This is an invitation to contemporary artists, writers, researchers, curators, and fellow travellers of various kinds to participate in Watch This Space ARI’s 2021 travelling artist in residency and exhibition programs in Mparntwe/ Alice Springs, Australia.
Watch This Space is a dynamic contemporary artist-run space with a long history in the desert of Central Australia. Our annual Creative Program supports local and interstate, First Nations and non-First nations, emerging and established artists with a focus on contemporary and experimental multi-disciplinary art.
Through its residency and exhibition program, Watch This Space supports contemporary art dialogue both within the unique geographical, social and cultural landscape of Mparntwe/ Alice Springs and in response to broader complexities in Australia and abroad.
We offer professional and creative support, mentoring from Watch This Space artists and community and the possibility to exhibit work offsite. We have a lively onsite studio community of local and visiting artists; a large gallery space; The Pantry (a small experimental gallery space); a walk-in cinema available for screenings, and a performance area (the former servo carpark) for exhibitions, happenings and events.
BOTH APPLICATIONS CLOSE MONDAY 16 NOVEMBER, 2020
Travelling Artist in Residency Program
Amongst our gallery and six onsite studio spaces, WTS reserves one studio for artists living ‘out of town’ – interstate, overseas or outside the Northern Territory’s Central Desert region. Our residency program runs from February to November.
The Travelling Artist in Residence program is open to NT, interstate, and international artistic practitioners, researchers, and fellow travellers of various kinds. Successful applicants are offered one month’s free studio hire with views onto the former servo carpark and beyond, and a $300 materials budget. The program further offers:
A fully subsidised studio space: 3.8 x 3.5m with desk and chair, including air-conditioning split-system.
$300 materials budget
Creative, practical and professional support from our coordinator.
The opportunity to work in a creative environment amongst five other studio artists as well as local and interstate exhibiting artists.
Communal kitchen with fridge, microwave and tea/coffee making facilities.
Central location: only a 10 minute walk from the town centre, shops and supermarket. We also have a bike for travelling artists if necessary.
Possibility of an Open Studio event at the end of the residency (if WTS Creative Program permits).
Watch This Space’s 2021 Travelling Artist in Residency Program is naturally subject to the improvement of the current Covid-19 health crisis and state and international border restrictions being subsequently relaxed. This is of course a very big if, however we would like to reaffirm our commitment to bringing international and interstate artistic practitioners together with local artists and audiences by proceeding with this call-out. We are open to working with residency artists to adapt this format should a physical residency prove to be an impossibility.
Apply for Watch This Space’s 2021 travelling artist in residence program here—
wts.org.au/travelling-artist-in-residence
APPLICATIONS CLOSE MONDAY 16 NOVEMBER, 2020
Exhibition Program
Watch This Space welcomes proposals from First Nations and non-First Nations artists, groups, curators and community organisations.
The Watch This Space exhibition program offers:
$1,000 exhibition fee
A fully subsidised gallery space at WTS for three weeks
Guidance and support from our Gallery Coordinator, Curatorial Committee and Board in developing your practice.
Access to and assistance with WTS equipment, tools and resources.
Digital promotion of exhibition through the WTS website, social media platforms, e-newsletter and other online resources.
Opening night bar provision and attendance.
Coordination of artwork sales on opening night and duration of exhibition.
Staffing of the exhibition during weekday open hours (Wed-Fri 12-5pm).
Within our Exhibition Program we equally welcome and encourage proposals for projects that aren’t formal exhibitions, utilising either the gallery space or off-site locations for events and activities where we can support and facilitate work outside regular exhibition conventions. Please use the application form, call or email to discuss these proposals with the Director and Curatorial Committee.
Apply for Watch This Space’s 2021 Exhibition Program here— wts.org.au/exhibition-proposals
APPLICATIONS CLOSE MONDAY 16 NOVEMBER, 2020
The WTS 2021 Creative Program is proudly supported by the Australia Council for the Arts