Accepting Exhibition Proposals for 2018!

Watch This Space strongly encourages applications from Northern Territory artists

APPLICATIONS DUE BY SUNDAY 19TH NOVEMBER, MIDNIGHT

Watch This Space welcomes proposals from Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal individual artists, groups of artists, curators and community organisations. We offer 3-week exhibition slots with subsidised hire fees in a unique environment: the Centre of Australia, Mparntwe/Alice Springs.

We are currently coordinating our program for March-August of 2018. Please see our Exhibition Proposal Guidelines for more details about the program and how to apply.

Download our Proposal Guidelines here:
2018-WTS-Exhibition-Proposal-Guidelines.pdf

If unable to download, please email us at wts@wts.org.au for a copy

Designated exhibition spot for artists of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage

In 2018, one of WTS’s seven exhibition spots is designated to a contemporary experimental artist of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage. This is part of our commitment to nurture an inclusive arts community in Central Australia in a sustainable manner. This initiative is a great opportunity to exhibit in a unique space, and seeks to value, respect and promote the practices of Indigenous Australians. We are excited and hope it will encourage artists of Indigenous backgrounds to be part of our program and organisation.

Studio space available

APPLICATIONS DUE BY MIDNIGHT 20TH AUGUST

From 1st September WTS will have one studio space available for local artists

Lease period between 1-6 months
Size roughly 3 x 4 m
$155/month

APPLICATION

Artists will need to submit an application via email to wts@wts.org.au

Artists must submit:

• Document (max. 1 page) including:
  1. Name and contact details: phone, email, address, website.
  2. Details about artist’s work
  3. How artist intends to use the studio, i.e: are they working on a specific project, exploring a concept, experimenting, using a particular media, etc.
  4. Length of time artist wishes to lease space
  5. Why artist is interested in Watch This Space
• 3-8 images of artist’s work

SELECTION PROCESS

The WTS Curatorial Committee will assess applications based on the relevance of the artist’s practice to Watch This Space’s aims as a contemporary experimental art space:

• To create opportunities for local artists’ work to be discovered and made visible through hosting contemporary art exhibitions.
• To provide opportunities for local, interstate and international artists to enrich the artistic and cultural life of Alice Springs through the delivery of high quality contemporary art activities.
• To foster an inclusive creative community of artists who share skills and experiences with each other by accessing the onsite gallery and studio space.
• To offer professional development opportunities for artists including artistic/cultural collaborations and skills development.
• To nurture the full breadth of contemporary art activities including multi-disciplinary art forms, new media and installation work.

Decision will be finalised and applicants notified of outcome before 1st September.

*All programming decisions are made by the WTS Curatorial Committee. The committee is made up of four Alice Springs based artists and arts workers.

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View fullsize

Any questions, don’t hesitate to contact our coordinator, Zoya, on 8952 1949 or wts@wts.org.au

APPLICATIONS DUE BY MIDNIGHT 20TH AUGUST

Workshop in July

International artists, Alex Ressel and Kerri Meehan, are running a collaborativefilm making workshop looking at Nuclear waste storage and storytelling called Consequences. The program is based on a series of workshops the two artists have been holding in London about DIY sound production methods. 

You can find more information about their London-based workshops here. More info about the Alice Springs workshop to come.

Opportunity for Local Artists: Space to Sell Your Work

We are holding a “Lawn Sale” to fundraise for some exciting changes. This will be a little market place at our space with Live Music, coffee, food and lots of awesome stalls! Stalls are only $25 to hire

Anyone is welcome! Whether you want to sell your pre-loved clothes, household items, your art, craft, tasty treats, anything at all, you can hire a stall.

Contact us at the gallery wts@wts.org.au to arrange a space. Get in while there’s still spots left!

Lawn Sale: Saturday 13th May 11am-2pm

Opportunity for Local Artists to Exhibit: Zine Fair

Time to get bizzy for Strange Careers Zine Fair. The world needs Your Unique Voice; why wait for a publisher to observe your disturbing brilliance and/or endearing mediocrity?

Zines can be self-published stories/comics/single-page drawings, flip-books, posters, postcards….sky’s the limit really.

Contact us at the gallery wts@wts.org.au to arrange to make use of the Watch This Space photocopier and other facilities when compiling your work.

The Zine Fair will take place on Thursday 25th May, 4:30-8pm

Opportunity for Local Artists to Exhibit

Watch This Space (WTS) and Arid Lands Environment Centre (ALEC) are holding a fundraiser exhibition to raise awareness of Climate Change and support the work both organisations contribute to the community.

You are invited to create and exhibit an artwork that responds to the article: Why Climate Change Needs 60,000 Artists . This article suggests that artists are an integral component of communicating the implications of climate change more effectively to the broader community.

We are asking artists of all mediums to contribute to this collaborative exhibition; painters, photographers, sculptors, woodworkers, textile artists, poets, musicians, performance and multi media artists.

Artists can choose to keep a percentage of the sale profits or generously donate all proceeds to ALEC and WTS.

Applications due: Monday 17 April
Download application form

Call Out for makers, sellers, musicians, hoarders!

SHINY PARTY FUNDRAISER

Call Out for Proposals & a bit about our new coordinator

Watch This Space in the newspaper

Applications for our Exhibition and Residency Proposals for 2017 close 31st October. Get your ideas in quick!

Call Out for 2016 LOFTY Nominations

WTS is currently seeking nominations for the 2016 LOFTY to be awarded on Saturday 26th December 2016

TO BE ELIGIBLE A NOMINATED ARTIST MUST:

• Have been or currently is a member of Watch this Space.
• Must show dedication and passion for their Arts practice, producing new works with a relevance to the physical landscape or cultural terrain of Central Australia.
• Demonstrate that their arts practise has made a positive contribution to Watch This Space.

To make a nomination simply email your application to wts@wts.org.au

Download the nomination form here

The Recipient of the Award will be announced publicly, be celebrated and promoted on the WTS website, will have the opportunity to create or curate an exhibition to be held at WTS in 2017 and will receive a cash reward of $1000.

Board members/curatorial committee members and staff of WTS are ineligible for the award.

A BIT ABOUT THE AWARDS

In 1991 Pam Lofts saw the need for a space for contemporary artists to exhibit their work in Alice Springs, and with a small team of fellow artists, was instrumental in the creation of Watch this Space Inc. Since opening in 1994 WTS Inc. has become a focal point for contemporary and experimental art, and artists in Alice Springs, and continues to be an important part of the cultural landscape of Central Australia.

Pam has continued, with dedication, to pursue her arts practice, consistently producing works of a high quality across a variety of media. Through her art Pam has made a significant contribution to the Artistic and Cultural dialogue in Alice Springs and Central Australia.

In honour of Pam, her art, and her contribution to the Arts, WTS is proud to announce the annual LOFTY AWARD for high endeavour in the Arts in Central Australia.

CALLING ALL CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS AND CURATORS

Ever thought about exhibiting, curating or undergoing an artist residency in Central Australia? Watch This Space is calling out to all contemporary artists/curators for exhibition proposals & residencies for our 2017 Creative Program

ARTIST RESIDENCIES

Positions available for 2017. Get in touch!

EXHIBITION PROGRAM

To exhibit between MARCH – OCTOBER 2017. Program open to artists of all disciplines and curators with great visions

APPLICATIONS DUE MONDAY 31 OCTOBER, MIDNIGHT

Watch this Space works to be a catalyst and conduit for conversations and experiments in the always-evolving languages of art. We support contemporary art dialogue in Mparntwe/Alice Springs both inside and outside a gallery space, encouraging, nurturing and promoting Central Australian and visiting artists.

Be a part of Watch This Space’s 2017 Creative Program
Watch This Space is a dynamic contemporary artist-run space with a long history in the desert of Central Australia. We support exhibitions for local and interstate, emerging and established artists with a focus on contemporary and experimental multi-arts disciplines. While we nurture broader contemporary themes, WTS also aims to stimulate discussion around issues that relate to our local context. Our program seeks experimental, innovative and conversation-inspiring art in all its forms. We offer professional and creative support, mentoring from our Curatorial Committee and the possibility to exhibit work offsite. The 2017 program also offers the opportunity to work alongside local community artists such as Tangentyere and Yarrenyty Arltere. We have a lively onsite studio community of local and visiting artists, large gallery space and outdoor performance area for exhibitions, happenings and events.

Exhibition Program
We are offering local, interstate and international artists, curators and community groups the opportunity to exhibit in our onsite gallery space. We welcome proposals for solo, collaborative or group exhibitions. Our gallery fee is $330 for 3 weeks or $165 a week if less than 3 weeks (inclusive of GST, not including $150 bond), however we recommend you take 3 weeks. Exhibiting artists will not only be given the opportunity to exhibit in our unique Central Australian gallery, but also benefit from the guidance and support of our Gallery Co-ordinator, Curatorial Committee and Board in developing their professional artistic practice.
Download a detailed exhibition information and application pack

Travelling Artist Residencies
Watch This Space reserves a studio for a visiting artist(s) with the aim of providing an affordable space for artists to focus, percolate ideas and develop work while deepening an appreciation of Central Australia. Residencies can include presentation opportunities but are not outcome-focused – we want to support, not pressure, our artists’ creative endeavors.

• Cost: $110 inc GST per month. Length of stay is negotiable in advance.
• Accommodation and transport is the responsibility of the artist to arrange.
• Residency fee includes studio access, wifi, amenities at gallery, 24hr access.
• WTS offers all residents creative, professional and practical support.

Your Travelling Artist Residency application must be submitted as a single PDF document to wts@wts.org.au, with all of the following information to be included.

• Contact details: Name, Address, Phone Number, Email, Website
• Cover letter explaining why you would like to do a residency in Alice Springs
• Preferred dates/month
• Five (5) images of recent work
• Artist CV

If residency is to be undertaken by multiple artists, please send information for all artists involved.

For more information on our Exhibition Proposal Guidelines and Travelling Artist Residencies please visit our website or get in touch wts@wts.org.au

Call for Nominations: The 4th Annual LOFTY Award

Nominations are now open for Watch this Space’s 4th annual LOFTY Award.

The award recognises a Central Australian artist that has, through their own artistic work and engagement in the local and broader artistic community, contributed to the artistic conversation of Alice Springs and beyond.
The Lofty winner is awarded $1000 prize money, the unique hand-crafted ‘Lofty’ and the opportunity to exhibit in 2015 at WTS with all gallery costs given for free.

The Lofty Award is named after the late Pamela Lofts, one of the founding members of Watch this Space ARI in 1993. It recognises her dedication to her arts practice, consistently producing works of a high quality across a variety of media, and her contribution to the development and exhibition of contemporary and experimental art and the cultural dialogue in Alice Springs and Central Australia.

Previous winners of the award are Franca Barraclough, David Nixon and Kieran Finnane.

Download the TheLofty-NominationForm-2014

Nominations close 4:21pm on Friday 28 November.

The winner will be announced at a gala event on Friday 5 December.

The Lofty Award is generously sponsored by Brian Tucker.

CALL OUT: Exhibition Proposals + Travelling Artist Residencies in 2015

Watch this Space ARI is now calling for artists and content for its 2015 exhibition and residency programs.

Watch this Space in Alice Springs NT is an artist-run initiative that focuses on developing and showcasing contemporary and experimental art in all its forms. It has been running since 1993, making it one of the oldest ARIs in Australia. Despite its modest population of only 25,000, Alice Springs hosts a vibrant and supportive arts community and culture.

Proposals for exhibitions are sought from local, national and international artists at any stage in their career.

Residencies for one month or longer can be applied for by residents living outside of Central Australia.

To apply or find more information about exhibition proposals and residencies click here.
Applications close 15 August.

CALL OUT for 21st Birthday Members Show, SQUARED

Entries close 4pm, Friday 11 July [extended from 27 June]

It’s our 21st year and we are celebrating! How?
With a big group exhibition of works from YOU our awesome members.
Not a member and want to contribute? No problem. Read on.

Entry Requirements:
Theme: ‘Watch This Space’ – whatever that means to you.
Restrictions:
1) All works MUST be SQUARE in shape, maximum size 50 x 50 cm.
2) 2D works preferred. Square plinth-based works may be considered.
3) One entry per person, but you can enter up to 3 artworks with the one entry. [Generous offer!]

Entry fee: $33 inc GST (for up to 3 works), includes one year WTS membership.

Download entry form: WTS Members Show entry form

Entries to: wts@wts.org.au or PO Box 8405, Alice Springs NT 0871

Key dates:
Entries close 4pm, Friday 11 July.
Artworks to be received by 4pm, Tuesday 22 July.
Opening night – 6pm, Friday 1 August
Until Saturday 30 August