2021 was the year that Flying Arts Alliance turned 50!
From October 2021 until October 2022 we celebrated our Flying Arts community all across regional and remote Queensland, getting together to ‘Paint the Town‘!
Paint the Town
In celebration of our 50th year, Flying Arts launched a special Anniversary project celebrating our vibrant community, which was delivered through an XR experience, rolling out in six experiences across the year,
‘Here for 50 years, Here for 50 More’ profiled the depth of talent and commitment that exists in all corners of Queensland, featuring talented artists, enterprising arts workers, dedicated teachers and educators as well as emerging young artists.
The project focused on Flying Arts’ many creative communities thriving throughout all locations of Queensland. Our community of visual arts in the regions celebrated the past, present and future.
‘Here for 50 years, Here for 50 More’ gave Flying Arts the opportunity to ‘Paint the Town’ and became a tribute to the legacy of the last 50 years, while soaring to new heights!
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Our Legacy
In 1971, Mervyn Moriarty made his very first Flying Arts flight. He flew solo out of Archerfield airport in Brisbane on a 6000km round journey to meet with regional representatives across the state to assist him in establishing Flying Arts, then known as the EastAus Art School.
Merv remained the principal tutor from 1971 to 1983, flying to an average of 26 centers four times a year, with extra trips made to organise exhibitions and other special events. During this time, he totaled over 1250 trips and flew well over 400,000km.
During these years, the organisation was credited as being a catalyst for social regeneration for hundreds of artists living on rural properties and regional towns throughout Queensland. This legacy lives on today in the work of Flying Arts Alliance, as the organisation became known in 1994, and the many art groups which formed across the state thanks to Merv’s tutelage.