ARTIST PROJECT BRIEF First Nations Artist in residency: 2016 Leigh Creek Artist project brief October 2016 Country Arts SA, Alinta Energy, Arts South Australia Studio space in Leigh Creek
INTRODUCTION The Artist in Residence program is a partnership between Country Arts SA, Arts South Australia and Alinta Energy and will be managed by Country Arts SA. Country Arts SA is a dynamic arts organisation bringing the arts to life in regional South Australia since 1993. We present theatre, dance, circus, comedy, film and music shows for people of all ages at our professional arts centres in Whyalla, Port Pirie, Renmark, Mount Gambier and Noarlunga and community owned venues across the state. We work with galleries to curate exhibitions and residency projects, and with emerging and experienced artists to showcase their work to state, national and international audiences. We provide workshops for local communities and professional advice to artists and communities enabling them to realise their arts and cultural aspirations. We devise and deliver an Aboriginal program for and with local Aboriginal communities. We have highly skilled and passionate staff, over 60% who live and work regionally. Through the strength of our staff, partners and programs we are regarded as a national leader in regional arts. Country Arts SA is inviting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists actively engaged or informed by contemporary arts practice to apply for a four to six week residency in the town of Leigh Creek. One artist will be selected to take part in this residency program. Residency will be held in October 2016. BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT Leigh Creek is nestled at the foot of the Northern Flinders Ranges and Gammon Ranges. It is situated 560km from Adelaide and 270km north of Port Augusta on Highway 83. It is the last major town before the bitumen ends. The township of Leigh Creek was built as a closed government town in 1982 and was leased to Alinta Energy who have managed and supported the workforce in the town. Alinta Energy have recently closed the nearby coal mine and announced their intension to relinquish the lease before 2018. Currently, the town centre has vacant shopfront premises and one is available for use as a studio for an Artist in Residence program. The closure of the Leigh Creek Alinta coal mine has forced hundreds of workers out of a job. The mine's closure is having a huge impact on Leigh Creek, where more than half the town's population is employed by Alinta. The Leigh Creek population is approximately 550 people. There is growing evidence that the arts play an important role in helping rebuild communities, and are seen as an effective way of galvanising community support and unity when the future is uncertain. This project aims to engage regional communities with contemporary art and artists and to create long-lasting collaboration between artists, the community and those visiting the Leigh Creek area.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION A connection to the arts and a community s culture can be brought together through artists working and engaging with community including the Leigh Creek Area School. The artist in residence program aims to attract artists to foster those relationships and to create a new body of work responding to the surrounding environment. One residency will be offered for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander artist to undertake a residency in Leigh Creek, South Australia in October 2016. The residency provides an opportunity for artists to focus on aspects of their practice while immersed in community in an outback environment. The artist will be expected to develop a proposal of how they intend to work within a shopfront setting and how they envisage interacting with the wider community. This could include open studio days, collaborative projects, workshops, conversations or presentations. Artists are expected to have a continuous visible presence in the shopfront throughout the duration of the residency, thereby adding to the activity in the town for local and visiting people to see and engage with. RESIDENCY CONDITIONS Payment Each resident artist will be paid $5000 (ex GST) Payment will be made in two stages. At the commencement of residency the artist will be paid $2,500 (ex GST) and a further $2500 at the half way mark. PLEASE NOTE: collaborative teams of artists may apply but the total artist fee for the group will be $5000 (+GST). If you would like to apply as a team you must speak with Country Arts SA s Arts and Cultural Development Support Officer about your project prior to applying. Duration of residencies 4 6 weeks Number of artists in residence at one time 1 Companions allowed Partners at own cost Disciplines Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Artists from all disciplines are encouraged to apply Expenses paid by artist Travel Materials (bring with) Food + living expenses Public liability insurance
Expectations of the artist Community engagement Expenses paid by Country Arts SA Accommodation Costs associated with studio Selection procedure By committee DESCRIPTION OF RESIDENCY Setting Outback Resources in town Library School Service Station Supermarket Tavern Internet Access to dump to repurpose recycled goods Relationship with local community Country Arts SA will facilitate a meeting with the artists, project partners and staff prior to the artists arrival to ensure that time spent in Leigh Creek is maximised. Artists will have the opportunity to meet with local Aboriginal community members and will be supported to ensure correct protocols are respected and followed so the Aboriginal community feels welcome and able to engage with the project. Type and size of studio Studio space former shop/café located in centre of town, approx. 10m x 20m, floor is hard wearing vinyl, consider drop sheets for ease of cleaning Power Running water Security Accommodation Single Person s Accommodation style unit has been allocated which can accommodate an artist plus one partner. Unit comprises own bathroom small kitchen with hotplate and microwave How to reach By own car
PROJECT COORDINATION Country Arts SA will be responsible for the coordination of the project and liaising between the artists and the Leigh Creek community. Country Arts SA has a Coordinator who has strong knowledge of the Leigh Creek community who will work closely with Country Arts SA staff to support the project and liaise with the artists while they are in residence in Leigh Creek. Each artist will be assigned a local buddy to act as a guide throughout their residency. ARTIST SELECTION Expression of Interest to be submitted either in person, by mail or electronically by no later than 5:00pm Monday 6 June 2016, including all support material to: Email: artists@countryarts.org.au Or Post to: First Nations Leigh Creek Residency Country Arts SA 2 McLaren Parade Port Adelaide SA 5015 EXPRESSION OF INTEREST SUBMISSION Expressions of interest shall include: Title page: Artist details including name, address, phone number, email, preferred residency dates. Written response to the brief: (maximum 2 pages) including: a brief description of your practice, your area of focus and your interest in applying for this residency. Please note that the project is intended to inspire the creation of new work in response to the opportunity and the Leigh Creek and surrounding communities. It is not expected that applications will have final details of the artwork to be produced. Community Engagement description: (500 words max), including an outline how you propose to interact with the wider community, materials, maximum number and expected skill level of participants and equipment needed. The capacity to engage the local community in your activity will be assessed as part of the selection criteria. This could include open studio days, collaborative projects, workshops, conversations or presentations. Timeframe: Include your preferred dates that would suit your residency in October 2016. Current CV: (maximum 2 pages) Six (6) high quality images of current work: (300dpi, jpeg format) with artwork details, including title, date, medium and dimensions. Artworks must have been created in the past
three (3) years. (If applying as a team please speak to the Visual Arts Coordinator regarding the number of images submittable.) Provide maximum of two (2) video files on DVD, USB or a downloadable file or Dropbox etc. Names and contact details for two referees Eligibility Applicants must be of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander decent. All permanent residents of Australia over the age of 18 are eligible to apply. CONTACTS All enquiries should be directed to: Lauren Mustillo Arts and Cultural Development Support Officer Country Arts SA e. artists@countryarts.org.au Ph. (08) 8444 0400 This project is supported by Alinta Energy, Arts South Australia and Country Arts SA