2020 Artists-In-Residence Expressions of Interest

Artist-in-Residence 2020 - Applications are now open

Craft ACT: Craft + Design Centre and ACT Parks & Conservation Service have presented this acclaimed artist-in-residence program since 2006. Artists have found, time and again, that their practice is profoundly altered by the experience of this residency which allows precious stillness and space for investigation, reflection and generation of new work.

The annual residency program includes:

• Research period at National Museum of Australia to explore connections and directions for the residency based on the National History Collection
• Residency at Gudgenby Ready-Cut Cottage
• Artist-in-residence Open Day which will include, artist talks, and artist run workshops
• A group exhibition of craft and design work created as a result of the residency

 Craft ACT: Craft + Design Centre is a not-for-profit membership-based organisation which supports artists, craft practitioners, designers and makers at every stage of their careers. We promote and celebrate excellence and innovation in contemporary craft in everything we do – in our retail space, exhibitions, events and membership program.  Craft ACT is one of the longest continuously running visual arts membership organisations in Australia, supporting artists, craft practitioners, designers at every stage of their careers. In 2021, Craft ACT will be celebrating our 50^th anniversary. We look forward to transitioning Craft ACT towards its next 50 years, creating greater opportunities for this community of craftspeople and designers, and for the growing audience who admire and appreciate the beauty, skill and excellence of their work. The 2020 residency and 2021 coinciding exhibition will be an excellent opportunity for the participating artists to look back at our past and image our future.

In 2020, we are honoured to collaborate with the National Museum of Australia (NMA) as our research partner. Artists-in-residence will undertake research on the National Historical Collection with a focus on themes surrounding the cultural and emotional aspects of the Anthropocene.

 In 2021 the Museum will open its new environmental history gallery, and celebrate its twentieth year since opening, and the artist-in-residence program offers an opportunity to explore how historical collections and craft practice can combine to generate hope in the face of a challenging future.

The research period will be followed by the residency period at Namadgi National Park, where the selected artists will have the use of a shared living and working space at Gudgenby Ready-Cut Cottage. The site is remote and isolated in the Australian bush and artists must be self-sufficient. The cottage is located approximately 50-60km from the nearest town centre, Tharwa, ACT. Artists will be asked to engage with the community and participate in a public program including an open day at the Cottage. Resulting work from the Artist-in-Residence program will be displayed in a group exhibition at Craft ACT the following year.

Dates

Residency FAQs:

Who can apply?
The artist-in-residence expressions of interest are open to professional, practicing craft practitioners and designer-makers who have a demonstrated history of excellence in their practice. Applications are open to Craft ACT members and depending on quality and type of applications; two to four residency placements will be awarded. Applicants are not required to be members in order to submit a proposal but must become members before signing the contract if accepted.
N.B. Previous participants are not eligible to apply again for the residency.

What work can I produce for the exhibition?
This residency has been designed to allow craft practitioners and designer-makers to extend their artistic boundaries and to focus on the development of their work and ideas. The works created as a result of this residency should draw on their current craft and design practice.

Can I bring my partner/children/pets to the residency?
Due to national park safety procedures, visitors, including partners, children and friends of resident artists are not permitted to join them during the program at the residency sites. Namadgi National Park is a wildlife sanctuary and with that pets and 202other animals are not allowed into the National Park and Nature Reserve.

What facilities are at Namadgi?
Artists-in-residence have the use of a living and working space at Gudgenby Ready-Cut Cottage in Namagdi National Park. The Gudgenby Ready-Cut Cottage is a fully furnished and powered site. Artists must have access to their own transport and provide their own food and linen.

Will I have the cottage to myself?
No, artists will only have access to shared living and working space at Gudgenby Ready-Cut Cottage.

What artists have participated in previous years?
The Craft ACT artist-in-residence is an acclaimed program that has had an array of professional practicing individuals participate, including;

2018: Simon Cottrell and Vicky Shukuroglou
2017: Marilou Chagnaud
2016: Cathy Franzi and Sione Maileseni
2015: Ruth Hingston and Jodie Hatcher
2014: Sally Blake, Annee Miron, Satoshi Fujinama
2013: Ceretha Skinner, Michael Brennan-Wood
2012: Christine Atkins, Marily Cintra, Marian Hosking, Antonia Aitken
2009: Kirstie Rea, Paull Mckee
2006: Joanne Searle, Daniel Maginity

Exhibition:
Craft ACT will arrange an exhibition of the work between Thursday 19 March – Saturday 11 May 2021

Exhibition FAQs:

What kind of support do you offer?
- Exhibition installation, demount and staffing for the duration of the exhibition
- Insurance and public liability at Craft ACT
- An opening function (including cheese platters, drinks, an opening speaker and support staffing and volunteers)
- Publicity and media engagement via media release and direct contacts
- Commissioning an essay to foster deeper critical engagement with contemporary craft practice
- Coordination of sale of works and liaison with buyers
- Design and production of an exhibition room sheet
- Design and production of an e-catalogue which is shared on social media and the Craft ACT website.
- Marketing and promotion of the exhibition including: design and distribution of e-invitations, an active social media campaign, website listing and electronic direct marketing to media, industry and government organisations
- We do not offer any financial support and do not produce printed catalogues. We are happy to write a letter of recommendation to support your funding application if required.

What is the exhibitor responsible for?
- Transportation and transit insurance to and from the Gallery
- Installation assistance
- All costs relating to specific mounting requirements of the exhibition
- Supplying the work with suitable display accessories including stands, hanging materials or other aids necessary, by the installation date
- Delivery (12 weeks prior to opening) of promotional information including a current curriculum vitae, artist statement, high resolution images
- Exhibition works information (including captions and pricing) 2 weeks prior to the exhibition commencing
- Participation in associated public programs such as a floortalk
- Assisting in the promotion of the exhibition via social media and among your networks – see more about how to make the exhibition a success, below.

Submissions close: 5pm Sunday 2 June 2019

*Please note that Submittable program is written in US, and therefore the expiry date is reversed and written incorrectly. Submissions close 2 June 2019.

Applicants will be notified by end of June 2019

Submit your application here