The Beginning

Alice Springs is the undisputed focal point of the Indigenous arts industry. This industry has grown rapidly over the last thirty-five years creating a concentrated and energetic visual arts community. A high number of non-Indigenous artists have joined the many Indigenous artists who call Alice and the central Australian region home. The interaction between these two artist groups has been a constant industry influence. Exchange and creative influence is ongoing and based on skills sharing and cultural respect.

WTS was seeded as a response to the lack of contemporary arts activity in Alice Springs/Mparntwe in 1991 by five artists: Pam Lofts, Anne Mosey, Jan Mackay, Angela Gee and Pip McManus. WTS was first established as an Artist Run Initiative in 1993. The first charter of WTS stated that it was essential that it be artist run so it could maintain its independence from commercial galleries.

The first charter included a number of objectives including:

• Providing a forum for artists wanting critical dialogue on works in progress and resolved works.
• It was for a venue for emerging and professional artists as it was a non-commercial Space with no pressure to sell.
• It was to be an exchange between artists around Australia and internationally with 50% local and 50% visiting artists.
• There was a strong emphasis on collaborations between artists and all media.

The name, Watch This Space, evolved from the potential for something to link with the Space in the desert. The first ‘Space’ matched the original vision as it had installation possibilities and hanging Space. It nurtured exposure to artists practicing cross-disciplinary art forms who came through Alice. During this time there was often a show a week. So many shows and potential exhibitors led to a curatorial committee being established in 1997.

WTS has ebbed and flowed over the years in various locations, as all ARI’s by nature are ephemeral and struggle to exist. However in terms of ARI’s WTS has had a relatively long history, as the Alice Springs community has never completely let its existence peter out. In fact in 2004 when it was suggested by the co-ordinator at the time that the annual program be cut down to five exhibitions a year, there was community outrage as this is one of the main places for local artists to exhibit their work.

Over the years WTS has secured funding from Arts NT and the Australia Council for operational costs and also for different projects such as artist camps, web galleries and offsite installations and exhibitions. All of these projects focussed on exchange, audience development and alternative Spaces to develop and exhibit work. Testament to the needs of Alice Springs artists and also to the power of the arts on a whole, WTS still exists and has a large following in Alice.

In 2007 WTS developed the contemporary site-specific program Shifting Ground. Attendance across Shifting Ground was over 4,000 and new audiences were reached as it took place in public spaces frequented by community members on a daily basis. Shifting Ground has been recognised nationally, on the strength of its artistic merit and has received media coverage in the Australian (May 8 2007), Real Time magazine (Aug- Sept 2007) and The Age (March 1 2008). Shifting Ground was a highlight year for WTS with its significant off-site program of events, installations and exhibitions. Shifting Ground was successful in exciting, informing and challenging the local community. This was particularly evident with the occupation of the empty shop spaces in Reg Harris Lane. Featuring performance, video and visual work; these were stimulating and highly original events that not only attracted regular art attendees; but attracted tourists and the average person doing daily chores. Since the success of this event, a shop front in Reg Harris Lane has been leased as a commercial artist co-operative.

In 2008 engagement with the wider community through off-site projects continued with the WTS / RedHOT Arts shop front project Alice in View. 22 business premises hosted works by 28 artists from the Alice Desert Festival in August through until the Masters Games in October. In 2009 WTS presented a Little Cube of Eco Art – a portable miniatures gallery as part of the Alice Desert Festival Hub Space, 30 artists exhibited over 100 artworks on ANZAC oval.

Further Reading

Watch this space: desert blooming by Mardijah Simpson

Breakthrough support for Alice Springs art space by Kieran Finnane