Artist in Residence Program

>> Download Application form for Artist in Residence 2009
>> Find out about Emma Robertson, the Artist in Residence for 2008

'The Gardens has remained a potent source of inspiration for artists and writers since the inception of the colony; and is a setting for the display of public art'. NSW Heritage Act 1977

In keeping with the ongoing use of the Gardens by artists since European settlement and before, the Botanic Gardens Trust offers an annual Artist in Residence Program which allows artists to work in and be inspired by the Royal Botanic Gardens and its collections. The program is offered to a practicing artist who has a demonstrated history of producing work of a high standard for exhibition and whose residency will contribute to the Trust’s programs.

The period of the program is from early February to late December each year. The program usually ends with an exhibition of the artist’s work held between January and March of the following year and the program can be arranged to encompass installation works.

Who can apply?

The program is offered to a practicing artist who has a demonstrated history of producing work of a high standard for exhibition and whose residency will contribute to the Trust’s programs. Expressions of interest are called late in the year prior to the new residency.

Assessment

• The expressions of interest are judged by a committee of Trust staff representing different areas within the Trust and an external judge nominated by the Trust
• The committee then interviews selected artists asking them to submit examples of their work.

Assessment Criteria

The artists work is assessed on:

• artistic merit
• technical merit
• originality
• compatibility with the Trust’s ethos
• commercial viability
• suitability for display in the Red Box Gallery or other appropriate venue within the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Applications

The application should be on the official application form and include:

• a current CV – highlighting qualifications, exhibitions, and other achievements
• up to 10 representative high quality photographic copies of your work
• a residency proposal

Criteria for proposals

Applicants should state clearly what they would like to achieve during the residency and give the selection committee enough information to assess both theirs and the Trust’s benefits from the residency.

Important points to consider are:

• Why do you want to participate in the program?
• In what way will the residency contribute to the Trust’s public program?
• What interaction with the community would you be willing to undertake? Talks or workshops

Return of material

All submitted material will be after the announcement of the successful artist.

Residency Information

The Botanic Gardens Trust agrees to provide the following:

• Supervised full access to the Trust’s living and preserved collections for use by the artist
• Suitable space for storing art works, materials and equipment
• Induction program to introduce the artist to Trust staff and to familiarise them with the Trust’s collections, facilities and procedures
• Full insurance cover for the artist and art works whilst on Trust lands
• A solo exhibition in the Red Box Gallery or other suitable venue in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney for ten weeks from January in the year following the residency. The estimated value of the Trust’s contribution for the exhibition exceeds $7,000.

The artist agrees to:

• undertake the project for the express purpose of creating a series of images/works based on research during the term of the Program
• undertake an exhibition of the body of work at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
• participate in a handover to the next Artist in Residence  with a presentation/talk to staff and the Friends of The Gardens on aspects of the artist’s program
• comply with all occupational, health and safety requirements when entering or working within the Gardens
• confirm with appropriate staff on each occasion when you enter or seek entry to areas on the site
• ensure all activities on site align with the Trust’s environmental policies and practices
• partake in regular meetings with the Artist in Residence Program Committee.

Both parties agree that:

• there will be no exchange of funds involved with the residency
• there will be no stipend for the artist
• there will be no charge to the Trust covering the cost of material or framing
• there will be no charge to the artist for the use of the Red Box Gallery or other exhibition venue within the Royal Botanic Gardens

there will be a commission of 20% on the sale of any art works sold during the exhibition and for a period of one month after the closure of the exhibition. This commission is to offset the commercial costs of providing the gallery space and mounting the exhibition.

Key dates

• Applications closing date: Friday 31 October 2008
• Notification of short listed artists: Friday 14 November 2008
• Notification of successful artist: Friday 5 December 2008
• Residency commencement: from February 2009
• Exhibition: from January to March 2010

Applications and enquiries

Relle Mott
2008 Artist in Residence Program
Botanic Gardens Trust
Mrs Macquaries Road
Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
Telephone 02 9231 8134
Email: relle.mott@rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au