Caring for Country, bolstering next generations, building meaningful and sustainable careers, challenging yourself.

These are pillars that have informed Chris De Rosa’s career, making her the fitting designer of Country Arts SA’s Strategic Plan 2026-28 artwork.

Her early years reinforce our commitment to equity by removing barriers, increasing participation, celebrating diverse community – and our value of courage.

“When I left school, art was not a thing in my family,” Chris says.

“I came from a migrant family and had to get a job, earn an income, buy a house – that was the most important thing.”

The Italian-Australian worked as “quite an ambitious nurse” to achieve this, before taking a screen-printing course that sent her on a trajectory towards a vocation in the arts.

Always similarly drawn to the natural world, Chris moved to Port Elliott on Fleurieu Peninsula (Ngarrindjeri/Ramindjeri land) with her surfer husband 25 years ago.

Her underwater video work for the Strategic Plan, dubbed Amphibolis C Nymphs, is a tribute to the ocean, its creatures, organisms and delicate ecology.

Exploring ideas around nurturing and caring, the short film follows three cross-generational women tending to the sea, examining the symbiotic entanglements between the human and non-human.

“It’s kind of inspired by folktales and Greek and Italian mythology about nymphs, because nymphs are like women who care for nature,” Chris says.

“Those three women are my version of sea carers for this region, they’re kind of hybrid forms maybe.

“The film is loosely narrative, but I like people to read into things from their connection.”

The algal bloom had an impact on the film and Chris’s outlook on her coastal home.

“It’s made me realise how foolish we are and how we really need to care for the things we have now,” she says.

“We have to be concerned about our oceanic legacy and our role in caring for the earth.

“I don’t know that art can necessarily change people’s minds, but it might just give them some insight into how important it is.

“We all came from the ocean and the sea water is embedded in us – we are made up of salty fluids, and we are an integral part of the ocean.”

Chris was also inspired to work with a cross-generational group of makers from her region to create the video piece, and challenged herself by making the actors’ costumes – both choices continuing to reflect aspirations also held by Country Arts.

Strategic Plan 2026-28

Country Arts SA’s key goals for the next three years are:

Creative workforce: We will continue to improve the working conditions and wellbeing of regional artists, cultural workers, practitioners and Country Arts SA staff across South Australia.

Inspiration, impact and learning: We will extend the reach and impact of our programs, commissions and collaborations for artists, partners, participants and audiences.

Creative spaces: We will transform and increase access to our Arts Centres and support regional communities to activate more arts, cultural and creative spaces and places.

Stability and integrity: We will continue to improve our systems, resources and working practices to support a strong, fit-for-purpose and values-led organisation.

Main image: Aden Shukla