Initially we decided to move and translate our existing 2020 program online to enable connection and gathering under social distancing (due to COVID19). After some further time to reflect we’ve decided that our community and Part of Things itself is better served by a different approach.
This post is to preserve the original 2020 Program and our initial COVID19 response for posterity.
March to November 2020 Programs TAB from April 2020. Some links may no longer be active.
*COVID19 Update*
Regional folk know all about isolation and all about community care. We’re ready to reduce physical contact to take care of our most vulnerable and each other while still ensuring that we connect, reach out and gather in other ways.
At Part of Things we’re moving our upcoming projects, programs and events online in a variety of ways. Because our physical space has stairs, many of our programs were already inaccessible to some of our beloved community so quietly behind the scenes we’d already been exploring and experimenting with more virtual ways to gather. This new global situation is a great kick in the pans to stop thinking about it and just get it done.
So come and #bepartofthings from wherever you are. We remain unashamedly focused on Riverland tastes, interests, ideas and futures in everything we do.
Our immediate programs have details about how they’ll be delivered virtually and in light of so many things being cancelled across our region we are also doing our best to add some extra programs for anyone feeling a bit lost or at an unexpected loose end. We remain committed to creating paid opportunities for local facilitators (to build longterm pathways) and our virtual offerings will be a mix of free and paid experiences (just like our physical program was) to that end.
As a starting place, jump into our brand new Part of Things Slack and join any of the channels relevant to your interests. Slack is a little like Discord if you know that platform – it’s a kind of hybrid of chatrooms, email and direct messages. We’ll be running a bunch of virtual gatherings there and it’s also a place you can socialise with like-minded Riverland folk.
If you’d like to make a contribution to keep our programs running and affordable, we have a virtual tip jar here.
If you’re got an idea for a virtual gathering/project/event that you’d like to deliver under our umbrella, get in touch here.
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The Part of Things program is dynamic and always developing so check back on the 3rd of every month for updates. Join our e-news for direct updates and special invitations to your inbox.
Our program has some facilitated things, some drop-in things and some room for additional self-organised things *you* want to offer. We keep our ticketed events, drop-ins, workshops and other activities deliberately small to foster real connections and tailored experiences.
MARCH @ Part of Things
Embroider Everything
Saturday 7th March 1-4pm (free).
Join Sally Mattner for a non-daggy introduction to embroidery.
See Facebook event for full details, including what to bring.
Embroider Everything is for the curious and the crafters.
Thinker-in-Residence Applications CLOSE
Applications close midnight *new date* 25th March (no cost to apply).
We will be selecting four thinkers in 2020.
Each thinker gets access to Part of Things for an entire month to spend time working on one or more ideas (in whatever way works for them). Our only expectation is that our thinkers somehow share what they thought about.
More information and application form here.
Successful applicants will be announced in mid-April.
Board Game Night #1
Monday 23rd March 7pm on wards (donation via the virtual tip jar).
We’ll be playing online at Tabletopia this month. See the Facebook event for full details.
Board Game Nights are for the secretly competitive, the word-nerds, the new to town, the only children and those with too many siblings who want to laugh and get lost in some easy fun.
The Conjurer’s Table: Taverns
Wednesday 25th March 7-9pm.
The Conjurer’s Table is a monthly gathering for Game Masters running tabletop role-playing games (like Dungeons and Dragons) to share resources and ideas. Organised and facilitated by Stuart Watkinson from Committee Quest Podcast.
This month’s Conjurer’s Table will be running on Discord here. Scroll down to find The Conjurer’s Table.
APRIL @ Part of Things
Get Busy Applications OPEN
Applications open Friday 3rd April (no cost to apply).
Get Busy is 5-week micro-business incubator for people with very new, shaky ideas.
incubator
noun
- 1.
an enclosed apparatus in which premature or unusually small babies (in this case business babies) are placed and which provides a controlled and protective environment for their care.
Get Busy will nurture people new to business through the very early stage of starting to articulate and map out their idea. We’ll walk through using a business model canvas to test viability, we’ll talk the basics of pitching and first stage financial modelling. Get Busy is for people who want to explore an idea but aren’t quite ready for the other big and scary incubator and development programs out there.
Get Busy will be open to a maximum of ten people to foster a welcoming and supportive learning environment. Further details and application form will be available from 3rd April.
Get Busy will be delivered online in light of the unfolding COVID19 situation.
Dear Democracy
Tuesday 14th April 7-8:30pm (free)
Virtual workshop, full details in the Facebook event here.
We live in a complicated and messy world. The news is hitting us all the time with new disasters and things to be worried about (even more so today than when we started Dear Democracy last year in 2019). How many of us feel like we should be doing *something* (anything) in response?
Dear Democracy is a self-organised space encouraging people to take the time for one small action on an issue they care about. Come along and write a letter to our local politician, or write a petition and a plan to share it, or spend some time reading up on more detail about an issue you don’t fully understand.
Dear Democracy is for people who want to be more active citizens and need somewhere to start.
Thinker-in-Residence Announcement
April 14th.
Check back for the big announcement to see who our 2020 Thinkers-in-Residence will be!
The Conjurer’s Table: Gods (World Builder Series)
Wednesday 29th April 7-9pm (gold coin donation).
The Conjurer’s Table is a monthly gathering for Game Masters running tabletop role-playing games (like Dungeons and Dragons) to share resources and ideas. Organised and facilitated by Stuart Watkinson from Committee Quest Podcast. Join the Discord here.
Storytime for Adults #1
Thursday 30th April 7pm – 8:30pm ($25 per person + booking fee)
Ever felt jealous of the pre-schoolers at the library having a story read to them and participating in a fun themed activity? Our Storytime for Adults is for you! Each Storytime will feature a short story read by a special guest followed by a themed activity related to the story.
Storytime is for Adults (18+) who love words and are looking to make connections with fellow readers and word-nerds.
Purchase your ticket/s here.
Storytime for Adults #1 will be delivered as a virtual gathering using Zoom (so you can participate snuggled in bed if you like). We will be sending a small physical activity pack in the mail. Ticket sales close 24th April to make sure your pack has time to arrive.
MAY @ Part of Things
Check back for updates to May and beyond in mid-April.
Super Secret Special Exhibition (by local artists)
We can’t tell you anything else yet but check back later.
Board Game Night #2
Friday 8th May 7pm on wards ($5 donation).
Folk asked for more board game nights in 2020 so we plan to deliver. Board games and card games supplied or BYO.
And if you can’t make this one but you’re keen for future board games, drop your deets here to be on the special Board Game Nights mailing list so you get a direct update every time: https://mailchi.mp/071671ef66a3/boardgames
Board Game Nights are for the secretly competitive, the word-nerds, the new to town, the only children and those with too many siblings who want to laugh and get lost in some easy fun.
The Conjurer’s Table: Political Systems (World Builder Series)
Wednesday 27th May 7-9pm (gold coin donation).
The Conjurer’s Table is a monthly gathering for Game Masters running tabletop role-playing games (like Dungeons and Dragons) to share resources and ideas. Organised and facilitated by Stuart Watkinson from Committee Quest Podcast.
Creative Challenge Weekend (Animation and Projection Edition)
Saturday 30th May and Sunday 31st May, final times TBC ($200 per person for entire weekend)
A full weekend workshop and collaboration focused on animation and projection.
Our Projection Play weekend is for people who want to learn skills in creating animated projections – animators, coders, imagineers, photographers, storytellers and technicians. The weekend will be a combination of practical skills sharing, testing and experimenting and creating a small finished product to show off to the public.
JUNE @ Part of Things
Get Busy (5 x sessions)
Every Tuesday in June 7-9:30pm ($150 per person for the entire series).
Get Busy is 5-week micro-business incubator for people with very new, shaky ideas.
incubator
noun
- 1.
an enclosed apparatus in which premature or unusually small babies (in this case business babies) are placed and which provides a controlled and protective environment for their care.
Get Busy will nurture people new to business through the very early stage of starting to articulate and map out their idea. We’ll walk through using a business model canvas to test viability, we’ll talk the basics of pitching and first stage financial modelling. Get Busy is for people who want to explore an idea but aren’t quite ready for the other big and scary incubator and development programs out there.
Get Busy will be open to a maximum of ten people to foster a welcoming and supportive learning environment. Further details and application form will be available from 3rd April.
Storytime for Adults #2
Monday 8th June 7pm – 8:30pm ($25 per person)
Ever felt jealous of the pre-schoolers at the library having a story read to them and participating in a fun themed activity? Our Storytime for Adults is for you! Each Storytime will feature a short story read by a special guest followed by a themed activity related to the story.
Storytime is for Adults (18+) who love words and are looking to make connections with fellow readers and word-nerds.
Mid-Winter Meet
Sunday 21st June 5pm on wards (entry by donation).
Food on us. BYO good cheer. Add tunes to the Spotify playlist.
A meet-up on the shortest day of the year for some good cheer.
Mid-Winter Meet is an opportunity for our community to gather and connect.
Dear Democracy
Monday 29th June 7-8:30pm (free)
We live in a complicated and messy world. The news is hitting us all the time with new disasters and things to be worried about. How many of us feel like we should be doing *something* (anything) in response?
Dear Democracy is a self-organised space encouraging people to take the time for one small action on an issue they care about. Come along and write a letter to our local politician, or write a petition and a plan to share it, or spend some time reading up on more detail about an issue you don’t fully understand.
Dear Democracy is for people who want to be more active citizens and need somewhere to start.
The Conjurer’s Table: Magic (World Builder Series)
Wednesday 24th June 7-9pm (gold coin donation).
The Conjurer’s Table is a monthly gathering for Game Masters running tabletop role-playing games (like Dungeons and Dragons) to share resources and ideas. Organised and facilitated by Stuart Watkinson from Committee Quest Podcast.
Thinker-in-Residence #1
Who will it be?
JULY @ Part of Things
Slam Season (5 x sessions)
Every Tuesday in July and first Tuesday of August 7-9pm ($100 per person for the entire series).
Just in time for the annual national poetry slam season, Slam Season at Part of Things is a 5-week writing program to write, refine and rehearse your own slam poem. Participants will be invited to join an optional road-tip to Adelaide to watch (or compete!) in a heat of the Adelaide leg of the National Poetry Slam Aug/Sep.
Slam Season is for anyone who has a secret hankering to tell their story on stage.
Board Game Night #3
Sunday 12th July 2pm on wards ($5 donation).
Folk asked for more board game nights in 2020 so we plan to deliver. Board games and card games supplied or BYO.
And if you can’t make this one but you’re keen for future board games, drop your deets here to be on the special Board Game Nights mailing list so you get a direct update every time: https://mailchi.mp/071671ef66a3/boardgames
Board Game Nights are for the secretly competitive, the word-nerds, the new to town, the only children and those with too many siblings who want to laugh and get lost in some easy fun.
The Conjurer’s Table: Encounter Building
Wednesday 29th July 7-9pm (gold coin donation).
The Conjurer’s Table is a monthly gathering for Game Masters running tabletop role-playing games (like Dungeons and Dragons) to share resources and ideas. Organised and facilitated by Stuart Watkinson from Committee Quest Podcast.
Thinker-in-Residence #2
Who will it be?
AUGUST @ Part of Things
SALA Exhibition Launch
Sunday 2nd August 2pm on wards (free)
Doubling as Part of Things’ 1st Birthday Party, join us for cake and to launch our second SALA exhibition “Saying Goodbye to Say Hello”.
SALA Exhibition Launch
All of August, various times and days (entry by donation).
“Saying Goodbye to Say Hello” is an exhibition made from and with items contributed to Part of Things at our 2019 Midnight Launch Party. Back in 2019, we asked everyone who attended our launch party to bring along one item that they needed to say goodbye to. Those items have been since gifted to different artists across South Australia to respond to by making individual artworks that explore themes of destruction, goodbyes and letting go.
Slam Season (5 x sessions)
Every Tuesday in July and first Tuesday of August 7-9pm ($100 per person for the entire series).
Just in time for the annual national poetry slam season, Slam Season at Part of Things is a 5-week writing program to write, refine and rehearse your own slam poem. Participants will be invited to join an optional road-tip to Adelaide to watch (or compete!) in a heat of the Adelaide leg of the National Poetry Slam Aug/Sep.
Slam Season is for anyone who has a secret hankering to tell their story on stage.
Dear Democracy
Tuesday 11th August 7-8:30pm (free)
We live in a complicated and messy world. The news is hitting us all the time with new disasters and things to be worried about. How many of us feel like we should be doing *something* (anything) in response?
Dear Democracy is a self-organised space encouraging people to take the time for one small action on an issue they care about. Come along and write a letter to our local politician, or write a petition and a plan to share it, or spend some time reading up on more detail about an issue you don’t fully understand.
Dear Democracy is for people who want to be more active citizens and need somewhere to start.
Creative Challenge Weekend (Guerilla Art Gang)
Saturday 15th August and Sunday 16th August, final times TBC ($200 per person for entire weekend).
A full weekend workshop and collaboration focused on creating temporary anonymous public art to challenge and delight.
The Guerilla Art Gang will be an ongoing project, participants of the Creative Challenge Weekend will be founding members. Guerilla Art Gang is for people who want to bring to life public spaces in quirky, surprising and unexpected ways.
Storytime for Adults #3
Monday 24th August 7pm – 8:30pm ($25 per person)
Ever felt jealous of the pre-schoolers at the library having a story read to them and participating in a fun themed activity? Our Storytime for Adults is for you! Each Storytime will feature a short story read by a special guest followed by a themed activity related to the story.
Storytime is for Adults (18+) who love words and are looking to make connections with fellow readers and word-nerds.
The Conjurer’s Table: Magic Items
Wednesday 26th August 7-9pm (gold coin donation).
The Conjurer’s Table is a monthly gathering for Game Masters running tabletop role-playing games (like Dungeons and Dragons) to share resources and ideas. Organised and facilitated by Stuart Watkinson from Committee Quest Podcast.
SEPTEMBER @ Part of Things
Board Game Night #4
Thursday 17th September 7pm on wards ($5 donation).
Folk asked for more board game nights in 2020 so we plan to deliver. Board games and card games supplied or BYO.
And if you can’t make this one but you’re keen for future board games, drop your deets here to be on the special Board Game Nights mailing list so you get a direct update every time: https://mailchi.mp/071671ef66a3/boardgames
Board Game Nights are for the secretly competitive, the word-nerds, the new to town, the only children and those with too many siblings who want to laugh and get lost in some easy fun.
Creative Challenge Weekend (Scavenger Hunt)
Saturday 26th September and Sunday 27th September, final times TBC ($200 per person for entire weekend).
A full weekend workshop and collaboration co-creating and testing a scavenger hunt in Barmera.
This Creative Challenge Weekend will be the first development towards creating a Scavenger Hunt experience for visitors and locals in 2021. The weekend is for people who want to say they were part of making something cool from the very beginning, who are secretly or not so secretly competitive and who love being out and about in our beautiful Riverland.
The Conjurer’s Table: Leveling Up and Downtime
Wednesday 30th September 7-9pm (gold coin donation).
The Conjurer’s Table is a monthly gathering for Game Masters running tabletop role-playing games (like Dungeons and Dragons) to share resources and ideas. Organised and facilitated by Stuart Watkinson from Committee Quest Podcast.
Thinker-in-Residence #3
Who will it be?
OCTOBER @ Part of Things
World Mental Health Day
Saturday 10th October, times TBC (free).
Rest, resilience and resistance. Join us in marking World Mental Health and making a commitment to self-care and community-care.
Snacks, chats and activities all day.
Dear Democracy
Sunday 11th October 2-3:30pm (free)
We live in a complicated and messy world. The news is hitting us all the time with new disasters and things to be worried about. How many of us feel like we should be doing *something* (anything) in response?
Dear Democracy is a self-organised space encouraging people to take the time for one small action on an issue they care about. Come along and write a letter to our local politician, or write a petition and a plan to share it, or spend some time reading up on more detail about an issue you don’t fully understand.
Dear Democracy is for people who want to be more active citizens and need somewhere to start.
Creative Challenge Weekend (World-building for Novel November)
Saturday 24th October and Sunday 25th October, final times TBC ($200 per person for entire weekend, subsidies available for those participating in the rest of Novel November).
A full weekend workshop and collaboration co-creating a speculative version of the Riverland.
This Creative Challenge Weekend kicks off Novel November and is for writers, story-tellers, designers, creative thinkers and lovers of all things fantasy.
The Conjurer’s Table: Monster Mash
Wednesday 28th October 7-9pm (gold coin donation).
The Conjurer’s Table is a monthly gathering for Game Masters running tabletop role-playing games (like Dungeons and Dragons) to share resources and ideas. Organised and facilitated by Stuart Watkinson from Committee Quest Podcast.
Thinker-in-Residence #4
Who will it be?
NOVEMBER @ Part of Things
Novel November
A month-long project creating a speculative fantasy version of the Riverland.
What would a version of the Riverland full of dragons and magic look like (and how can that help us better care for and build the real Riverland)? Novel November is a collaborative project and experiment in re-imagining our local haunts and habits. Throughout the month creative folk will be creating short stories, poems, illustrations, experiences and ideas for the general public to experience our yet-to-be-named and yet-to-be-created alternative version of the Riverland.
There will be a core program for dedicated writers and artists alongside activities and engagement for casual writers and artists and curious community members.
Check back for regular updates between now and November.
Novel November is for writers, story-tellers, artists, creators, designers, creative thinkers, imagineers, dreamers, optimists, readers, word-nerds and lovers of all things fantasy.
Board Game Night #5 (Fantasy themed for Novel November)
Wednesday 18th November 7pm on wards ($5 donation).
Folk asked for more board game nights in 2020 so we plan to deliver. Board games and card games supplied or BYO.
Board Game Nights are for the secretly competitive, the word-nerds, the new to town, the only children and those with too many siblings who want to laugh and get lost in some easy fun. This special edition of Board Game Night will be focused on fantasy themed board games, and we might even have our very own experimental Riverland game to test!
The Conjurer’s Table: The Scraps
Wednesday 25th November 7-9pm (gold coin donation).
The Conjurer’s Table is a monthly gathering for Game Masters running tabletop role-playing games (like Dungeons and Dragons) to share resources and ideas. Organised and facilitated by Stuart Watkinson from Committee Quest Podcast.
THE FUTURE
We set up Part of Things as an 18month trial. That trial comes to an end December 2020, so this year we need you to show up and tell us what you think. If there is demand and a community ready to pitch in we’re ready to dream and scheme 2021 and beyond. If not, we gave it a red-hot crack and Novel November will be our goodbye party.
Have questions about our program? Get in touch.
Part of Things 
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