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Maori artist Rodney Bell hangs in his wheelchair in mid-air, holding onto female performer Brydie Colquhoun with one arm
Artist Development

Public Realm Performance Commission

In partnership with Metro Tunnel Creative Program, expressions of interest were invited from Deaf and disabled artists, and collaborating allies, to create a new site-responsive participatory work.

The Metro Tunnel Creative Program presents temporary creative works that make a significant contribution to keeping Melbourne a vibrant and attractive destination as the city transforms its commuter routes towards the future. Their collaborative approach to engaging the local artistic community to deliver art and performance works of international calibre partners here with Arts Centre Melbourne’s vision for the public realm.

The selected project will receive $40,000 (under the auspice of Performing Lines) in conjunction with professional and venue support for its creative development, to produce a work incorporating themes of movement, repetition and time, which activates non-traditional public spaces in our precinct. The work will then be presented as part of an event at Arts Centre Melbourne in late 2021.

Applications are now closed.

Successful applicant

We're delighted to announce the Women’s Circus as the recipient of the Public Realm Performance commission.


Project Support

The selected project will receive:

  • $40,000 creative development investment
  • Rehearsal and meeting spaces for the creative development residency at Arts Centre Melbourne
  • Technical advice on Arts Centre Melbourne public spaces
  • Producing support from Arts Centre Melbourne and Performing Lines
  • Outside eye and dramaturgical support
  • Shared technical equipment and production staff for the creative development showing up to the value of $2,000
  • Support for documentation of the creative development process 
  • A dedicated marketing and publicity campaign in support of the artist and creative development process

The selection panel includes representatives from Arts Centre Melbourne and Metro Tunnel Creative Program alongside First Nations artists and cultural leaders with lived experience of disability.

 

Eligibility

This opportunity is for Victorian-based Deaf and disabled artists, and non-disabled artists collaborating with Deaf and disabled artists. Artists, companies or collaborations considering applying must have a minimum five years of professional practice and a record of self-generating artistic projects. We particularly encourage applications from First Nations artists, LGBTQI+, culturally and linguistically diverse and regional artists living in Victoria.

 

Selection Criteria

Projects will be assessed against the following four criteria:

Accessibility as Creative Input

Application responses reflect:

  • Artistic process and creative decisions are led by or developed in conjunction with Deaf and disabled artists
  • Inclusion as an approach that builds creative rigour and aids story-telling
  • Access integrated as part of the aesthetics of the work

Participation

  • Project fosters inclusive audience participation
  • Audience needs and access services have been considered in project design

Concept and Creative Connection to the Site 

  • Concept provides a clear and vibrant vision for the project which speaks to Metro Tunnel’s Creative Program frame of Movement, Repetition and Time
  • Application provides a clear creative rationale behind how the work will engage with chosen indoor/outdoor public spaces in ACM's precinct

Viability 

  • Concept is realistic in scale for available budget and project timeline
  • Proposed budget aligns with resources available for the creative development
  • Support material speaks to creative concept and showcases artist/group’s history of delivering creative projects
  • Project can be adapted to be socially distant (performers and audiences) if required due to COVID-19

 

Timeline

Tuesday 6 October – Applications open
Friday 6 November – Applications close 5:00pm (AEDT)
Friday 20 November – All artists notified of application outcome
Thursday 3 December - Media announcement
Jan – May 2021 – Creative Development at Arts Centre Melbourne
By 1 July 2021 – Creative Development showing
Late 2021 – Presentation as part of an event at Arts Centre Melbourne (details to be announced)

 

Have questions?

If you have any questions, please contact us via email at PublicRealm@artscentremelbourne.com.au

Please note:

  • Arts Centre Melbourne staff are currently working remotely and are unable to be contacted via phone, unless pre-arranged.
  • If you specifically require a member of our team to call you, please email us with your phone number, when you are available to answer our call, what you’d like to discuss and if we should call you via the National Relay Service. We’ll aim to respond within one business day for requests sent during the week, and on Mondays, for requests sent over the weekend.

 

Download FAQs

 

 

Metro Tunnel Creative Program and Performing Lines logos

 

Image: Hurihuri directed by Malia Johnston - Movement Of The Human, Artists: Rodney Bell and Brydie Colquhoun, Photo: Ray Cash

 

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