Hidden Sydney: The Glittering Mile; Photo by Robert Polmear.
Here’s some good news: Artists have the opportunity to pitch original temporary projects for Art & About 2017 in the City of Sydney.
And here is some more good news. You have until January to call City of Sydney up to get advice and feedback on your idea. The team running Art & About is keen to work with individual artists and collectives from idea conception, through to realisation of the project.
Those who take them up on the offer of feedback will undoubtedly have an even better chance at getting the commission in 2017.
Often once artists hear about an opportunity the project officers involved are unable to talk to applicants because of the need to remain objective. But City of Sydney wants to ensure artists are able to consult about their projects and put in the best possible ideas.
‘We are going to put the call for the next expression of interests out in January, so until that happens, we can still talk to people and have conversations about their ideas,’ said Stephen Gilby, Program Manager at City of Sydney.
‘It’s a really good opportunity for people who go “I’ve got this idea, but I’m not really sure,” to come and have a chat with us and maybe we can offer some advice or talk about partnerships that might work, or give advice on things that have worked or haven’t worked in the past.’
All about place
The thing that sets Art & About apart from other immersive or public art programs is its emphasis on unusual places.
The particular genre, art form or subject is less important than the way the work uses the space.
‘We are looking for things that are really out of the ordinary in the place they are presented, so something that will really surprise people as they come through,’ said Gilby.
This year, for example, Art & About programmed the popular Hidden Sydney: The Glittering Mile – an immersive cabaret experience set in a former Sydney Kings Cross Brothel, now the site of World Bar.
‘Taking [World Bar] over as an immersive theatre venue is a very different way of using that space and isn’t really what you would expect. The way they set the show up was unique too. You don’t enter the building the way you would normally, so it is very unexpected and a very different way of experiencing that building that creates a really all encompassing experience when you are part of that audience,’ said Gilby.
Another Art & About work in 2016 was Nick Cave’s HEARD, Pitt Street Mall; Photo credit: Anna Kucera.
Confronting the public with something unexpected is entirely the point of Art & About, he said.
‘We want to surprise people as they go about their daily lives in the city and put works where they wouldn’t expect it and also bring new audiences in to experience that artwork. So just grabbing people as they are coming on their way to work in the morning, they might never step into a gallery, but then they can see something that has suddenly popped up in front of them.’
Audience involvement
City of Sydney is particularly interested in works that engage the audience.
‘The works that tend to be best received are the ones where the audience gets the opportunity to participate in them in some way. Whether that is as part of the work creation, or the way you experience the work is very hands on, those sort of things tend to work very well,’ said Gilby.
‘Every year it is completely different and new artists come in and propose work that you would never imagine. That is what is most exciting about it – it’s just completely unknown. Some huge ideas come through.’
So if you have a big idea that turns a space into an unusual experience for unsuspecting audiences, time to give City of Sydney a call – just make sure you do it before January.
For more information or to query future Art & About Sydney EOIs email artandabout@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
