Belonging continues to produce inspiring results
IACA’s 13 member art centres along with their artists, requested IACA procure a grant for a major regional arts development and exhibition project. Funding was secured from the Department of Communications and Arts, Indigenous Languages and Arts Program. The theme - Belonging - was developed by the art centres and artists via a series intensive workshops with Curator Glenn Iseger-Pilkington.
Now well underway, throughout August to December the arts development workshops are being facilitated by Edwina Circuitt and they are producing fantastic results. Hopevale Art Centre, Bana Yirriji Arts, Yarrabah Arts and Lockhart River have already participated in the workshops.
The workshops support artists in exploring their conceptual and artistic practice and encourage them to experiment with new media and ideas. Younger and emerging artists are actively participating, fostering a new generation of art makers across the region.
Bush trips are an important aspect of the workshops. Materials such as earth pigments and found objects are collected for making artworks. Connecting to country and important cultural sites underpins the importance of the Belonging theme to the artists and their communities.
The workshops involve training arts workers and staff in best practice studio management, including sourcing the highest quality materials, stretching canvas, mixing paints and organising studio workflow. Where required and requested, staff and arts workers also learn how to photograph artworks and take artist portraits, use the SAM database to update artist biographies, catalogue artwork stories and consign works for the exhibition.
Main image credit: Artist Grace Rosendale during the Belonging workshop at Hopevale. Image: Edwina Circuitt