Local Exhibition Call Out

We have much to be thankful for this year. COVID-19 interruptions have been the cause for great pause, inspiring necessary reflection about the place we inhabit. This is a place that nurtures and challenges many independent artists whose work and ideas help us all make sense of our position here in Mparntwe/Alice Springs. While we're sorry our comrades across the borders can't join us right now, we're grateful for some concentrated introspection in 2020. 

And so,
We are excited to announce a local call out for exhibitions in our 2020 program!

September — October 2020

APPLICATIONS DUE
WEDNESDAY 16 JUNE, MIDNIGHT

APPLY HERE

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.

Announcing our new Director

It's been a few months in the making, but it's finally happening despite all odds (and wow there have been a lot of odds this year!) - our new Director is on their way to Mparntwe/Alice Springs* and will be beginning the role in May.

So, finally, we introduce you to…

Charlie Freedman

Charlie is an artist and arts worker from Naarm/Melbourne. His work engages with docu-fiction and experimental moving image and publishing practices, supporting various concurrent curatorial projects.

Charlie is the co-founder and co-director of Dead End Film Festival, an artist-led exhibition platform for spontaneous, subversive and resourceful cinema, visual and performing arts. He has previously worked as the Curator for Loop Project Space in Naarm/Melbourne and Studio Manager for Bula’bula Aboriginal Arts Corporation in Ramingining. Charlie’s practice foregrounds under-resourced and under-represented artists and collectives, advocating for cultural accessibility and resourceful arts production.

Charlie’s previous projects and partnerships include 8a8ysteps, Plastic Loaves, Flowers 241, Liquid Architecture, Desire Lines, Cinema Oasis, Siteworks, Moreland City Council, Monash University and Thornbury Picture House.

We're very excited to welcome Charlie to WTS and look forward to introducing him to you all in person when we're finally allowed to do these IRL things... 😉 

*Never fear, we are taking the utmost care and responsibility during his relocation from Victoria to ensure the safety of our community and Central Australia.

WTS COVID19 Strategy

WTS Board, staff and studio artists have been working diligently over the past few weeks to respond to the rapidly changing effects of COVID19. Together, we have formulated protocols for the current situation and outlined triggers that will require new protocols.

Dave Crowe has assisted WTS with preparing its Strategy document.

Dave is both a member of the WTS community as a studio artist, and has a background as a medical scientist, with 9 years experience in 8 hospitals nationally and internationally, with a particular speciality in microbiology. He has published journal articles in multiple journals relating to infection control of meningicocal disease and has worked on the front lines in HIV and TB prevention in Africa, amongst other international postings, also relating to infection control. 

We are very grateful for his extensive knowledge during this time and feel that our response to COVID19 is, as such, well informed and highly sufficient.

You can read the WTS COVID19 Strategy here

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.

First half of 2020 Program announced

After a huge year at WTS, we're excited to announce the first half of our 2020 program is locked in with a lineup of incredible local, national and international artists.

EXHIBITIONS BY:

Margaret Palmer, Vicki Crowley and more TBA (NT)

Gabriel Curtin (NT)

110% Collective (NSW, VIC & Switzerland)

Bernadette Klavins & Anna Madeleine curated by Saskia Scott (ACT)

Suzi Lyon (NT)

Franca Barraclough (NT)

TRAVELLING ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE:

Tarzan JungleQueen (NT)

Yasbelle Kerkow (VIC)

Elisa Carmichael (QLD)

Jessie Boylan (VIC)

Sean Miles (VIC)

Call Outs for the second half of the year will be opened early 2020. Sign up to our e-newsletter to stay up to date >>

Announcement of resignation of Director, Zoya Godoroja-Prieckaerts and notification of position opening

After three and a half years at the helm of Central Australia’s only experimental arts organisation, Watch This Space’s director Zoya Godoroja-Prickaerts will be resigning from the position at the end of March 2020, in order to pursue her creative practice and artistic career.

During her time in this position, Zoya has stewarded an unprecedented level of growth and exposure for the organisation and it’s artists, including facilitating and overseeing the moving of our gallery and studios, the subsequent renovation of our current building, the securing of significant additional funding, the inclusion of WTS artists and staff on national platforms, and an increase WTS activities around advocacy and capacity building, both on local, territory and national levels.

Zoya has undertaken her role with unwavering commitment, steadfast integrity and a capacity to lead with grace and patience. The board, staff and artists of Watch This Space thank her wholeheartedly for her leadership and vision, and are excited that she will remain connected to the organisation through her art and creative endeavours.

The role of Director of Watch This Space is now open for applications, with a deadline for submissions of January 19th, 2020. Information on the position including a detailed description, conditions and contact information can be found at http://www.wts.org.au/workwithus. Northern Territory residents and Central Australian locals are strongly encouraged to apply.

We look forward to welcoming a new Director, and send Zoya off with deep respect and gratitude for her time and energy over the past three and a half years.

Frankie Snowdon
Chairperson, Watch This Space ARI

Itinerant Art Project

Itinerant: Travelling from Place to Place, an art project about homelessness.

Have you or someone you know experienced homelessness or housing insecurity?

Would you like to share your story and make art for an exhibition?

Get in touch or come along to our free arts and storytelling workshops at:

The Meeting Place - part of the John Flynn Memorial Uniting Church (off Todd Mall, next to the new Law Court, and across from the car park)

Every Wednesday, 10.30am to 2.30pm, October 30 to December 11, 2019

Or we can come to you.

We are also seeking some donations for our workshops: Pop up tents, fold up tables, fold up chairs, tarps, paint brushes, and a boom box, please let us know if you if you have a donation and we can collect.

Contact the team on 0497 1300 94, Itinerant.art.project@gmail.com, or follow us @itinerant.art.project. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council its arts funding and advisory body.

Climate Actions: Alice Heat Wave

You're amazing, people of Mparntwe/Alice Springs!!

Over 100 individuals came together yesterday evening to do the Alice Heat Wave and tell our leaders that we care about this Climate Emergency and that they need to act NOW. We're talking local, state and federal governments - we're not giving up until you start taking responsibility through dedicated action.

Join us for FLOSS for the Future, the next public action this Friday 27th at 5pm in the Todd Mall (library end). All welcome.

It's gonna be great.

Global Strike For Climate

A personal message from our Director, Zoya Godoroja-Prieckaerts…

Dear friends, peers, individuals, businesses, organisations - everyone,

This Friday begins the week of Climate Action, and, jeez, I feel buzzed and excited and worried and proud to be part of it all. I encourage you all, from the bottom of my heart with so much love and hope, that you will join in all the actions happening around the world.

If you’re in Alice, here’s what you should join in on:

THIS FRIDAY 20TH - Global Strike For Climate

• 8am @ Church Lawns, Todd Mall: Student-led strike (students have asked adults to join them in solidarity, so don’t be worried to come if you’re over 18. This is for everyone 💖)

• 10am, 4pm, 6pm @ Alice Springs Cinema: FREE screenings of the 2040 film.

• 12pm @ Church Lawns, Todd Mall: lunch by the many local businesses in town who are joining the #CLOSEDFORCLIMATE movement.

• 3:30pm @ Town Council Lawns: #FridaysForFuture (Alice Springs mob Fridays for the Future) session to talk about ways we can make a difference as individuals.

• 5-8pm @ Watch This Space: Chill Out! Climate strike wrap up. Come together, relax, share and celebrate this monumental day in history with food, drinks, music and stuff for kids. Not heccas, just nice vibes. All funds go towards safe efforts to stop the planned fracking in the NT in November.

Such an amazing day of actions by all different groups across town.
If you haven’t taken the day off, talk to your bosses about how important this day is in the bigger (global) scheme of things. I was so excited to find out that Congress are going to be striking for the day, which - along with all the other groups making efforts - I think shows how dedicated individuals, businesses and organisations are to taking action in the name of climate justice.

THEN...

WEDNESDAY 25TH, 5pm @ top of Anzac Hill: Alice Heat Wave

Come for a massive “Mexican wave” to show our leaders we CARE.

FRIDAY 27TH, 5pm @ Todd Mall (library end): FLOSS for the Future

Join kids and adults “flossing” to attract media (and governments) attention.

Every single action makes a difference, and every individual joining in on those actions adds up to a whole world making an impact. I truly hope to see you there.

In solidarity,
Zoya

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 >>

Billie Rankin's Open Studio/Last Supper

Please join Billie (our Travelling Artist in Residence for the month of July) for one last sharing of ideas and food.

AFC by Billie Rankin

*transparent, not tranparent…

An event by our current Travelling Artist in Residence, Billie Rankin.

Look forward to seeing you there!

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. 

Book launch @ White Gums

A Portrait of Alice as a Young Man

by Ender Bașkan

A Portrait of Alice as a Young Man follows the author’s despair and euphoria as he journeys to the heart of the continent with his girlfriend, their unborn child and his best friend. Together they drive from their home in Melbourne to a hut on the edge of Alice Springs where they encounter a new vision of Australia, their lives, and their futures. A Portrait of Alice as a Young Man is a rhapsodic novel about being and becoming — becoming an artist, becoming a parent and being in Australia.

*

I register the local signature here. I don’t understand it but I feel it. There is meant to be an Australia Central Standard Time on our clocks and watches but it means nothing at all to me now.

With readings by:

— Ender Bașkan
— Mali Cavanagh
— Gabriel Curtin
— Declan Furber Gillick
— Betty Sweetlove
— Shirley Turner

BYO food and drink.
Books available for purchase. Cash Sales only.
Call — 0458588134 — if having trouble finding the veue.

WHAT: Book Launch by Vre books II

WHEN: Saturday 15th June, 2pm

WHERE: 274 Bullen Road (The Hut, White Gums), Alice Springs NT

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.