1

Artist Information

Overview

Victorian artists are invited to propose light-based artworks/projects that respond to the theme of

stories of place for the Nillumbik Digital Agora project.

Successful artists will be commissioned for the concept, development and installation of their

artwork/project. The artworks/projects will form a program of unique, site-specific installations alongside

a major new commission by lead artist, Yandell Walton.

The artworks/projects will be exhibited in public spaces in each of Nillumbik’s largest townships

(Diamond Creek, Eltham, Hurstbridge, St Andrews) at night over the course of September 2019.

Background

The Wurundjeri-willam clan of the Woi wurrung speaking people are the traditional custodians of the

area known today as Nillumbik.

The Shire of Nillumbik is a northern outer-suburban/rural (interface) municipality of Melbourne. It has

the Yarra River as its southern boundary and extends to Kinglake National Park in the north. The Shire

stretches from the Plenty River and Yan Yean Road in the west to Christmas Hills and the Yarra

escarpment in the east. The Shire covers an area of 431.94 square kilometres and has an estimated

population of 64,280 who live in close-knit communities which range from typical suburban settings to

remote and tranquil bush properties.

The Nillumbik Shire has been well-known over many decades as a municipality with connections to a

large number of painters, sculptors, potters, writers and other creative people including Clara Southern,

Walter Withers, Justus Jorgensen, Clifton Pugh, Tim Burstall, Alistair Knox, Gordon Ford, Sue Ford,

George Baldessin, Debra Halpern and Alan Marshall.

The Shire of Nillumbik does not currently have a dedicated gallery space for the presentation of the

arts. The Nillumbik Digital Agora project aims to redefine Nillumbik’s gallery as the community realm.

The Nillumbik Digital Agora project is supported by the Victorian State Government through Creative Victoria’s Creative Suburbs Program and in partnership with the Centre for Projection Art and the ACMI X.

2

Curatorial theme

Artists are invited to develop light based artwork/project concepts that explore the curatorial theme of

stories of place.

The ancient agora provided the backdrop for community conversation, the sharing of ideas and debate

in the public realm. The Nillumbik Digital Agora will use contemporary creative media to generate and

exchange information in public space.

By offering experiences - spatial, social, technological, conceptual or experimental - artists are asked to

respond to the theme utilising contemporary light-based media that include but are not limited to

concepts around:

- Local history

- Urban legends and myths

- Social memory

- Identity and belonging

- Alternative narratives and untold histories

- Contested histories

- Multiple realities

- Ecological and geographical shifts

- Real and imagined narratives and places

- Virtual and physical places

- Future narratives

Artwork/Project scope

Artists are asked to propose light-based contemporary artworks/projects that respond to the curatorial theme around the notion of stories of place, in one (or all) of the following categories:

Experimental: Artworks/projects which challenge the everyday understanding of the use of light as a medium that are innovative, possibly interdisciplinary and/or explore the use of new technologies and media.

Visual Arts: Projects which illuminate building facades, walls, windows, footpaths, objects, in between spaces or the natural environment, and are highly visible to audiences.

Performative: Projects that incorporate a performative element.

Community: Socially engaged, participatory and community led, projects that work with the township’s unique community to demonstrate their distinctive identity and/or features.

3

Things to note

Artists are encouraged to be experimental and innovative.

Individual and/or artist groups are eligible to apply

Any creative discipline that incorporates the use of light and/or is visible at night is eligible to apply.

Projects/artworks need to demonstrate a clear connection or reference to the curatorial theme.

Concepts should be site specific for the designated locations in one or more of the townships of Diamond Creek, Eltham, Hurstbridge and St Andrews.

The artworks/projects will be presented in each of the townships in turn over the course of September 2019.

Projects are encouraged (but not obliged) to incorporate a community engagement component.

Artists are encouraged to discuss their ideas and requirements with Council prior to submission or, if

possible, attend the Artist Information Forum.

Artist Information Forum

Friday 1 March

7pm – 9pm

Banyule Nillumbik Tech School

61 Civic Drive, Greensborough

To assist artists with their expressions of interest this artist forum will provide more detailed information

about the Nillumbik Digital Agora, project partners and light-based contemporary art practice in public

space.

The evening will include presentations by lead artist, Yandell Walton, the Centre for Projection Art and

ACMI X as well as demonstrations of projection equipment and previous projects by Little Projector

Company.

RSVP 25 February clare.leporati@nillumbik.vic.gov.au or 9433 31246

This is a free event

4

Budget

Selected artists will be provided with up to $6,000 to develop and deliver the artwork/project.

The funds are to cover artist fees and all direct artwork/project production costs including materials.

Council will cover all presentation costs (e.g. projector hire, rigging, scaffolding etc.)

As part of the application artists are asked to provide an indicative budget breakdown of costs.

Based on the anticipated size and scale of the artwork/project budget items to include are:

Artist fees

Production costs to create/build/deliver the artwork/project

Technical costs to create, perform and install the work/project (projector hire, scaffolding, rigging etc). *cover by Council*

Things to note:

- Promotion, marketing and events will be managed by Council

- Council will manage any permits and permissions (if required)

- Council will also assist with delivering community engagement activities (if required)

How to apply

Please submit all proposals via the online application form (www.nillumbik.vic.gov.au/digitalagora)

Expression of Interest should include:

Description the proposed project/artwork

Explanation of the connection/reference to curatorial theme

Indication of preferred site(s)

Indicative budget (outlining proposed artist fee, production and presentation costs)

Artist(s) CV

Examples of previous work/supporting material

5

Selection Criteria

Selections will be based on:

Originality of the artistic concept for the artwork/project

Innovative approach to the curatorial theme

Innovative approach to the site(s)

Innovative approach to the use of the medium/media

Concept feasibility including capacity to deliver the project within the proposed timeframe and budget.

Uniqueness and integration of community engagement opportunities (if applicable)

Selection Panel

The Selection Panel will select the artworks/projects based on submitted expressions of interest

against the selection criteria.

Lead artist, Yandell Walton

Curator, Centre for Projection Art/Gertrude Street Projection Festival

Member of the Nillumbik Arts Advisory Committee

Terms and Conditions

Artists must reside in the State of Victoria

The Selection Panel reserves the right to select artworks/projects for sites at their discretion and their decision is final.

Intellectual Property

Artists retain all intellectual property rights (including copyright and moral rights) vesting in their

expression of interest concepts for projects/artworks. By submitting an expression of interest artists are

not assigning or licencing their work to the Nillumbik Digital Agora project in any way.

Selected Artist(s) will retain all intellectual property rights (including moral rights and copyright) the

copyright for their artwork/projects incorporated into the Nillumbik Digital Agora program. The Artist(s)

will grant Nillumbik Shire Council with a royalty free licence to reproduce images/video of the project’s

artwork(s), outcome(s) and/or events for promotional and documentation purposes.

6

Legal Documentation

Depending on the nature of the proposal, artists may be asked to provide a copy of their:

Public Liability Insurance,

Police Check and/or Working with Children Check.

Key Dates

Date Item Notes

1 February Artist EOI opens

1 March Artist Information Forum

Banyule Nillumbik Tech School 7-9pm

1 April Artist EOI closes

Mid-April Successful artists notified Artists advised of the success of their application. Production timelines developed

May-July Project/artwork development

August 2019 Technical testing Testing (as required/applicable) of presentation technology at artwork/project sites.

September 2019 Artwork presentation Exact timing for each township will be advised.

Questions

Please email or call:

Clare Leporati Public and Participatory Arts Officer Clare.leporati@nillumbik.vic.gov.au 9433 3126 Expressions of interest close Monday 1 April 2019

7

SITES

Artists are asked to develop a unique artwork/project for one (or more) of the selected sites.

Diamond Creek

Diamond Creek is a suburb located 23km north-east of Melbourne's Central Business District. . At the 2016 Census, Diamond Creek had a population of 11,733.

Skate Park, 1 Elizabeth Street, Diamond Creek

8

Eltham

Eltham is a suburb of Melbourne located 25km north-east of Melbourne's Central Business District. At the 2016 Census, Eltham had a population of 18,314.

Alistair Knox Park, 829 Main Rd, Eltham

9

Eltham Trestle Bridge, 16 Panther Place, Eltham

Little Drop of Poison, 937B Main Rd, Eltham and Platform 3095, 965 Main Rd, Eltham

10

Hurstbridge

Hurstbridge is a township located 30km north-east of Melbourne's Central Business District. At the 2016 Census, Hurstbridge had a population of 3,450.

Allwood House, grounds and garden, 901 Main Road, Hurstbridge

11

St Andrews

St Andrews is a township located 36km north-east of Melbourne's Central Business District. At the 2016 Census, St Andrews had a population of 1,226.

St Andrews Hall (site St Andrews Market), Kangaroo Ground-St Andrews Road, St Andrews