Australia-Japan Visual Arts Program 2006-8Supported through the Australia-Japan Foundation's Australia-Japan Strategic Ties for the Arts Initiative with further support from Community Partnerships and Market Development Division of the Australia Council for the Arts. The Program aims to provide support for a series of exhibitions of contemporary Australian art to tour in Japan, as well as professional exchanges and seminars over a three year period, provided in partnership with visual arts organisations and institutions in Australia and Japan. The Australia-Japan Art Exhibitions Program will be developed with Australian and Japanese partners, in part in response to a call for Expressions of Interest from Australian public galleries, museums, organisations and art spaces. The Program builds on the Visual Arts Program 2002-4 developed through Asialink with support of the Australia-Japan Foundation and the Australia Council. See: www.asialink.unimelb.edu.au/arts/japan Australia-Japan
Art Exhibitions Program: The exhibitions should present a contemporary view of Australia, be targeted to appeal to Japanese audiences and organizations, be expansive and inclusive in range, and could explore such concerns of mutual interest such as cultural diversity, gender, environment and social issues, the impact of IT, and so on. They could span a range of arts media. Proposals which take into account exhibitions already seen in Japan would be viewed positively. The scenario is to include a number of larger exhibitions projects with major organizations, as well as smaller exhibitions and focused projects with others. It is possible that some may be media specific exhibitions. Solo shows of leading Australian artists could be very successful. It is hoped that regional galleries could be involved in both countries. Some organizations in Australia may already have linkages and contacts with museums or galleries in Japan. Such existing links are advantageous. However Asialink will endeavour to make links with new and relevant partners in Japan where appropriate. Asialink understands that personal contacts, and travel, are crucial to effectively developing each project. Projects developed in Australia will only tour, obviously, if appropriate host organizations in Japan are keen to be involved. It is also advantageous if partnerships are developed between Australian and Japanese organizations for the development of exhibitions of mutual interest. This could include integrated exhibitions of Japanese and Australian material, or an exchange of exhibitions. Time line: 2006-8 The Program Steering Committee includes: Max Delany, Director, Monash University Museum of Art, Kathryn Hunyor, Communications Manager, Object, Australia Centre for Craft and Design, Sydney; Lucy King, Director (Japan), Australia-Japan Foundation, John McBride, Board Member, Australia-Japan Foundation, Anna Waldmann, Director, Visual Arts Board, Australia Council, and Alison Carroll, Director, Arts Program, the Asialink Centre of the University of Melbourne. The Program is managed by Asialink. Part of the Steering Committee's role is to vet approaches to Asialink for this Program and decide on the most suitable projects for development. These projects will be expected to work effectively within a strategic framework covering the issues noted above. The Committee and Asialink are also expecting to be proactive in discussing projects with potential partners. Funding:
Initial funding support comes from the Australia-Japan Foundation
and Community Partnerships and Market Development Division of the
Australia Council for the Arts. It is expected that initial funding will be in the range of $10,000 to $50,000 for each exhibition. It is important that each organization sees the advantage to themselves of being involved in the Program, whether it is part of their mission to promote Australian art, or they wish to host returning Japanese exhibitions, or it is professional development, or just being part of the global art community. Japanese hosts: We would hope to work with a range of Japanese hosts, from larger museums to contemporary art organizations, university venues and site-specific projects. Sites could range from Fukuoka in the south to Hokkaido in the north, as well as in Tokyo. Some hosts may have work by Australian artists in their collections and an exhibition could enhance this already existing interest. Deadline for Expressions of Interest: 21 April 2006. Asialink would be glad to hear from organizations interested in being part of this program. We encourage you to discuss the idea with Alison Carroll at Asialink first. We do not want a complex proposal or visual material at this stage. We would be glad to have a short description of the exhibition, why you think it would be successful, any previous experience or contacts you have in Japan, where you think it might travel, what type of material it might include with names of possible artists, and what sort of support you think your organization might be able to bring to the project. Budgets are not necessary but could be included if you wish. The Steering Committee will meet in late April/early May and we will contact you after that with the response to the idea/proposal and possibly request further information. Alison Carroll Tel: 03 8344 4800 (direct:03-8344
3595) Asialink, |
