18 January 2016

From Monday 4 January, 2016 Shepparton Art Museum will be accepting applications for the Australian Indigenous Ceramic Art Award (ICAA) 2016.

This $20,000 acquisitive prize is open to Indigenous groups and individual artists to propose an exhibition concept to realise at SAM in August 2016. Application can be downloaded from the SAM website www.sheppartonartmuseum.com.au/. Applications close Tuesday 15 March 2016.

In order to work more closely with the Indigenous community and provide better career development opportunities for Australian artists, the 2016 ICAA will follow the format of other significant Awards such as the Sidney Myer Fund Australia Ceramic Award. To assist artists and arts groups to create a new and dynamic body of proposed work, the five shortlisted applicants will receive $2,600 development fee to help support their new body of work. The exhibition opening and award announcement is due to take place on Saturday 6 August. Accompanying this event, SAM, in partnership with Gallery Kaiela, will host a Cultural Programs weekend on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 August 2016. This program will provide a skills and knowledge exchange opportunity for Indigenous artists from around Australia and regional Victoria.

SAM’s Acting Director, Dr Rebecca Coates, notes:

“The success of this important Award is in part based on the mutual exchange of ideas, stories, expertise and understanding. The other major ingredient of course is outstanding works of art. At SAM, we remain committed to supporting Indigenous artists to create ambitious and exciting new works and projects, either individually or as a group. We are excited to see what this edition of the ICAA 2016 brings forth.’

Image: 2014 ICAA 2nd Prize, Alison Milyika Carroll, Ngayuku Walka 2014 © the artist, photo by Jamie Durrant.

SAM is also committed to supporting professional development opportunities. The curatorial team for the ICAA Award 2016 will include SAM’s Curatorial Assistant: Indigenous Visual Arts Residency as part of the curatorial team for the ICAA Award 2016. This is a 12 month partnership position with Indigenous Partnerships, Creative Victoria.

Established under the patronage of acclaimed artist Dr Gloria Thanakupi Fletcher, this Award celebrates and supports the rich and diverse use of the ceramic medium by Indigenous artists and acknowledges the special industry of ceramic art. As an acquisitive award it contributes to the Art Museum’s significant holdings of Australian and International ceramic art.

The ICAA is developed in partnership with the Sir Andrew and Lady Fairley Foundation, Margaret Lawrence Bequest and Mr Allan Myers AO QC and is generously supported by Fairer Futures Fund / Australian Communities Foundation.

Important Dates:

For further information on how to apply, full terms and conditions and a history of the Award, please visit www.sheppartonartmuseum.com.au. All applications for the ICAA 2016 are to be sent via post and arrive no later than 15 March 2016.

For further information, print quality images of past Award winners, or to arrange interviews with SAM staff, please contact SAM Marketing Coordinator Gabriella Calandro on phone (03) 5832 9522 or email gabriella.calandro@shepparton.vic.gov.au.