Professionals Serendipity 
By now, it’s clear to all with even a passing familiarity with Tamborine Mountain that it’s a place that bursts forth with creativity, nurturing and inspiring countless artists, makers and creators. But having the drive to create and the means to share it with the world are two very different things, and that’s where the Tamborine Mountain Arts Collective comes in. Jane McGeough has been president of TMAC— an organisation looking to uplift and promote the arts scene on the mountain— as of September, and we’re lucky to have her sharing the joy of art (and a peek at what goes on behind the scenes) with us today.
by Kyle Hitchmough
For those who might not be familiar, can you explain what TMAC is and what you do?
We’re all about community connection through the arts and providing opportunities for people to engage with joyful things that raise the spirit and the heart. Our main aim is to promote and support arts on the mountain and to see more events and opportunities for tourists and visitors and local people to get involved in the arts. We meet as a managing committee once a month and we have other meetings in between on different projects. At the moment we don’t have a location, as such. We’ve been meeting in the Vonda Youngman Centre or at people’s homes.
What are some of the events you’ve been responsible for?
The Arts Collective itself has probably been going for about 12 years, but the current committee is about 2 years old. We had a successful open studio last year and we’re planning another one in May. That’s where artists open their studios and there’s a whole weekend where visitors can come and see the artists in their studio. We’ve also had a music festival gathering. We’re looking at a number of other projects as well, like a possible arts hub and gallery on the mountain. We’ve put proposals in to council to look at.
How can people get involved with TMAC?
We have a website, http://tamborinemountain.art. If artists are looking to get involved, there’s a number of things we can offer. They can have a profile on the website and there’s opportunities to get involved with events. We have an open gathering on the 25th November, and we’re keen to have people come along to plan together what we want to do next year. We organize gatherings and we advertise them, so that’s how we’ve been engaging with the community.
What goes into the average work day for you?
We’re all volunteers, so every day there’s work to do! Emails, calls, things to organise… Trying to get funding from council and the region to do open studios. There’s a lot of love and passion that goes into it. A lot of us are working from home in our own studios, I’m a painter myself, as well as a singer-songwriter, teacher, and I’ve worked in campaigning. I’m from Melbourne originally, and I had a band for 5-6 years, released a couple of EPs and toured around the country. I had a lot of fun doing that! I still play, but I’m trying to focus on my painting a bit more. I do expressive portraits and landscapes, working mainly in oil and acrylic. The life of the artist is you have your day job and try to fit the things you love in around it!
Do you see any trends in the kinds of people who get involved in the Arts Collective?
Many are people who are interested in the environment, because that’s why they come to the mountain. Also, people who value community. As artists, we live here for the environment and for the small community. We know everybody, that’s something that most people look for. In terms of the artists, we do all different kinds of art, but we’re united by the inspiration of the natural beauty of the environment here.
Are you a local? What’s your opinion on the Tamborine Mountain area and community?
Yes. It’s great! Because we’re small and regional, I might not have been the president of an arts collective if I lived in Brisbane. There’s opportunities in smaller places that you don’t get in the city. I love it here!
What’s your favourite thing to do on the mountain?
Definitely going for walks in the rainforest. I live very close to the Botanical Gardens, so I can just walk to the most beautiful places. The reason I got involved with the arts is because we can create culture here, through music and arts events. We’re trying to get more events happening at nighttime. There’s lots happening during the day because of the tourist trade, but we want to see more events at the Zamia Theatre and increase the number of interesting and creative things to do for people.
What do you think TMAC really provides to the area?
A chance to connect in with community, an opportunity to get connected and collaborate with other artists, and to get involved in arts events and making them happen. We’re trying to create a vibrant arts and music culture on the mountain, a creative culture which benefits everyone. That means connecting with sports people too. We run a Maker’s Market that’s currently at Cauldron Distillery, an artisan handmade local arts market which tourists and residents alike benefit from.
What’s been your most memorable moment in your time with TMAC?
I think the open studios in May last year, the first the mountain has had in 10 years. All the activity around that, tourists coming in to see the artists, coming into their studios, and giving the artists an opportunity to sell their works. I think the gatherings have been really fun too, meeting new people. I’ve only been on the mountain for 5 years, so I’ve met a lot of people very quickly because I’m involved in the arts collective.
Is there anything else you’d like to go on the record?
We’re in support of a pathway to treaty for Aboriginal people. We support the stories of the local Wangerriburra people being told and recognising our indigenous history, uplifting and celebrating that. That’s a big value.
Tamborine Mountain Arts Collective
TAMBORINE MOUNTAIN QLD 4272
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