Thursday, 24 March 2011

first task - Grant

Last Tuesday we all met again. It's nice because we don't use the office...each one of us works and lives in different areas, therefore we meet in Newtown, have a drink and ...work.

We talked about the Grant for the Australia Council we have to apply for. The deadline is in May, therefore we have to work hard. The work to do is a lot...Edwina and I will work together on the application, make a draft and then bring it to the next meeting with the Director and Lucy (the collaborator).

Ok, even though this is a master in ART ADMINISTRATION, we haven't really been tought how to apply for a grant. Well, I did an assignment for the Management and Organisation class...but still...none told me how to deal with it, so now, in the 'real world' I have to deal with it myself...I guess just common sense and some reading...

Meanwhile I get really excited about the exhibition on Art, Environment and Sustainability that I'm going to work on....I'm already looking at possible grants...possible artists... It's gonna be great!

what is my job?

After the first meeting the director sent us an email listing the different tasks that we could work on. I thought about it, but honestly not for too long, because I know what is my passion: curating! I express my interest in curating an exhibition that could tour around regional galleries in NSW or all of Australia, and that could end or start in Broken Hill. Beside that, I gave my availability to work on one of the Grants we have to apply, because the deadline is in May and it is the very priority right now.

This is exciting, because I will get to work on an exhibition for an organisation that could tour Australia. Yes, exciting but also scary... because to organise an exhibition requires to write a concept, liaise with artists and regional galleries, look for fundings and apply....and hope hope to get some... deal with copyright issues, couriers, managing and dealing with artworks, etc...etc...

So....as I said ...a bit overwhelming, but very EXCITING!!!

and so it begun...

After months and months looking for an internship I finally found it!

I have done internships and work experience in the arts, so this one I waned to be special, meaningful for me and for my future career in the arts...and finally I got it.

I am doing my internship in the ILIRI office, Imaging the Land International Research Initiative. Three weeks ago I met with the Director and a collaborator for the project. With me there was another Intern (Edwina) and we are both working in the same project: creating a Art, Environment and Sustainability Museum in Broken Hill, the first of this kind in Australia (anyway, there are not many in the world yet).

Environment now is one of the major issues in our society....and art is the creativity tool that allows people to present solutions that seam not possible, but that open debates and reflection.

During the first meeting, the Director and the collaborator introduced us to the project...it was a bit overwhelming, because, as you can imagine, creating a museum is not a simple task and it requires a lot of effort. The project needs funding, create community partnership, generate interest in the art world, in government bodies, in the community, etc...

It was up to us interns to decide on what aspect of the project to work. It was made clear that the priority is to get fundings, therefore, work on grants...