We are very pleased to announce five fantastic projects supported through our Audience Development Fund. 2020 was the fifth year that this grant, supported by Create NSW, has assisted regional and public galleries to develop new and innovative public programming to target and engage diverse audiences.
A majority of the successful applications in this round focus on developing engagement with young people from their respective communities. Developing safe and inclusive spaces and employing youth-led programming these projects aim to swell the next generation of audience and supporters for their institutions as well as broadening connections and understanding of artistic practice in this younger cohort.
Bathurst Regional Art Gallery will implement its new engagement program Youth Advocates, a year long pilot program that is peer-led by a group of young people aged 15-25 years living in the Bathurst area. The program focuses on connecting BRAG with the ‘next generation’ and offering an opportunity for young people to develop life skills.
Blacktown Arts will be supported to deliver The Poster Centre, a dynamic and creative artist-run print studio workshop for the culturally diverse, young and First Nations people of Blacktown. Community members will engage with contemporary artists to create striking posters to voice their concerns and issues. The project will increase immediate and future audiences.
Blue Mountains Cultural Centre will present Open Sessions, a public program that creatively engages local young people (ages 13–18) to build community and discover skills and passions. The program offers a safe and empowering space to meet with creative peers and mentors over collaborative art making activities, food and music.
Fairfield City Museum & Gallery will develop TRAVELLING SOUNDS: BEHIND THE LENS. This project explores and showcases the connections between contemporary new media and visual artists, musicians, performers and videographers living and performing in western Sydney. TRAVELLING SOUNDS: BEHIND THE LENS is an innovative and timely audience-based program; a collaboration between young western Sydney creatives, FCMG and other western Sydney organisations.
Orange Regional Gallery’s Artist Educator Pilot Program will trial a model of audience engagement where selected, exhibition-linked activities are developed and delivered by practicing artists. Funding will create employment and professional development opportunities for local artists while complementing the development of a new Gallery Youth Council.
You can read more about the Audience Development Fund here
