Introduction to Yalingwa
Yalingwa is a significant new program designed to support the development of outstanding contemporary Indigenous art and curatorial practice, with a primary focus on South East Australian First Nations artists.
The program provides both a platform for professional First Nations artists and curators to develop their work at a senior level within a leading public gallery and museum context and offers significant Artist Fellowships.
Yalingwa is a Victorian Government initiative developed in partnership between Creative Victoria, the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA) and TarraWarra Museum of Art. It encompasses three program elements:
1. Curatorial positions
2. Major exhibitions focussing on artist commissions
3. Artist Fellowships
A Yalingwa Advisory Group has been established to guide the development and implementation of the program. Members include Indigenous community representatives including Elders, curators and community members to ensure the program is informed by First Nations people and perspectives and reflects cultural practices and protocols.
About the 2018 Yalingwa Fellowship
The Yalingwa fellowship is a one-year Visual Artist Fellowship which invests significantly in artists careers. The fellowship will be offered every two years, with the first Fellowship to be announced in July 2018.
The Fellowship is intended to invest in the career development of artists who have made an outstanding contribution to creative practice in the Indigenous arts community and are in a critical moment in their career. The Fellowship will be presented in recognition of the above and their contribution to the community, taking into account the achievement and quality of recent and past work.
The Fellow will be awarded an untied cash grant of $60,000. The Fellowship could be used for the experimentation and development of new work, research, professional travel or to consolidate the artist’s practice or studio space, among other priorities. The inaugural Fellow will also have the opportunity to build a strong relationship with the Yalingwa curator and ACCA.
The Fellowship is open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visual artists who live and work in Victoria, with the aim of supporting mid-career and established artists who have shown dedication and a high level of commitment to their practice. Expressions of interest from artists across all disciplines of visual arts practice are welcomed.
The successful artist will be selected through an open call for expressions of interest, which will be assessed by a selection panel comprising members of the Yalingwa Advisory Group and representatives from ACCA, TarraWarra and Creative Victoria. Shortlisted artists will be invited to meet with the selection panel with the successful artist determined by interviews.
Criteria
Assessment of an artist’s contribution and achievement will include consideration of:
- The contribution an artist has made to the development of contemporary art practice locally, nationally or internationally
- The contribution that an artist has made to the development of First Nations cultural expression
- The significance of the body of work and/or proposal
- Peer and/or community recognition
- An artist’s potential to develop and expand art and/or cultural practice
- The potential impact that an investment will make to the development of an artist’s practice
- An artist whose role in the sector deserves greater recognition
Applications
Applicants should provide the following:
- A short statement (up to 1 page) addressing relevant selection criteria and outlining:
- What the artist might do with the Fellowship including what will the focus be and how will this be achieved
- How the Fellowship might strengthen their artistic practice
- The impact the Fellowship might have on their career
- How the Fellowship might strengthen cultural or creative expression for their community
- A selection of up to 12 images and/or 12 minutes of video including documentation of recent (within the last five years) and past work
- A current CV
- Contact details for two referees that can comment on your work and/or artistic career
Artists are required to contact the Yalingwa curator and/or ACCA Director to discuss their applications before submitting.
The Fellowship is offered to aid career development, without requirement for an exhibition or body of work outcome. However, the Fellow will be required to report on artistic and other outcomes and benefits to the development of their work. They will also be invited to present a lecture whilst undertaking the Fellowship and be available for related media and publicity.
Expressions of Interest due 19 April 2018
Applications, including a short statement, images/video, CV and the details of two referees should be directed to:
Bas van de Kraats, Administration and Operations Coordinator, ACCA
+61 3 9697 9902 / bas.vandekraats@acca.melbourne
Enquiries should be directed to: Hannah Presley, Curator, ACCA
+61 3 9697 9911 / hannah.presley@acca.melbourne
