Watch This Space is pleased to announce the appointment of Emma Collard to the role of co-director, as of 16th January 2023. Emma joins Saar Amptmeijer as the new co-pilots of WTS.
About Emma:
Emma is an artist and art worker, who has been living & working in the so-called NT since 2016. Emma attributes most of her experience so far to people & time spent living on Luritja Country in Papunya Community where she worked as the previous manager of Papunya Tjupi Art Centre. Emma loves to be involved in other artists' practices and has spent lots of time facilitating, organising, curating, hyping, performing & activating with many artists nationally and internationally. Originally from Naarm/Melbourne, Emma holds a bachelor of fine arts w/ first class honours (vca 2015) and has a historic background in collaboratively exhibiting in many spaces including Bus Projects, The Substation, Kings ARI, Blindside ARI & Seventh Gallery. In 2018, Emma had her first and only solo show which was held at Watch This Space. Recently, her art practice has been quieter and mostly has involved making elaborately-set-up videos on the roof of her (previous) Larrakia-based sharehouse with her dog, Leroy.
“I'm so excited to be joining WTS as a co-director. When I first moved to Mparntwe I was lucky enough to quickly arrive at WTS to a studio coffee with Beth Sometimes in the previous location at George Cres. I’ve had many orientating glimpses into WTS since, that have helped me along the way including attending Doris Kngwarraye Stuart, Dan Murphy and Lucy Stewart’s ‘Alice to Mparntwe’ bus tours for artists and participating in Doris’ group exhibition, volunteering/assisting/ participating in Apmere Angketye-kenh (A place for Language) over its many forms, and joining in the ‘facts on the ground’ reading group run by Hannah Ekin and Jorgen Doyle. I feel so lucky to continue this orientation and to be joining Saar, the board and studio artists in WTS' current form and... just in time for WTS' 30th birthday!!”
About the duo:
WTS incoming Chair Tim Chatwin stated, 'Watch This Space has much joy in welcoming Emma Collard to the role of co-director, joining creative forces with Saar Amptmeijer. Emma brings much experience and deep relationships to WTS’ co-director partnership, having worked and contributed to artist run initiatives, having been a previous WTS studio artist and exhibitor, and having known the orientating embrace of WTS upon arriving in Mparntwe.
Both Emma & Saar have given their labour and love to Aboriginal owned and governed art centres here, to communities, and to collaborations within their own respective arts practice. They offer an incredible generosity and openness, centering First Nations voices and understanding the importance of this creative community, both at the individual and collective level.
We’re thrilled at the prospect of Saar & Emma’s co-director partnership, by the possibilities, support and care they both have and will bring to WTS, in its big thirtieth anniversary year and beyond.'