through the collaboration of the Round 2 DiG team:

• Penny Robbins (Mentor)
• Daniel Portelli (Composer)
• Carey Day (Photographer)
• Nathaniel Morrison (Graphic Designer)
• Wesley Stormer (Composer)

Mentor:

Penny Robbins is one of Australia’s leading Executive Producers having worked for Film Australia and has produced many award- winning social history documentaries for the ABC, SBS, Canal Plus and the BBC.

Testimonials:

The DiG Digital Maker Space project has been an excellent program to network with creative artists and art industry professionals. It has played a crucial role in helping me bridge the gap between my time at University and my professional career in the arts. As a composer I spend a lot of time in isolation but The DiG Space project has challenged me to work collaboratively with people outside of music. We showcased our work to industry professionals, solved problems together, and worked across the disciplines, in multimedia platforms. It has encouraged me to market myself as a creative artist and to think about how to manage my income within the arts.

- Daniel Portelli, Composer

Penrith City Council's DiG Mentorship Program is a fantastic initiative for emerging creatives. Personally, it has given me the confidence to bridge the gap between study and career. Working within a collaboration of other artists has helped me dig deep and push my art form to a higher level while developing my business skills like working to a brief and deadline.

- Carey Day, Photographer

As a recent university graduate, my experiences from the DiG program have been invaluable. The program has offered me many opportunities to further develop my creative skills and to apply this training to the real world. The DiG program has provided the creative team a platform to grow and learn from each other. I have gained industry experience from the creative and collaborative environment which will no doubt help me further my career.

- Nathaniel Morrison, Graphic Designer

As an emerging composer trying to make a career in creative industries the DiG Space Program was an invaluable opportunity. Collaborating with other creatives to produce a work that showcased a variety of disciplines (such as photography, composition and graphic design) was both challenging and exciting and further developed my skills as a composer. Furthermore, the workshops and networking events that were made possible through the program allowed us to connect with industry professionals and gain further insight into the creative industries. The DiG program and the opportunities it provides its participants is much needed in the creative art industry and especially in Western Sydney

- Wesley Stormer, Composer