Established through a partnership with Artbank, the federal government’s flagship support program for Australian contemporary artists, ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image) has announced the $70,000 Artbank + ACMI Commission.
This three year commissioning program will enable Australian artists and filmmakers to create new works that are conceived at the intersection of art and cinema. This rare funding opportunity will enable practitioners – visual artists or filmmakers – to create ambitious, experimental artworks which can find a home on the cinema screen or in the gallery space.
Through this exciting partnership ACMI and Artbank are providing unique opportunities for Australian artists working at the cutting edge of film practice.
“This is a wonderful new commission that supports the filmmakers and artists who are already creating stunning experimental cinematic artwork that sits outside the usual categorisation – and the usual funding opportunities,” said ACMI Director and CEO Katrina Sedgwick. “We are delighted to be working with Artbank to enable this fund which builds on ACMI’s commitment to support artists to cross boundaries and push their practice in new ways.”
Each year, the Artbank + ACMI Commission recipient will be granted $70,000 for the development and creation of a new work that can be viewed in a cinema or gallery context. Commissions will be selected by an expert panel of film and visual art curators jointly chaired by Tony Stephens, Director of Artbank and Katrina Sedgwick, ACMI Director and CEO.
“The partnership between ACMI and Artbank extends on Artbank’s long history of support for Australian contemporary artists,” said Director of Artbank, Tony Stephens. Providing the opportunity for practitioners to expand their thinking and realise ambitious projects, supported by the resources of both organisations, will most certainly lead to the creation of bold, interesting and sophisticated screen-based artworks.”
“As with all activities undertaken by Artbank, through connecting of the outcomes of this project to the broader public, facilitated by our leasing program, we will ensure the final result is seen far and wide.”
This new partnership further expands ACMI’s vibrant commissioning program, which through a series of vital collaborations – with Artbank, Ian Potter Foundation, City of Melbourne and the Mordant Family – will directly fund Australian artists with $650,000 worth of financial support to create new work over the next three years and then exhibit it to thousands of people at ACMI and beyond.
Applications open now and close Friday 15 September 2017 – 5:00pm. For more information, and to apply, visit: www.acmi.net.au for details.
Image: ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image)