Released 30/05/2018
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists are being given the chance to work in Canberra’s Sister City, Wellington for up to six weeks thanks to an exciting pilot exchange program, Minister for the Arts and Community Events Gordon Ramsay announced today.
The Canberra Wellington Indigenous Artist Exchange will enable an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander artist from the Canberra region to work with Māori artists in the Wellington region to share, learn about and celebrate their different cultures.
“Working internationally enables artists to immerse themselves in a new arts context and community culture which can help them create a new and vibrant range of work to share back home,” Minister Ramsay said.
“The ACT Government understands the vital contribution that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and cultures make to the identity and vibrancy of our city. We’re really looking forward to working with our New Zealand friends to further explore Māori arts and culture through our Sister City Agreement.”
The pilot program will expand on the ACT Government’s successful exchange between the Canberra Glassworks and Toyama Glass Studio in Japan, which began in 2016.
Local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists across all art forms and at all stages of their career are encouraged to apply.
To express their interest, artists should send a written or video application that details the art they would make/produce as part of the residency, why being in Wellington would benefit their artistic and cultural practice and what they would do on return to Canberra to share the outcomes of the exchange.
Expressions of interest are due to artsACT@act.gov.au by 5pm Wednesday 13 June. For more information, contact artsACT on 02 6207 2384 or visit https://www.arts.act.gov.au/
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Gordon Ramsay, MLA | Media Releases