IIAP 2020/21 Art Centre Field Trip
Last month the IACA Indigenous Artsworker Program (IIAP) hit the road! To thoroughly examine the subject of ‘Studio Management’ the coursework incorporated onsite practical experience by way of field trips to 3 different art centres.
Artsworkers visited Yalanji Arts (Mossman Gorge), Hopevale Arts & Culture (Hope Vale) & Bana Yirriji Art Centre (Wujal Wujal) and gained experience and insight into how each manage their offices, artist studios, storage and gallery spaces. Art centre staff gave behind-the-scenes tours of their art centres and demonstrated systems, giving practical tips for running a studio, ordering materials, preparing materials, stretching canvas, artwork handling, exhibition display and storage.
Artsworkers made the most of the networking opportunity with other art centre staff and thoroughly enjoyed chatting over lunch with artists. They even managed to fit in some sightseeing at Wujal Wujal falls and Cooktown before heading back home.
IACA is committed to delivering training to extend artsworkers professionally. Launched in September 2020 the inaugural ‘IACA Indigenous Artsworker Program’ (IIAP) is a 1-year pilot program developed to upskill artsworkers through specifically targeted and customised arts industry training. The inaugural IIAP participants are; Nephi Denham (Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre), Florence Gutchen (Erub Arts), Bereline Loogatha (Mornington Island Art), Junibel Doughboy (Bana Yirriji Art Centre), Vanessa Cannon & Jess Creek (Yalanji Arts)
This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body.
This is all about learning about other art centres, for me I speak, I come out of my comfort zone so I can see what is out there, how to make new friends, build a network, come to be working with our own people… I’m very happy to be a part of this, a special time for sharing knowledge and learning more, and I believe when I go back I will share
Florence Gutchen Erub Arts
Main image credit: Nephi Denham, Florence Gutchen and Pam Bigelow speaking with Leanne Emmitt at Yalanji Arts during the IIAP field trip.