26 September 2023

Antarctic canvas opens to artists

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Caption: Artist John Kelly was the 2013 Australian Antarctic Arts Fellow, here at Auster Rookery (Photo: Richard Youd)

The Australian Antarctic Division of the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment has called on Australian artists to travel to Antarctica to join the Australian Antarctic Program (AAP) as part of its arts fellowship scheme.

In a statement, AAP said that the Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship enabled people from the creative sector to share their experience with the broader community through their chosen art form.

It said the objectives of the Arts Fellowship were to communicate: the activities of the Australian Antarctic Program; the importance of the unique Antarctic environments; human stories; Australia’s historical Antarctic and sub-Antarctic legacy; and the international Treaty history, values and cooperation.

“The Arts Fellowship is aimed at people gifted in communicating through various media including the visual arts, film-making, performance, writing and music,” AAP said.

It said applications to be a part of the Arts Fellowship program were now open.

“The 2020/21 Arts Fellow(s) will travel south to Australian research stations on the Antarctic continent or on sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island.”

AAP said the Australian Network for Art and Technology (ANAT) would provide the successful applicant with $5000 to help cover medical and ancillary expenses associated with the travel to Antarctica.

“Previous Arts Fellows include sound artist Philip Samartzis, children’s author Alison Lester, visual artist Stephen Eastaugh, writer Jesse Blackadder and screenwriter Jane Allen,” it said.

“The 2019/20 Arts Fellows are digital artists Dr Adam Nash and Dr John McCormick, currently returning to Australia from Mawson and Davis research stations on the Aurora Australis.”

Expressions of interest can be submitted online until 27 March via this PS News link.

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