Art Lab is designed for visual artists ready to begin the transition to a professional arts practice.

It is perfect for artists working in any medium who have participated in a group or solo show & now wish to exhibit in a more competitive gallery space.

Enrolment is for one year & you will be provided the opportunity to extend your current practice to locate your work in a contemporary Australian art context.

Art Lab sets out to present current ideas in art & curatorial practice in relation to new art forms. It facilitates contemporary art production & is links to various contemporary art spaces in Melbourne. Participants will be supported through the process of exhibition proposals.
 
Robert Mangion is a Melbourne based artist working across media including video, sound, performance installation, painting & drawing. He has exhibited his work extensively in solo & group shows throughout Australia & overseas.
 
In 1992, he initiated & co-ordinated the National Metal Industry Sculpture project across three states in the cities of Hobart, Perth & Melbourne. In 1998, he wrote & co-developed the Artways project. This accredited short course & innovative workshop program combines cultural theory with contemporary cross art practice & incorporates an ongoing exhibition program which Robert has curated over the past six years.
 
In 2003 Robert received a City of Melbourne grant for the Intextual Bodies project, a series of collaborative works with choreographer Christos Linou. The work produced was exhibited as part of the 2004 Melbourne International Arts Festival. Robert has lectured in cultural theory & cross art practice at Victoria University for the past eight years & is currently lecturing in Contemporary Sculptural Practice at LaTrobe. He is co-ordinator & committee member of the Kings ARI in Melbourne & currently represented by Spacement.
 
Art Lab Aims & Objectives:

Assist participating artists to make the transition to a contemporary arts practice

To assist in the shaping of a  gallery proposal

To assist practising artists to locate their practice in a  contemporary arts discourse

To provide one on one feedback specific to your arts practice in a small group setting

A limited number of places available. Maximum of 12 artists

Guest artists will be included in the program.

Art Lab Enrolment Process:

Expressions of interest must be received by 25 July 09

Acceptance into the course will be subject to folio presentation & informal interview to be scheduled in late July 2009.
 
Art Lab Course Outline

Introduction;

Introduction of a proposal for project
Presentation of recent work
Set task: commence structuring a proposal.

Writing an Exhibition Proposal;

Start shaping proposal
Examine proposal criteria in relation to folio of art work
Set task: Investigate your folio in relation to proposal.
Work Process: Experiential; Conceptual; Personal

Begin to investigate your work process;

Present final proposal & be able to articulate work method, theme & concept
Set task: Establish time frames for completion of work, documentation & artist statement, & identifying galleries.

Art Spaces;

Investigate galleries. Gallery policy, type of work shown at gallery, dimensions, application process
Set task: investigate gallery, for example institution gallery, artist run, commercial, suitable in relation to your practice.

Artist Working Inside & Out Of the Gallery System;

Present short list of your research of gallery system. What will work for you & relate it back to your work
Critical interrogation of gallery policies in relation to your work
Set task: Begin to develop CV, artist statement & biography.
Representing Self

Shaping & reviewing your CV, artist statement, biography, introduction to documentation of work;

Set task: Further develop your proposal including artist statement, CV, & gallery application.
International Contemporary Art
Continuation of documentation process & final gallery proposal
Set task: Finalising your proposal including artist statement, CV, & gallery application.

What Is Arts Research?

Begin to locate your practice in a contemporary arts discourse
Set task: prepare a research paper which locates your work in contemporary arts discourse.

Knowing Your Audience;

Scoping an audience, choosing a constituency, communicating with an audience, adopting language style, attitude
Set task: investigate aspects of the arts industry with respect to arts audience.
Presentation
Make a presentation of proposal.
Present your research on arts industry
Measuring success, financial return, creating resistance, developing critical discourse.
 
Classes are held at the Hunt Club Community Arts Centre, 775 Ballarat Road, Deer Park
 
Expressions of interest must be received by 25 July 2009.

Acceptance into the course will be subject to folio presentation and informal interview to be scheduled in late July 2009
 
FEE: $500 / $450 concession (inc. GST) FULL PAYMENT MUST BE PAID ON ENROLMENT
 
For an application form or other enquiry contact:

The Hunt Club Community Arts Centre
775 Ballarat Road Deer Park 3023
view map
PH: 9361 6600     TTY: 9249 4999

Art Lab is instigated & coordinated by
Brimbank City Council’s Community Wellbeing Division.
 
Do you have additional requirements or special needs? All venues are wheel chair accessible. All courses are inclusive of people of all abilities. If you have additional requirements please inform us at the time of enrolment so that we can make provisions for you to gain maximum benefits from doing the course.