billandgeorge

noreply@blogger.com (Bill George) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 04:28:00 +0000

FAMILIAR FACES IN OTHER PLACES...

One time only our resident KISS CLUB goes offshore and onsite at Performance space FRIDAY FEB 19. KISS CLUB artists spent some brief moments incubating in track 12 to bring you a real in progress experimental like night of performance. If you're a Club groupie stay up to date on the farcebook fan page

Clubhouse is also presenting a whole load of good offerings including mind auraltering music nights. Have a look at the Pspace website for more happenings.

noreply@blogger.com (Bill George) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 06:21:00 +0000

WELL, it's been an AMASSING week. Check out Melbourne’s Fringe for some action on the streets and the Take of Your Skin’s project created by Dario Vacirca and the creative team of Well Theatre. This is really the tops story for the week and the rest of this year. (if you look closely you may see Bek running around in a tiny blue tunic. Yes, it was fucking freezing)

Other little tiny event things happening in our little space.

FILM SCREENING Tuesday 13th October KANTANTA TAKWA – the incredible story about Indonesia’s most popular band SUAMI and its leader Iwan Fals. Recently screenned at the Brisbane International Film Festival. We open the doors at 7pm

And its time for smoochy smoochy with KISS CLUB pashing its way onto the faux stage at Bill+george on FRIDAY 16TH OCTOBER. 730PM for an 8pm start.

Meanwhile TUK in Salatiga is getting ready for an invasion of Australian artists. Check out Festival Mata Air which happens this weekend. Sik yo!

Other things of importancy:

1. Locksmith publication deadline: 9TH OCTOBER

2. GRAND OPENING OF SALMAGUNDI STUDIOS: 10th October

3. Artspace seeking volunteers for a major project in January next year. Download info below.

4. 2042 art on the street looking for artists/volunteers.

5. Performance Space call out for CLUBHOUSE applications/proposals/wishlists

1. LOCKSMITH PUBLICATION DEADLINE

Submissions due Friday 9th October, 2009.  Locksmith Project is an independent, curated publication of local, national and international artists? ideas and writing. Locksmith Project provides artists and writers with the opportunity to experiment with works in progress, initial ideas, research, sketches, plans and basically anything that constitutes making art work.  Each issue of Locksmith Project is a limited edition of five hundred copies and is printed in Australia on 100% recycled paper using soy based ink.  Please go to www.locksmithprojectspace.com to download an application form and to view submission guidelines. Submissions must be postmarked by Friday October 9, 2009. We do not accept applications via email.  For any enquiries please email: publication@locksmithprojectspace.com

The Locksmith Directors

GRAND OPENING OF SALMAGUNDI STUDIOS SATURDAY 10TH OCTOBER

Exhibition and launch party for an exciting new creative space in Arncliffe, Sydney.

Free Exhibition from 6pm - 8pm featuring work from Salmagundi artists-in-residence as well as a number of guest artists from the wider artistic community, Followed by launch party and fundraiser, 8pm til late, with Live music, performance, DJ's and video installations,

Live Music from: My Good Sauce/White Knuckle Fever/Le Gato Gruff/Liz Martin + more

Exhibiting artists:Jasmin Poole, Kay Orchison, Kassandra Bossell, Cecile Knowles,Justin Henderson, Lou MacDonald, Jamil Stone, Gawaa,Pierre Cavalan, Dillon MacEwan, Paul Raymond, Matt Fawl, Stefaen Day, Sitt Sitlakone, Dean Sewell, Terry Archer, Rachel Flannery, Brian Paisley, Pete Strong, Pirate Photography, Mike Turner, Dirk Kruithof....more TBA Recommended donation $10

4. Like to help make ‘2042: art on the street’ Happen?

2042: art on the street is a free annual art event presented by Inner West Cultural Services. To be held in Newtown Square 10am-4pm Saturday 24 October and 10am – 9pm Sunday 25 October. www.2042artonthestreet.com.

This year, for one weekend, we are turning the heart of Newtown into a giant colouring-in book just waiting to be coloured in and filled with photos, stories, drawings, paintings, poems…. by Newtown’s creative community.

We are looking for creative people to help straight away to create wallpaper paste-ups.

Tasks – screen printing; cutting paper stencils; arranging and gluing shapes onto paper to create wallpaper.

Work with Collider and Makeshft in a workshop environment (just off King St). If you can spare a couple of hours or a day, every little bit helps; we’d love to hear from you!

Workshop times: Wednesday, 7 October 11am – 5pm Saturday, 10 October 10am – 5pm Sunday, 11 October 10am-3pm

Send your contact details, a brief line about yourself to Camilla at info@innerwestcs.org.au or phone: 9550 4156.

We value your support. Your contribution will be posted on the 2042 website and you will go into the draw to receive an original and unique 2042:art on the street T’shirt.

STAY POSTED.. we have a number of other VOLUNTEER AND PAID POSITIONS AVAILABLE during the festival weekend ... for more details email info@innerwestcs.org.au.

Artspace%20call%20out

2042%20volunteer%20and%20paid%20positions.pdf

noreply@blogger.com (Bill George) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 07:22:00 +0000

Wow. And more wow.

noreply@blogger.com (Bill George) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:44:00 +0000

Our little space is going through some exciting rough and tumble. New crew moving in, new projects brewing, new events on the horizon. How do you keep up with it all! Sometimes you just don't. And you just let it happen.

Bek just returned from the splendid arts lab with guns blazing. Now she has us all champing at the bit for collaborative cross art forming. We will do our best. Check out the web blog

http://blog.splendid.org.au/blog

Lots of stuff happening. See below:

1. The good people at First draft need help for fire safety modification to building (God we know what that feels like). Attend, donate, give, believe. It's only all of us, so pull some weight.

2. Indigenous artists attention: Indiglab calling out for artists of indigenous heritage also incubate program at PACT and NAISDA auditions. Yaama!!

3. Opportunity for Mural artistes making something at local and great ARI locksmith

4. Urban Theatre projects calling out for artists to apply to their residency program. Yo.

SAVE FIRSTDRAFT FUNDRAISER ART AUCTION

Recently named by Creative Sydney as one of the cities’ top ‘Creative Catalysts’, Firstdraft Gallery - Sydney’s longest-running ARI - has been giving big breaks to budding artists since 1986. Some of Australia’s top young artists got their start at Firstdraft. Now we need your help.

Firstdraft lives in a building that has been served with a compulsory Council fire order. In the coming weeks and months, we must undertake significant renovations to our much-loved space in order to keep our doors open to the public.

Firstdraft will be rebuilding, rewiring and providing disabled access to our 3 galleries and 2 studios. And for that we need money we don’t have. Imagine if Firstdraft were to close... future biennale stars, gallery curators and the next generation of up-and-coming artists may not get the start they need.

That’s where you come in. Firstdraft is holding an emergency fundraiser auction at the gallery on Thursday 3 September 2009 to raise $20,000 for the cause. Former Firstdraft directors and artists, as well as fellow galleries, are rushing to donate artworks for auction in support of one of Sydney’s most important venues for emerging and experimental art. The auction will be hosted by Elizabeth Ann Macgregor, Director, Museum of Contemporary Art.

We need your support too. Come along and snap up some killer bargains. Tell your friends. Get involved! Every dollar raised will go to keeping alive a space that has added to the cultural vibrancy and creative spirit of Sydney for over two decades.

Further information: http://firstdraftgallery.com/070%20Fundraiser/index.html

What: SAVE FIRSTDRAFT fundraiser art auction

When: Thursday, 3 September 2009 from 6-9pm [previews available from 12pm Wednesday 2 September 2009]

Where: Firstdraft gallery, 116-118 Chalmers St, Surry Hills NSW 2010

Who: Works have been generously donated by artists and galleries such as: Del Kathryn Barton, Mike Parr, Lauren Brincat, Sarah Goffman, Simon Kennedy, Brett East, Tom Polo, Agatha Gothe-Snape, Michaela Gleave, Mikala Dwyer, Helen Hyatt-Johnston, Jake Walker, Jessica Maurer, Rachel Scott, Newell Harry, Mitch Cairns, Penelope Benton, Jess Oliveri, Sonny Day, Rod Jacka, Lionel Bawden, Jumaadi, Will French, Kate Scardifield, Shane Haseman, Gallery9, Breenspace and Damien Minton gallery, plus many many more.

Fundraiser contact: Debbie Pryor, Co-Director, Firstdraft gallery m: 0423 103 378 / e: debbie@firstdraftgallery.com

Media contact: Jessica Tyrrell, Co-Director, Firstdraft gallery m: 0406 690 824 / e: jessica@firstdraftgallery.com

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: INDIGELAB 2009
PERFORMANCE SPACE

Applications are now open for IndigeLab 2009 – a two-week residential arts laboratory for Indigenous artists led by Wesley Enoch, Brook Andrew and company. Artists who work in different artforms from around Australia are invited to participate in a challenging environment of exchange, experiment and play.

Bundanon, South Coast, NSW
31 October–13 November, 2009

Deadline for applications: 31 August, 2009
More information: contact indigelab@performancespace.com.au or (02) 8571 9111

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST: INCUBATE
PACT Centre for Emerging Artists

From 24 Aug–18 Sept, PACT is running Incubate, a performance laboratory for emerging Indigenous artists. Part creative development, part mentorship, Incubate will involve a small ensemble of performance makers participating in a creative process; plus independent time for artists to work in the PACT space with a mentor.

Expressions of interest by 15 August, 2009
More information: contact (02) 9550 5744 or pactad@pact.net.au

2009 AUDITION PROGRAM
NAISDA

Don’t miss this year’s NAISDA Audition Program from 7–9 October, 2009 at NAISDA Dance College on the Central Coast.

If you are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander aged 18-30 you can audition for NAISDA and it’s free. No dance experience or school qualifications required. Travel, accommodation and meals all covered by Abstudy. The October auditions program is the only way into NAISDA next year.

More information: freecall 1800 117 116 or visit www.naisda.com.au/news-update

Hey everyone,

This is a call out for anyone interested in creating a new mural for
the wall in Locksmith?s backyard. We have a 2m x 5m wall that needs a
makeover for the next exhibition and publication launch opening on the
3rd of September.

This is a great opportunity for you to get creative and get some
exposure at a Sydney artist-run space.

Let us see your ideas!!!!

Send us an image if you have one, otherwise please give us a detailed
written proposal of your idea.

info@locksmithprojectspace.com

Thanks
Locksmith Directors

URBAN THEATRE PROJECTS - INTERSECTION RESIDENCY
UTP is seeking proposals from artists for our 2010 Intersection Residency. UTP will support the research or creative development of new performance work that is a synthesis of artists, idea, site and public dialogue. Based at UTP rehearsal space in Bankstown, artists are encouraged to explore strong new ideas that resonate with our company purpose and are driven by an artistic inquiry.

UTP will provide up to $15,000 to support artistic teams, rehearsal space and negotiated dramaturgical feedback and support.

Proposals are due by Tuesday 15th September 2009.

For more information and guidelines go to www.urbantheatre.com.au <http://www.vision6.com.au/ch/1p74mvs/117927/43987m9d2.html>

noreply@blogger.com (Bill George) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:57:00 +0000

Ok Kids its seriously smoochy smoochy..the third installment of Kiss Club is hitting the floor on July 10th. Our favorite performance wrangler Kaz has put together a stellar cast so just come along.

noreply@blogger.com (Bill George) — Mon, 18 May 2009 03:43:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Bill George) — Sat, 02 May 2009 10:49:00 +0000

It's come what MAY.

If affordable housing is the new religion this millennium then we are the Lords Shepard’s. Bill and George was founded on providing affordable studio space for artists, but what the hell, if you can’t afford to live in the city then what fricking use is a studio?!!!

Because of this, BNG crew monger Rebecca has become singularly focussed on radical housing solutions for RIGHT NOW. This involves fraternising with an emerging consortium of stakeholders with the power to purchase land in the city and implement a thing called a Community Land Trust. To find out more about this STAY TUNED. We will be presenting a chatroom event at bill and george SHORTLY with questions and answers and special guests who know all about this business. Serious stimulating. A home among the gum trees, a verandah out the back….a rockin chair! And a community vege patch. Oh stop it…I’m delirious….

SUPERSTAR ARTIST PROFILES

Ex-BNG resident artist Ben Riding is displaying himself in the Grant Pirrie window all this week and next. Check it out:

http://www.grantpirrie.com/exhibition.php?g=window&e=11&s=3&i=1

OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GIFTED AND TALENTED

By George! Applications open now

Check it: http://www.lanewaysbygeorge.com.au/

International Artists Residence

Turin, Italy

The Diogene group of artists is promoting the international competition “Diogene Urbanbivouac”, open to italian and foreign artists. The artist selected will be hosted in a small housing unit or Bivouac , built in an “interstitial” area of the city, that will be the artist’s living and working environment.

The first residence program has been held in 2007 with the artists Giorgio Andreotta Calò and Mario Tomè; the chinese artist Pak Sheung Chuen won the first official competition held in autumn 2008.

Deadline: May 23, 2009

Period of stay: three to six weeks between September 21 and November 7 2009

Budget: up to 7.500 euros (attendance reward, travel and living expenses, Production expenses for the project/s)

PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITY: The vanishing point gallery in newtown is hosting a world enviro day film night..... it's happening on friday 5th june at at the vanishing point gallery from 6-9pm. we are asking artists to respond to the theme of climate emergency!! this is a one night only event and i reckon it could be pretty great. i'm contacting you guys to see whether you are interested in submitting a work for the night! we are looking for short films or performances. duration should be say 20 minutes or less. (sorry we can't have any other sort of works because it's just for one night and there will be another show happening in the gallery at the same time )

on the night there will be a guest speaker and then show a bunch of artist's responses to "climate emergency" in the form of short films or performances. please consider making a work for this night or maybe passing this info on to anyone you think might be interested. For more info contact Ingrid at ingriddernee@hotmail.com.

NEWS FROM UDDER SPACE

Ex-Mekanarky crew calling for interest from artists for new warehouse in Arncliffe.

From Dillon: We've just had our offer on a warehouse in Arncliffe accepted by the

landlord, and are looking for Artists to rent studios.

It is an older style warehouse on 2 levels, rollerdoor access on both

levels, with good light, kitchen and some office type rooms.

The lower floor has a concrete floor, the upper one, wood. There is 3 phase

power in the building.

We will be renting spaces at around $1.75 psm per week, which gives you a

7m x 8m space for around $100 per week.

This would include most amenities, plus broadband, electricity would

probably be worked out separately though.

The space is currently an open warehouse space, so first in get the most

say in the studio layout.

The space should become available in 4 - 6 weeks time, but viewings can be

arranged prior to that.

I'll be posting more info, as the project develops, probably through the

old mekanarky website (www.mekanarky.com), and through facebook and

myspace.

GET INTO IT: SOCIALISING INITIATIVES

The crisis and beyond: for a stronger and fairer housing system

A conference – Thursday 2 July 2009, 9.00 am to 4.00 pm – Mitchell Theatre, Sydney Mechanics School of Arts, Level 1, 280 Pitt Street, Sydney

Beyond the housing affordability crisis, beyond the global economic crisis … how can we make our housing system stronger and fairer?

Housing policy in Australia has been through a time of dramatic transformation, with the introduction of a raft of new initiatives from the Commonwealth Government, a new era of cooperation between Commonwealth and state/territory governments, and new instruments for funding housing assistance.

Shelter NSW is presenting a one-day conference in Sydney on Thursday 2 July 2009 to explore these issues and more:

New Commonwealth Government housing initiatives
NSW Government’s housing initiatives and implementation of Commonwealth reforms
Public housing – is it to be limited to a role as the housing of last resort?
Community housing – what is its capacity to become more than a service specified and subcontracted by government?
The private sector – is there a crisis, and how does the tax system affect price and supply?
Homeless people – will they really get their day in the sun?
The working poor – will they continue to be the household that housing policy forgot?
Tenants, both public and private – what is needed to create homes?

Speakers include:

The Hon. Tanya Plibersek MP, Commonwealth Minister for Housing
The Hon. David Borger MP, NSW Minister for Housing
Mike Allen, Director-General of Housing NSW
John Mant, lawyer and urban policy consultant
Yuri Grbich, formerly Professor at Law, University of New South Wales and founding director of Atax, UNSW
Kath Hulse, Associate Professor, Institute for Social Research, Swinburne Institute of Technology
Sue Cripps, Chief Executive Officer, Homelessness NSW
Carol Croce, Executive Director, Community Housing Federation of Australia
Adam Farrar, Executive Director, NSW Federation of Housing Associations.

Who should attend?

Community welfare organisations, social housing tenants, providers of rental housing, tenant organisations and activists, and policymakers are invited to attend.

Venue

Mitchell Theatre, Sydney Mechanics School of Arts, Level 1, 280 Pitt Street, Sydney (5 minutes' walk from Town Hall and Museum stations, nearest cross streets are Bathurst and Park streets). Click here for a map.

Time

9.00 am to 4.00 pm, Thursday 2 July 2009. Check-in on the day of the conference opens at 8.00 am.

Registration

For a registration form, click here.

Registrations close on June 26.

Calling all community activists! School for Citizens at CPD

Ever wanted to know how to influence decision-makers about an issue that matters to you or your community? Are you somewhat baffled by the policy process? Want to know what really goes on inside the mysterious policy-making factory?

The Centre for Policy Development's (CPD) School for Citizens is a new workshop designed to help community groups, non-government organisations and not-for-profits better understand AND affect policy processes.

With short tutorials from media professionals, government staffers and social activist and policy expert Eva Cox, the School for Citizens will give community activists and change agents a basic understanding of the policy cycle and the skills needed to put forward their ideas for change.

The first School for Citizens workshop will be held on Friday May 22, 2009 at the Sydney Mechanic School for Arts - Level 1, 280 Pitt Street, Sydney. Applications open now – places limited! Applications close May 9, 2009 at 5pm.

Visit http://cpd.org.au/events/school-citizens for more information or contact schoolforcitizens@cpd.org.au for an application form. Also be sure to pass this email on to any friends or colleagues you know that could benefit from an insight into the world of policy.

The Centre for Policy Development's School for Citizens – your ideas can change Australia

everybody needs an artist

noreply@blogger.com (Bill George) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 03:32:00 +0000

BILL+GEORGE NEWS APRIL 2009
SO HOT RIGHT NOW
Brand new funky studio moves

Bill+George was left naked of artists this month when good fortune befell our favourite son Ben Riding and he took his boyish good looks back to the western frontier in preparation for a 6 month stint in Europe. Coinciding with others downsizing into shared space and the building of a new studio at the end means we have spaces available for your inspection and interest.

Details are:

small studio $250 per month

large studio: $800 per month

Writers and online media creative workers: 200 per month

Studio rent includes all utilities, waste removal services, wireless internet and general upkeep and maintenance of the building.

Bill+George was discovered by a collective of homeless artists having lost their beloved wedding circle gallery and studio space in May 2006. Bill+George was stumbled across as a derelict unhygienic warehouse with no plumbing or electricity. It took a bank loan through a generous friend and lots of wall building and steep learning curves over a 12 month period to get where we are today - 12 artists working across fashion design, performance, writing, visual arts, digital media and film making. And one very pretty Tango dancer.

Being an artist run space, rents are kept low in exchange for a flexible work environment. We sometimes hold events like film screenings or performance nights or rehearsals in the main space. We aim for a balance between a studious and professional work space where people earn a living, and bending the rules a little bit in the spirit of good looking conversation; a space where new ideas and collaborations can take off.

We share kitchen and meeting space, a ridiculously oversized and decked out bathroom, and feature big barn doors that open up onto to next doors Argentinean like vista. All in the heart of Redfern, fast becoming the next hot inner city hamlet (for wankers) The above spaces are also very hot and will fast be disappearing. So send an email with details about your practice, how many days a week you work, what kind of sounds you make while you work, and how big your commitment is and which space you have your beady eyes on.
EMAIL: INFO [AT] BILLANDGEORGE.ORG

LEAVING US SHAKING
Kiss club
So we had some kissing action at last months KISS CLUB curated by our favourite performance provok-couture Kaz Therese. Alarmingly beautiful performative encounters by local kids Alexandra Harrison, Ahil Ratnomohan, Martin delAmo and interstate galactic stellar show offs by melbournians Anna Leizbit, and Sivan Gabriellavich. Thanks also to Anne Maree Daziel who shared stories in conversation with Kaz Therse where we learnt how milking cos can lead to great things in Campbelltown Art Center (THE VERY BEST THINGS IN FACT)
Watch this space: more kissing to come

OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GIFTED AND TALENTED
Check these hot offers out if you are young and emerging.
(If you are slow and stagnant, forgettaboutiiiitttt)

Runway submissions: April 15
Emerging Producers Mentorship: April 17
Splendid ArtsLab: May 4
Nighttime Petty Theft proposals: May 4
First draft proposals: May 15

Splendid: Call for Artists
Can you develop an idea that will inspire thousands?
Apply now for our 2009 Splendid Arts Lab.

Splendid 2009 is seeking agents of creative change for 3 weeks of bending art forms and collaboration to create new works for 2010 Splendour in the Grass festival. Splendid is a residential arts laboratory for those interested in cross-artform practice, designed to allow for a diverse range of artists to intersect, exchange and unfold ideas.

Splendid is open to young and emerging artists (under 30 years or in the first 5 years of their practice) who work in the visual arts, theatre, dance, design, installation, architecture, digital media, sound, text, community arts and other creative pursuits.

Applications due: 4pm Monday 4 May 2009
Arts Lab: 20 July to 7 August, 2009
Commission proposals: February 2010
Splendour Installation: July 2010

To apply visit www.splendid.org.au and download the guidelines, selection criteria and application form.

Emerging Producer Mentorships
10 mentorships for emerging producers, agents, gallery dealers and rights managers available through the Australia Council for the Arts opportunities for young and emerging artists program.
For a period of 18 months the selected candidates will have the opportunity to work directly alongside one of the following industry leaders:
The Arts Centre, Melbourne, Vic.
Arts Projects Australia, Adelaide, SA
Desart, Alice Springs, NT
Fremantle Press, Perth, WA
Marguerite Pepper Productions, Sydney, NSW
Object - Australian Centre for Craft and Design Sydney, NSW
Performance Space, Sydney, NSW
Ten Days on the Island, Hobart, Tas.
Text Publishing, Melbourne, Vic.
Woodford Folk Festival, Qld

Applications close 5pm 17 April, 2009.
Mentorships will commence June 2009.

Performance Space presents: Nighttime PETTY THEFT
Call for short works to be presented at Carriageworks on June 19
Check out the website for more detail or download the pdf here
DEADLINE: MAY 4

RUNWAY
CALL FOR PROPOSALS: ISSUE 14 | FUTURES

runway is an independent, not-for-profit publication managed by a group of Sydney-based artists, writers and curators. runway supports and presents practices that are experimental, conceptually driven and community based; and promotes and encourages critical dialogue within the local art community. An integral component of runway is the themed artist pageworks section, which encourages artists to conceptualise new projects within the published format.

We are now calling for proposals and submissions for ISSUE 14 | FUTURES.
runway accepts submissions from contemporary visual artists, writers and curators. Emerging and early career practitioners are particularly encouraged to submit. Submissions should address the theme of the issue, however lateral approaches to the theme are encouraged.

DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS FROM WRITERS: Wednesday April 15.
DEADLINE FOR FINAL SUBMISSIONS FROM WRITERS AND ARTISTS: Wednesday May 13.

PLEASE NOTE: there are two deadlines for this issue. The first deadline is for writers proposing to submit feature articles, interviews, reviews and other critical texts. The second is the deadline for the approved proposals for writing, and for final submissions from artists.

For more information and to download submission guidelines please go to www.runway.org.au/contribute

Firstdraft call for proposal
Firstdraft is currently accepting proposals for its Exhibition, Emerging Artist Studio and Emerging Curators Programs for the second half of 2009. 
Emerging Curators Program: • A three-week exhibition in the whole gallery (including promotion and opening costs) • Access to and assistance with Firstdraft's equipment and resources • Funding and assistance for the production of a small catalogue to accompany the show and towards curatorial costs 
Exhibition: • Exhibition proposals are invited from individuals and groups, artists and curators

Emerging Artist Studio Program: • A studio space on the ground floor of Firstdraft for eleven weeks • A three-week exhibition at Firstdraft upon completion of the program
For more information please download application forms at http://www.firstdraftgallery.com/050%20Information/004%20Forms/index.html
or email mail@firstdraftgallery.com
Applications for the new Firstdraft/Runway Emerging Writers Program will be available shortly.
Applications close: 6pm Friday 15 May 2009 ___________________________________________________________  CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
Firstdraft is currently looking for enthusiastic volunteers to join our dynamic team. Volunteering is a fantastic way to gain experience working in a gallery, looks great on your resume, shows initiative and will provide you with new skills and an increased insight into the contemporary arts community.  As a not-for-profit, independent artist-run gallery for emerging artists and curators we provide a space for a diverse range of practices and projects. As well as the ongoing exhibition program, our current projects include the Emerging Curator program, an on-site Studio program, and an Artists Talks series.  Firstdraft is run by a board of artists and curators on a volunteer basis and has done so, with a rotating directorship, for 23 years. Current directors are Di Smith, Kelly Doley, Cy Norman, Will French, Connie Anthes, Debbie Pryor, Kate Scardifield and Jessica Tyrrell.  If you would like to get involved or for more information, please contact Grace Archibald, Firstdraft Volunteer Coordinator, at grace@firstdraftgallery.com
___________________________________________________________
Firstdraft 116-118 Chalmers St, Surry Hills NSW 2010 t: +61 (0)2 9698 3665 e: mail@firstdraftgallery.com http://www.firstdraftgallery.com
Firstdraft opening hours: Wednesday to Saturday 12-6pm
  Firstdraft is supported by Arts NSW and the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body.  Firstdraft is supported by Bristol.  Firstdraft is a non-profit gallery run on a voluntary basis by a group of practising artists. It is one of the longest running and most successful artist-run initiatives in Australia. Firstdraft asserts the importance of contemporary art production, dissemination and discussion in society, providing a stimulating exhibition space that is professional and accessible for a diverse range of artistic practices and projects.

2009Splendid_CallOut.pdf

Pettytheftcallout.pdf

built in obsolescence

noreply@blogger.com (Bill George) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 22:27:00 +0000

This city is an aspirant whore. She is a bridled saxon copulating in the native south. She is replete with adultery and bad breath, from sucking so much cockney, hence forth she bends over, backwards, she tumbles ass over tit, filth and swine.

Syderney. 2009.

STUDIO SPACE AVAILABLE NOW

noreply@blogger.com (Bill George) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 04:47:00 +0000

GANG RE:PUBLIK SYNDYE LAUNCH!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Bill George) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:48:00 +0000

Hey kids - sunday afternoon book launch. 5PM 7TH DECEMBER

MOVEMBER

noreply@blogger.com (Bill George) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 14:43:00 +0000

It’s hair lip for some, and Tom Selleck to others (HOT 80’s private eye) - word up to the men doing it for health bits this MOW-VEMBER. Some seriously ugly moustaches parading around Sydney at the moment.

Other news: We are so proud of Bill and George crew member Rhoda and her team at Little and Loud. www.littleandloud.org

Little and Loud is currently focused on supporting Fote Primary School in the Solomon Islands. Please check out their stories, videos and photos, donate and spread the word! News.com.au feature on them: http://www.news.com.au/adoptavillage

ARTSLAB is hurtling towards the tail end of its occupancy and hence towards something something fabulous. Its called Keepin it Smoochy Smoocy. AKA KISS CLUB. DECEMBER 5. Stay tuned for excitement (and more details)

::SPECIAL EVENTS AT BILL + GEORGE::

Gang Re:publik Book Launching

SUNDAY DECEMBER 7. Live Music. Food and Drinks. 5PM

gang re:Publik (indonesia-australia creative adventures)

Gang Re:publik is a brand new anthology of creative exchange from Indonesia and Australia with 200 pages of previously unpublished essays, stories, conversations and illustrations from over 40 fabulous contributors. Edited by Alexandra Crosby, Rebecca Conroy, Suzan Piper, Jan Cornall

((Gang Festival and creative exchange is an artist-led initiative celebrating the deep links between Indonesian and Australian community arts. Gang Festival takes as its theme the Indonesian word for alleyway. It straddles a dual reference to small roads and particular social groupings; it refers to the space betwixt and between more permanent and conventional roads and roles. In Indonesian communities, ‘gang’, forms a critical artery in Kampung culture, where local trade and communities thrive in close proximity to one another. Gangs also evoke images of crevices, margins, and a rich density of peripheral culture. We also draw from the English meaning of the word to describe an exciting cross-cultural collaboration between a large number of art workers who situate their work on the margins of commercial art practice in Australia and Indonesia.))

UTP RESIDENCY

noreply@blogger.com (Bill George) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:58:00 +0000

Urban Theatre Projects (Bankstown)

Check out the call for residency applications!

intersection09.pdf

peepin & squeakin

noreply@blogger.com (Bill George) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 09:45:00 +0000

Today was Peep Show Chippendale. We lifted our skirts for approximately 40 strangers. And showed them our underbelly - actually we just poured them cups of tea and offered them scones with cream and Jam. And then they looked in zine library while several people danced the tango. How lovely. Thanks to Sami and James at Queen Street for making it possible!! Now we best be getting off to the street party.....

xxx

08.08.08

noreply@blogger.com (Bill George) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 11:27:00 +0000

Lets imagine that it’s the 8^th of the 8^th month in 2008 and we got this web news out in time.

Instead we were probably stitching up a fabulous meeting with the next round of artSlab-ists who we are proud to announce are: Performance making duo Kaz Therese and Lizzie Thompson; and visual artists Skye Gibson and Claire Conroy. Together these creative ventures will collude and cross fertilise occasionally, trading and sharing ideas as they work on their respective projects in the space. WELCOME!

CHIPPENDALE IS HAVING A PEEP SHOW

On the 19th October the creative skeletons of chippendale will open up to the public for a tour of spaces and industries in a crafty murketing slash networking slash community exercise. Part of Art and About (City of Sydney), Peep show has been in development for some time, taking in ideas from collaborating organs and artists about how to show off and start some serious conversations about getting networked and robust in a local economy kind of way. Bill and George are taking part even though we do straddle the fringe of chippendale, but we still feel a kind of ethnic heritage to the area from the wedding circle days and when Gang festival first roamed the laneways of chippo way back when....so stay posted and tuned.

UPDATE ON FRASERS

Errr....there is none...errr

UPDATE ON UPDATES

Bill and George is still trying to put up its curtains. If anyone knows anyone with some spare tab tracks lying around, pray tell....

Our dream of getting a version of a sprung floor has just taken a gigantic leap forward with news of some dedicated sponsorship. We will announce this when the details are locked in. Suffice to say we are elated. And so are many dancing knees across Sydney. But particularly Hosi's knees, which we can hear squealing with joy right now.

POSTS POSTS AND POSTS: exciting things moving

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JURA BOOKS – POSTER DESIGNS NEEDED!

Calling all imaginative and talented artists and activists! Could you or someone you know create a political poster that can stand alongside the great political posters of the past, and is also meaningful and relevant to the future?

Jura Books is looking for artists of all ages, styles and levels of experience to submit entries for a political poster design competition. The general theme of the poster should be to explore some aspect of the past 30 years of radical struggle in Sydney, and/or imagine what you would like the world to look like in 30 years time. The poster must also celebrate Jura Books in some way - past, present and/or future, and include our name and website (or street address) somewhere on the poster.

Jura Books has been operating as a centre for social change and innovation for 30 years, and we currently combine a bookshop, library, food co-op and organising space. Over the years we have supported a vast range of political collectives and struggles - feminist, youth, enviro, art, publishing, workers control, and many more. We have put on hundreds of events, from film nights and punk gigs to political actions and worker organising conferences. Jura is also home to one of Australia's best political poster archives. (check out images and more about our politics on our website).

The poster design competition is about commemorating this history, and also building towards an even better future. The entries will be exhibited at Jura and we will produce 1000 copies of the winning design. The winner will also receive a book prize pack valued at $100, as well as the satisfaction of helping a worthwhile cause, and eternal fame/notoriety. The winning design will also be used to help promote and raise money to improve Jura and the political poster archive.

Posters Due before 30th September

Design Size: A2 (59.4cm x 42cm)

For the more info: http://www.jura.org.au/node/728

The Jura Collective

440 Parramatta Rd, Petersham

www.jura.org.au

9550 9931

Opening hours:

Thursday 11am-7pm / Friday 11am-7pm /

Saturday 12pm-5pm / Sunday 12pm-5pm

JURA Books currently stocks all 3 Breakdown Press Poster Series!

Abandoned city buildings/city buildings - we abandon

noreply@blogger.com (Bill George) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:55:00 +0000

"Artist collectives do not make objects - they make changes. They make situations, opportunities, realizations, understandings. They work to keep the experience of art collective, rather than ceding all territory to solipsistic reverie and the reification of investment capital." Alan Moore, Collectivity in Modern Art.

"Is everyone taking crazy Pills??" Mugatu, Zoolander.

And so we gathered in the hearth to lend our eyes and ears to the work of Ben Riding as he wraps up his ArtSlab residency and launches into his next big thing: The Linden Project in Melbourne.

A very big thanks to all the artists that participated in ArtSlab #1 and #2 and to Ben for his insightful presentation on the work he is doing with LAUNCHart on sites/happenings in abandoned buildings. (watch this space for announcement of the artSlab#3 residency artists)

Perhaps it was a happy coincidence, or merely the interference from unreal estate signs cluttering our brains, that this talk created an opening of its own into more practical issues to do with site. And the question of whether to install artworks in abandoned buildings - or perhaps take our art and abandon the city buildings altogether (and run for the hills)

These questions emerge in the midst of an interesting proposal from property developer Frasers Greencliff for artists to occupy a warehouse on the fringe of their CUB development site (Kensington St Chippendale to be precise).....for FREE (eyes roll to back of head, temporary loss of balance).

The Carlton United Brewery site is a veritable suburb at 6 ha., and in the age of carbon footprints represents an opportunity to do things differently. Or at least try out a new marketing approach. And so Frasers have been chatting with City of Sydney about bringing artists onto their slab of land as both a gesture towards the City of Sydney's 2030 cultural plan, and in response to more global conversations taking place about the creative economy and the rise and rise of knowledge-based industries. Oh and Melbourne's laneways.

Conversations about Melbourne and its laneways reached a feverish pitch around the time the NSW liquor licensing came up for much needed revision. Hole-in-the-wall conversations became urgent as we suddenly realised that ridiculously oversized flat screen TV's mounted above our heads were distracting us with way too much Rugby and Channel V, while we tried to have a conversation with another human being. That and the pokies, the exodus of live music, prohibitively expensive licensing fees and draconian laws slapped onto low impact spaces. Melburnians must think we are idiots for putting up with this.

Meanwhile, artist run spaces have continued to spring up and down in the city, defying these silly laws, and in the process we have created some pretty cool stuff. But have we taken time to really reflect on the possibilities, and imagine the reality of where the global economy is taking us? We seem to be losing our fight with the invisible barons of real estate. Our wing and a prayer approach of lurching from one demolished warehouse to another in waiting is quite frankly running out of steam. And shine. Our little red caboose, running on the smell of an oily rag, may sadly be destined for a train museum. Carriageworks? Mmm, nup. I don't think we can afford that. Errr... is there anywhere else we 'creative types' can play? (I hear that lounge rooms in cosy overpriced terrace houses will do for rehearsals and devising new works...)

So as we enter the age of 'creative knowledge and innovation', perhaps we should ask what sorts of spaces does this industry really require. As Neil Armfield asked one rainy evening at Town Hall:

“Who is looking after the breeding grounds, the grasses at the end of the creek where you find the little fish feeding, the place from which a culture can grow with safety and strength?”

Perhaps it is artists themselves who should look after their breeding grounds. Perhaps we need to do things that ensure our ecosystems are robust and sprightly. And maybe these are opportunities for us to talk to one another about how we would imagine a city we could survive in. Instead of one where we scramble for the last crumbs off the table, the last warehouse in the city, or stare perplexed at the last empty monument to 'Art'.

Its vitally important that artists are looking after the breeding ground because it means we have a sense of confidence and autonomy over the circumstances in which we create our work, try out new ideas, spread our wings and take flight on some fanciful caper. And to exercise the kind of decision making which is so crucial to the creation of new work and new ideas, new directions.

ArtSlab is an idea + space for brewing creative collaborative adventures; driven by hope and desire. Hopefully through these encounters, the desire for survival can latch onto a thread of strength and optimism. And our crazy ideas can breathe life into this city, instead of medicating us with impossible market realities and speculative real estate scandals.

Is everyone taking crazy pills?

artslab show off this Tuesday, the 22nd July

noreply@blogger.com (Rhoda) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 06:35:00 +0000

Bill+George would like to invite you to our artslab show off starring resident Artist Laboratorist Ben Riding TUESDAY 22ND JULY 630PM.

Ben will show off his site specific project "The Linden Project". We will then segue smoothly into a free range facilitated discussion about disused and underused sites in the city, including some references to the Fraser's Broadway project which you may have heard about in some rumored form or another.

To be followed by a refreshing glass of wine and general chit chat.

Would be great to see everyone who is interested in space/site and this city come along and contribute to discussion!!!

xxx
the crew at bng

Bill and George are so hot right now.

noreply@blogger.com (Rhoda) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:33:00 +0000

Actually we are very cold in our artic warehouse, but new theatre curtains in our rehearsal space should warm things up a bit. They have arrived (finally) and will be rigged in our beautiful space by the end of next week. A round of applause.

What else….?

artSlab DEADLINE EXTENDED until the 15th July. Check out the projects page for details. If you are an artist working in collaborative practice in any medium/discipline and need space with an exciting project then you probably need to apply. Talk to us!

THE LOBBY
We have decided to open up our lobby space to exhibitions and viewings of work. Our launch date is in November (we are sooo organised) but we will keep you posted as the date looms closer. But this is exciting as we are now riding the crest of the artistic wave, now that the establishment/building phase is but a distant memory. The focus on the viewing space (to be called The Lobby) is for artists with not a lot of money (that’s most of us) or time (that’s all of us) to mount a modest sized exhibition in a DIY fashion, ie. Do it Yourself. We can offer a prepped space of 4 walls approx 35m2 and host your opening. All for 200 bucks for two weeks. Sweet huh! The launch is pitched for the 7th November and will be a group show of all the Bill+Georgeous people in the space. Stay very tuned.

BROADWAY FRASERS
We have inadvertently become part of rumblings on Kensington street near the old CUB site. Plans to hold a preliminary gathering/information evening at Bill and George towards the middle of July to discuss possibilities of how his should go ahead. If you have queries/interest please contact bek at bek@billandgeorge.org

EL LOCAL
Tango lovers will be going loco when they find out that we are launching the first of a regular milonga at bill and george on the 15th July. To be known as ‘El Local’ the gig promises sweet dancing for tango dancers of all types 9pm til the wee hours.

We're online!

noreply@blogger.com (Rhoda) — Sun, 11 May 2008 10:40:00 +0000

Wow wowowoowowoo hoo!!!
Bill and George have finally arrived in cyberspace, taking their brand free new space to the information superhighway. Here you can find out what the hell we are on about and send us messages of love and adulation.

But first: this weeks musings

Our friends from Aerialize together with the very gorgeous Liz Martin and the god dammit child prodigies Bridzilla are performing in an aerial club night at the studio Opera house on May 16 & 17 called “Walking on Air”. Check them out here

And book tickets as soon as you finish reading this sentence because one show has already sold out, and they are only doing two. STOP PRESS: Oh my goodness it is all sold out! BUT don’t worry, they are providing an extra show for the desperate ones that missed out. Double woop.

ALSO our very special and most favourites friends and cohorts from Queens street studios are having their annual space aid art auction on May 17. Rsvp essential!! Visit here. We are comrades in arms so any support for them is support for us too!

By George!! Said the City of Sydney to Bill and George and they invited us to submit a proposal for the laneways project in the city called, By George! Only four projects will be chosen in the end and so we have been bunkered down in our creative think tanks (undisclosed location) to dream up an alternative universe that can be executed on the streets without going over budget or overtly stepping on political toes. Tough call. But we are energised by lots of ideas and hope to draw on a number of our associate artists who have been part of our work in various ways over the years. How excitement.

In other news, Ruby and Bubbles are getting bigger.

And yes, Bek (who recently sleep walked out her first storey bedroom window on the morning of her 34th birthday) has only got another 39 sleeps to go before she can walk without the aid of her Frida Kahlo vest and matching crutches. At which point she will run like Forest Gump around the world several times and grow a beard. Presently she remains wide awake and (still) dreaming.