ARTISTS FAQ
When is the next festival?
On Thursday 12 March the major exhibition launch will take place at Nishi Gallery in NewActon, proceeded by the Melting Pot jam experience at Albert Hall on Friday 13 March. On Saturday 14th Art, Not Apart Festival takes place 1pm-7pm at NFSA, Shine Dome and NewActon, and that evening Sound and Fury presents the performance art afterparty at Albert Hall. Sunday 15th March brings the tech-yes day party to Albert Hall.
WHAT IS THE 2020 THEME?
2020 theme: Today I, Tomorrow You
Art, Not Apart invites artists to respond to this theme, and to celebrate the 10th anniversary festival. For inspiration and ideas, see the artist provocation on page 3 of the Information for Artists PDF.
AS AN ARTIST, HOW DO I GET INVOLVED IN THE 2020 FESTIVAL?
Applications for the 2020 festival closed on the 14th November 2019. The festival is primarily applications-based and, as the name suggests, aims for inclusion. To hear about applications opening for 2020, please subscribe on the home page.
WHEN WILL I GET A RESPONSE TO MY PROPOSAL?
All applicants will receive a response in December.
In-principle funding support can be pledged to leverage other funding sources for 2021. To do this, just email [email protected]
AS AN ARTIST, DO I NEED INSURANCE?
If you are volunteering to the festival, we have insurance to cover you. If you are receiving money for your time, an agreement will require your own insurances. If this is confusing or bewildering, talk to the team.
CAN I PRESENT POLITICAL ART?
This is a site-specific arts festival in Canberra. Absolutely.
CAN MY ART BE OFFENSIVE OR FOR MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY?
Yes. Protections and advice to audiences will be developed by the festival to ensure audiences are aware of offensive or mature works. Curators will deny unjustifiably distasteful work, but the agency of the artist is important and this is not a kids’ event. Children are welcome and will be well catered for (there’s a fabulous kids area), but they are not the target audience for many works.
HOW DO I CHARGE FOR ARTIST FEES IN MY PROPOSAL?
Artists should be fairly paid for their work. Just like a grant application, you can charge for fees using the relevant union standards such as those of NAVA or LPA. Variations are fine but should be explained. Please note that the chance to sell works may compensate for fees in some cases. In reviewing your application we will be considering these variables.
For those apply under the Visual Art stream, funding is awarded twofold – a fee for participation and expenses to support development. As such payments are tailored to the individual or group’s place in our unique festival.
1. Your fee is based on if your work is for sale, the duration of your exhibition and if it is new or existing work.
2. Your expenses are proposed by you, having calculated your material costs, transport and if the work is made new for the show (i.e. time spent).
DO I INCLUDE PRODUCTION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS IN MY PROPOSAL?
All production requirements should be listed in your proposal unless it will already be there. Funding extensions are rarely able to be granted, so be clear from the start.
If you are requesting to be in a production environment promised in the Details page, you do not need to include production costs in the funding request. For example, if you are requesting to present a music and painting show on the Courtyard Stage, expect cost-free sound gear but include the costs of paint. If you have unusual sound requirements, just mention them.
If you require production or infrastructure where there may not be any, those costs must be included in your requested funding. Experienced estimations are fine to begin and the festival team will coordinate requirements and minimise costs. We’re here to realise artists’ goals, no matter how peculiar or ambitious.
CAN I SELL ART AT THE FESTIVAL? AND IS THERE A COMMISSION ON SALES?
All accepted projects can be sold on the day and can be listed online for sale via our website’s new festival marketplace (you remain responsible for sales). Where minimal funding is requested, no commission is charged and sales are the responsibility of the artist, or the Nishi Gallery exhibition (30% commission and sales are facilitated).
IS THE FESTIVAL ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE?
Yes. All areas of the event are wheelchair friendly, seating is abundant, most of it is free, there are kids-focused areas and people of all backgrounds should find works of interest. If you or a friend have specific accessibility requirements, please email the festival in advance. Art should not be apart from anyone and we will make all efforts to ensure this philosophy is realised.
WHAT IF IT RAINS ON THE DAY OF THE FESTIVAL?
Only parts of the festival are wet-weather ready. Three days before the event, a decision will be made to continue, cancel some parts of the event or delay the entire program. In the event of cancelation, or delay to a date unsuitable for some artists, the artists will receive the funding that was pledged. This has not happened in our eight-year history, but you’re still not allowed to rain dance.
CAN I BRING PETS?
Yes! Kindly note the following conditions:
- Only service animals are permitted in the indoor festival venues. This includes the Courtyard Stage. You won’t see all of the art if you are limited to outdoor areas, but maybe you can juggle leads with friends.
- The festival reserves the right to refuse entry to any animal that is perceived as a safety concern or annoyance. Please don’t bring any animal that may become aggressive, annoying or loud.
- Some areas of the festival are loud and dog’s ears are sensitive, so please be mindful of where you take them.
DOES MY PROPOSAL NEED TO INCLUDE A PRESENTATION OF WORK ON 14 MARCH 2020?
Yes, however funding for development or materials is not solely for ANA 2019. Proposals that leverage festival funding for future development or presentation are welcome, so long as a well-considered project is presented on the day. Proposals can also be for future years, but would need presentation in the festival of that nominated year.
I’M NOT AN ‘ARTIST’ – CAN I APPLY?
Yes. All projects that further the theme in a creative way will be considered, no matter your background.
CAN I VOLUNTEER AT THE FESTIVAL?
We’d love you to. Bringing ANA to fruition is a big task and needs lots of skills. If you have some, or want to learn some, apply to be a Volunteer. We will do our best to fit you into the right part of the team. This could involve artist coordination, production assistance, marketing assistance, regulatory compliance for artists’ crazy ideas, invigilating exhibitions, carpentry or – the most needed – assisting on the day. We’ll feed you, dress you in a red smock, talk to you and thank you. And help however else we can.
