2021 Creative Program Call Out

This is an invitation to contemporary artists, writers, researchers, curators, and fellow travellers of various kinds to participate in Watch This Space ARI’s 2021 travelling artist in residency and exhibition programs in Mparntwe/ Alice Springs, Australia.  

Watch This Space is a dynamic contemporary artist-run space with a long history in the desert of Central Australia. Our annual Creative Program supports local and interstate, First Nations and non-First nations, emerging and established artists with a focus on contemporary and experimental multi-disciplinary art. 

Through its residency and exhibition program, Watch This Space supports contemporary art dialogue both within the unique geographical, social and cultural landscape of Mparntwe/ Alice Springs and in response to broader complexities in Australia and abroad. 

We offer professional and creative support, mentoring from Watch This Space artists and community and the possibility to exhibit work offsite. We have a lively onsite studio community of local and visiting artists; a large gallery space; The Pantry (a small experimental gallery space); a walk-in cinema available for screenings, and a performance area (the former servo carpark) for exhibitions, happenings and events.

BOTH APPLICATIONS CLOSE MONDAY 16 NOVEMBER, 2020

Travelling Artist in Residency Program 

Amongst our gallery and six onsite studio spaces, WTS reserves one studio for artists living ‘out of town’ – interstate, overseas or outside the Northern Territory’s Central Desert region. Our residency program runs from February to November. 

The Travelling Artist in Residence program is open to NT, interstate, and international artistic practitioners, researchers, and fellow travellers of various kinds. Successful applicants are offered one month’s free studio hire with views onto the former servo carpark and beyond, and a $300 materials budget. The program further offers: 

• A fully subsidised studio space: 3.8 x 3.5m with desk and chair, including air-conditioning split-system.

• $300 materials budget

• Creative, practical and professional support from our coordinator.

• The opportunity to work in a creative environment amongst five other studio artists as well as local and interstate exhibiting artists.

• Communal kitchen with fridge, microwave and tea/coffee making facilities.

• Central location: only a 10 minute walk from the town centre, shops and supermarket. We also have a bike for travelling artists if necessary.

• Possibility of an Open Studio event at the end of the residency (if WTS Creative Program permits).

Watch This Space’s 2021 Travelling Artist in Residency Program is naturally subject to the improvement of the current Covid-19 health crisis and state and international border restrictions being subsequently relaxed. This is of course a very big if, however we would like to reaffirm our commitment to bringing international and interstate artistic practitioners together with local artists and audiences by proceeding with this call-out. We are open to working with residency artists to adapt this format should a physical residency prove to be an impossibility. 

Apply for Watch This Space’s 2021 travelling artist in residence program here—
wts.org.au/travelling-artist-in-residence

APPLICATIONS CLOSE MONDAY 16 NOVEMBER, 2020

Exhibition Program 

Watch This Space welcomes proposals from First Nations and non-First Nations artists, groups, curators and community organisations.

The Watch This Space exhibition program offers:

• $1,000 exhibition fee

• A fully subsidised gallery space at WTS for three weeks

• Guidance and support from our Gallery Coordinator, Curatorial Committee and Board in developing your practice.

• Access to and assistance with WTS equipment, tools and resources.

• Digital promotion of exhibition through the WTS website, social media platforms, e-newsletter and other online resources.

• Opening night bar provision and attendance. 

• Coordination of artwork sales on opening night and duration of exhibition.

• Staffing of the exhibition during weekday open hours (Wed-Fri 12-5pm).
  
  

  Within our Exhibition Program we equally welcome and encourage proposals for projects that aren’t formal exhibitions, utilising either the gallery space or off-site locations for events and activities where we can support and facilitate work outside regular exhibition conventions. Please use the application form, call or email to discuss these proposals with the Director and Curatorial Committee.

Apply for Watch This Space’s 2021 Exhibition Program here— wts.org.au/exhibition-proposals

APPLICATIONS CLOSE MONDAY 16 NOVEMBER, 2020

The WTS 2021 Creative Program is proudly supported by the Australia Council for the Arts

Studio Available from 8th June

Due to border restrictions during COVID-19 we are unable to offer our Travelling in Artist Residency.
This means we are able to open up another beautiful studio for local artists to access over the next 6 months! If you have a project where you’d like to make use of the space then see below for all the details.

We understand artists have been particularly affected by the impacts of COVID-19.
For this reason we are happy to renegotiate rent if your application is successful.

Applications due midnight, Wednesday 27th May

From 8th June WTS will have one studio space available for local artists

2-6 month lease
Size roughly 3 x 4 m
$155/month

APPLY HERE >>>

SELECTION PROCESS

The WTS Curatorial Committee will assess applications based on the relevance of the artist’s practice to Watch This Space’s aims as a contemporary experimental art space:

• To create opportunities for local artists’ work to be discovered and made visible through hosting contemporary art exhibitions.

• To provide opportunities for local, interstate and international artists to enrich the artistic and cultural life of Alice Springs through the delivery of high quality contemporary art activities.

• To foster an inclusive creative community of artists who share skills and experiences with each other by accessing the onsite gallery and studio space.

• To offer professional development opportunities for artists including artistic/cultural collaborations and skills development.

• To nurture the full breadth of contemporary art activities including multi-disciplinary art forms, new media and installation work.

Note: All programming decisions are made by the WTS Curatorial Committee. The committee is made up of three to five Alice Springs based artists and arts workers.

Shared Studio Available from 8th June

Applications due
midnight, Wednesday 27th May

From 8th June WTS will have one shared studio space available for local artists

6 month lease
Size roughly 3 x 4 m (shared)
$85/month

APPLY HERE >>>

SELECTION PROCESS

The WTS Curatorial Committee will assess applications based on the relevance of the artist’s practice to Watch This Space’s aims as a contemporary experimental art space:

• To create opportunities for local artists’ work to be discovered and made visible through hosting contemporary art exhibitions.

• To provide opportunities for local, interstate and international artists to enrich the artistic and cultural life of Alice Springs through the delivery of high quality contemporary art activities.

• To foster an inclusive creative community of artists who share skills and experiences with each other by accessing the onsite gallery and studio space.

• To offer professional development opportunities for artists including artistic/cultural collaborations and skills development.

• To nurture the full breadth of contemporary art activities including multi-disciplinary art forms, new media and installation work.

Note: All programming decisions are made by the WTS Curatorial Committee. The committee is made up of three to five Alice Springs based artists and arts workers.

Call Out for Treasurer position

WTS has a Board and Curatorial Committee with staff to administer decisions made. The Board focuses on making operational decisions, meeting on a six-week basis to assess the financial, operational and creative status of the space and make strategic decisions. The Treasurer is one of the Executive Committee members within the Board.

Full details here >>

Residencies available for Local Artists

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RESIDENCY FOR 1ST-15TH MARCH 2020

Applications due midnight, Monday 24th February 2020

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RESIDENCY FOR MONTH OF APRIL 2020

Applications due midnight, Monday 9th March 2020

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WHAT YOU GET

• FREE studio space

• 24-hour access

• Wifi

• Split system (needed in the summer!)

• Kitchen facilities with coffee, tea & milk provided

• Access to onsite gallery and outdoor area

• Use of WTS tools and equipment

• Practical, professional and creative support from staff.

• A vibrant environment to work in alongside other inspiring studio artists and individuals

TO APPLY

Please send the following to wts@wts.org.au:

• Name and contact details: phone, email, address, website.

• Which residency: 1st-15th March OR month of April 2020

• Details about your work

• How you intend to use the studio, i.e: are you working on a specific project; exploring a concept; experimenting; using a particular media; etc.

• Why you are interested in Watch This Space

• Support material: 5-10 images of your work / links to audio-visual material

Applicants must be based in Mparntwe/Alice Springs.

Oz Co Grant Info Session

Thursday 5th September, 2-3pm

@ WTS Gallery

To coincide with Desert Mob 2019, the Australia Council is holding an informal information session for visual artists from the Northern Territory and beyond.

As part of Council's commitment to regional Australia, diversity and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and culture we encourage more artists to apply for funding with us.

Laura McLeod, Arts Practice Director for Visual Arts will there be to provide information and field any questions you may have.

This is a great opportunity to connect with us and other artists during this time of celebration of Indigenous culture and creativity.

Exhibition & Residency Call Out for first half 2020

Applications due Monday 7 October, 2019, midnight

Apply now. Full details >>

GUTS Dance: Call Out

Public Survey for new dance project

GUTS dance are embarking on a new creative development over the month of June and have created a public survey to try help gather people's thoughts, experiences and opinions to help inform the creation of choreographic content. The project, Value For Money,  is a physical exploration of human-worth and the currency we use to quantify this.  Concerned with the polarity of power and vulnerability inherent within us all, VFM explores the value we place on human lives and bodies, focusing on how relationship, proximity and community change our perception of a life's worth and the worth of a body as a vessel. 

Click here to complete the survey - some of the questions are quite personal, so feel free to skip any of the content if it makes you uncomfortable: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/25QZJ5P

The survey data is anonymous and will be used to inform tasks and movement exploration in the studio over June, and into the next development in 2020. We are also looking for people from diverse backgrounds who may be interested in personally sharing their experiences and ideas, so if this interests you, please contact GUTS dance via email at gutsdance@gmail.com. 

AND

Free Contemporary Dance Classes

During their development over the month of June, GUTS are also offering FREE contemporary dance classes, lead by members of the Value for Money team. The classes are an intermediate/advanced level and will be happening from 7:30 - 8:30am on Monday's and Friday's. Whilst there is on cost, GUTS are asking that you please book a spot, by either getting in touch via social media (GUTS Dance on Facebook or @guts_dance on Instagram) or emailing them at gutsdance@gmail.com. 

Opportunity for locals aged 12-25

Alice Springs Town Council and the Youth Action Group are holding a market stall at the upcoming Night Markets on 6th June (Finke weekend, i.e. super busy with lots of keen-beans ready to $pend $pend $pend!)

• Anyone aged 12-25 can join the stall and sell their art, craft, music, etc.

• Its free to participate – the usual permit fees are waived!

• To register your interest email Kiri at kmilne@astc.nt.gov.au

Studio Available from 1st June

Applications due
midnight, Monday 20th May

From 30th June WTS will have one studio space available for local artists

6 month lease
Size roughly 3 x 4 m
$155/month

APPLICATION

Artists will need to submit an application via email to wts@wts.org.au

Artists must submit:

• Document (max. 1 page) including:

  1. Name and contact details: phone, email, address, website.

  2. Details about artist’s work

  3. How artist intends to use the studio, i.e: are they working on a specific project, exploring a concept, experimenting, using a particular media, etc.

  4. Length of time artist wishes to lease space

  5. Why artist is interested in Watch This Space

• 3-8 images of artist’s work

SELECTION PROCESS

The WTS Curatorial Committee will assess applications based on the relevance of the artist’s practice to Watch This Space’s aims as a contemporary experimental art space:

• To create opportunities for local artists’ work to be discovered and made visible through hosting contemporary art exhibitions.

• To provide opportunities for local, interstate and international artists to enrich the artistic and cultural life of Alice Springs through the delivery of high quality contemporary art activities.

• To foster an inclusive creative community of artists who share skills and experiences with each other by accessing the onsite gallery and studio space.

• To offer professional development opportunities for artists including artistic/cultural collaborations and skills development.

• To nurture the full breadth of contemporary art activities including multi-disciplinary art forms, new media and installation work.

Note: All programming decisions are made by the WTS Curatorial Committee. The committee is made up of three to five Alice Springs based artists and arts workers.

Short Notice Call Out for April Residency

Free studio space for the month of April, beginning on the 1st ending on the 30th.

Email us with your CV and a brief statement about your practice and what you would like to do during the residency.

Email wts@wts.org.au

Applications due Monday 25th March, midnight

Shared studio available

Shared studio available from 1st December

• Shared with one other artist

• 6 month lease

• Size roughly 3 x 4 m

• $85/month

APPLICATION DUE BY SUNDAY 18TH NOV

Artists will need to submit an application via email to wts@wts.org.au including:

1. Name and contact details: phone, email, address, website.

2. Details about artist’s work

3. How artist intends to use the studio, i.e: are they working on a specific project, exploring a concept, experimenting, using a particular media, etc.

4. Length of time artist wishes to lease space

5. Why artist is interested in Watch This Space

6. 3-8 images of artist’s work

Studio Available from 30th July 2018

Applications due
midnight, Monday 9th July

From 30th July WTS will have one studio space available for local artists

6 month lease
Size roughly 3 x 4 m
$155/month

APPLICATION

Artists will need to submit an application via email to wts@wts.org.au

Artists must submit:

• Document (max. 1 page) including:
  1. Name and contact details: phone, email, address, website.
  2. Details about artist’s work
  3. How artist intends to use the studio, i.e: are they working on a specific project, exploring a concept, experimenting, using a particular media, etc.
  4. Length of time artist wishes to lease space
  5. Why artist is interested in Watch This Space
• 3-8 images of artist’s work

SELECTION PROCESS

The WTS Curatorial Committee will assess applications based on the relevance of the artist’s practice to Watch This Space’s aims as a contemporary experimental art space:

• To create opportunities for local artists’ work to be discovered and made visible through hosting contemporary art exhibitions.
• To provide opportunities for local, interstate and international artists to enrich the artistic and cultural life of Alice Springs through the delivery of high quality contemporary art activities.
• To foster an inclusive creative community of artists who share skills and experiences with each other by accessing the onsite gallery and studio space.
• To offer professional development opportunities for artists including artistic/cultural collaborations and skills development.
• To nurture the full breadth of contemporary art activities including multi-disciplinary art forms, new media and installation work.

Note: All programming decisions are made by the WTS Curatorial Committee. The committee is made up of three Alice Springs based artists and arts workers.

Studio Space Available from 26th March

Applications due
midnight, Monday 19th March

From 26th March WTS will have one studio space available for local artists

6 month lease
Size roughly 3 x 4 m
$155/month

APPLICATION

Artists will need to submit an application via email to wts@wts.org.au

Artists must submit:

• Document (max. 1 page) including:
  1. Name and contact details: phone, email, address, website.
  2. Details about artist’s work
  3. How artist intends to use the studio, i.e: are they working on a specific project, exploring a concept, experimenting, using a particular media, etc.
  4. Length of time artist wishes to lease space
  5. Why artist is interested in Watch This Space
• 3-8 images of artist’s work

SELECTION PROCESS

The WTS Curatorial Committee will assess applications based on the relevance of the artist’s practice to Watch This Space’s aims as a contemporary experimental art space:

• To create opportunities for local artists’ work to be discovered and made visible through hosting contemporary art exhibitions.
• To provide opportunities for local, interstate and international artists to enrich the artistic and cultural life of Alice Springs through the delivery of high quality contemporary art activities.
• To foster an inclusive creative community of artists who share skills and experiences with each other by accessing the onsite gallery and studio space.
• To offer professional development opportunities for artists including artistic/cultural collaborations and skills development.
• To nurture the full breadth of contemporary art activities including multi-disciplinary art forms, new media and installation work.

Decision will be finalised and applicants notified of outcome before 23rd March.

Note: All programming decisions are made by the WTS Curatorial Committee. The committee is made up of three Alice Springs based artists and arts workers.

Artist Call-Out // Fractured Territory

An exhibition by Frack-free NT

The arts community has always been at the forefront of political comment and criticism in the Territory. Using humour, irony and acerbic wit artists have challenged propaganda produced by government and big business, and fouht without fear for grass-roots issues.

FRACTURED TERRITORY invites artists to shine a spotlight on the contentious fracking debate, and send up the shady deals and sweetheart relationships between NT Governments and the gas industry.

Artists are encouraged to produce works and submit by MARCH 11 for a group show to launch in Alice Springs.

Group show at Red Hot Arts, Alice Springs to launch on March 15.

Format: Artists to produce work for an A2 poster format. Specs: 420mm x 594, 300 DPI, 3mm bleed. Designs will be displayed on foamcore and prints will be available for sale on the night.

Contact fracturedterritory@gmail.com to submit

CALL OUT to local artists for our 25th Birthday

What experimental projects have you had on your mind?

WTS is turning 25 this year (woah), and to celebrate we are putting together a Creative Program of on- and offsite projects throughout the second half of the year. 

As part of this we are calling out to you, our valued members and community, for project submissions. If you've had an idea on your mind for a while then this is a great opportunity for WTS to support you and your project.

APPLY

Please submit the following to wts@wts.org.au

• Your contact details
• Project Name
• Artists involved
• Project description (max. 400 words)
• Proposed Date(s)
• Proposed Site(s)
• Support material (actual or indicative of project)

DUE MONDAY 26TH FEB
 

WTS will be discussing projects and will seek further details from successful artists in the weeks following the due date.

We look forward to hearing your ideas!

Call Out: Start makin' those zines, bbz. The Annual Zine Fair's coming up!

It's that time of year again when everyone in town is madly scribbling, scrunching, folding and photocopying to get their self-published beauties out into the bustling space that is the WTS Annual Zine Fair.

Contact us at the gallery wts@wts.org.au to arrange to make use of the Watch This Space photocopier, "Big Ric", and other facilities when compiling your work.

More info here

Get your LOFTY nominations in!

NOMINATIONS CLOSE ON FRIDAY 17TH OF NOVEMBER

Know someone who you think deserves to win the 7th Lofty Award? Make a nomination today and send it through to us!

To be eligible for the award, the nominee must:

• Be a current or previous member of Watch This Space
• Demonstrated a dedication and passion for maintaining a high standard of arts practice that builds the cultural voice of Central Australia

Download The Lofty Award Nomination Form 2017 or email us for a copy atwts@wts.org.au

Shortlisted applicants will be notified before the annual Lofty Awards night, held at Watch This Space on Saturday the 25th of November.

CALL OUT FOR 2018

For all details go to: http://wts.org.au/events/2018-exhibition-proposals

Studio Space Available!

APPLICATIONS DUE BY MIDNIGHT 1ST NOVEMBER

From 15th November WTS will have one studio space available for local artists

6 month lease
Size roughly 3 x 4 m
$155/month

APPLICATION

Artists will need to submit an application via email to wts@wts.org.au

Artists must submit:

• Document (max. 1 page) including:
  1. Name and contact details: phone, email, address, website.
  2. Details about artist’s work
  3. How artist intends to use the studio, i.e: are they working on a specific project, exploring a concept, experimenting, using a particular media, etc.
  4. Length of time artist wishes to lease space
  5. Why artist is interested in Watch This Space
• 3-8 images of artist’s work

SELECTION PROCESS

The WTS Curatorial Committee will assess applications based on the relevance of the artist’s practice to Watch This Space’s aims as a contemporary experimental art space:

• To create opportunities for local artists’ work to be discovered and made visible through hosting contemporary art exhibitions.
• To provide opportunities for local, interstate and international artists to enrich the artistic and cultural life of Alice Springs through the delivery of high quality contemporary art activities.
• To foster an inclusive creative community of artists who share skills and experiences with each other by accessing the onsite gallery and studio space.
• To offer professional development opportunities for artists including artistic/cultural collaborations and skills development.
• To nurture the full breadth of contemporary art activities including multi-disciplinary art forms, new media and installation work.

Decision will be finalised and applicants notified of outcome before 1st September.

Note: All programming decisions are made by the WTS Curatorial Committee. The committee is made up of three Alice Springs based artists and arts workers.