‘Looking to the Future’ - Bicentenary of NSW Legislative Council Two-Dimensional Art Commission

Key information

Status: Closed

Commission amount:

• Up to five shortlisted artists to be paid $1,000 fee each to develop concepts.
• $100,000 awarded to the selected artist to develop their concept into a completed and installed visual artwork. 

Applications open: 20 September 2023

Applications close: 5pm, 19 October 2023

Program Overview

About the EOI

Expression of Interest (EOI) submissions are now open to NSW-based Aboriginal visual arts practitioners to create a two-dimensional artwork in response to the Bicentenary of the NSW Legislative Council.

The Bicentenary of the NSW Legislative Council falls in August 2024, marking 200 years since the newly established Council sat for the first time in August 1824. The Bicentenary is more than just an important milestone for the Council – it's a celebration of two centuries of evolving democracy for Australia.

The commissioning of this artwork is an important part of the Bicentenary activities. The artwork will be unveiled during a dedicated event in October 2024 and then be prominently displayed within the parliamentary precinct to serve as a long-lasting reminder of the ongoing efforts to strengthen and enhance the relationship between the Parliament and NSW Aboriginal people.

Create NSW will manage the EOI process on behalf of the Legislative Council.

Commission Guidelines

The commissioning of this artwork is an important part of the Bicentenary activities that will distinguish Aboriginal worldviews and explore the relationship between Aboriginal communities and Parliament. The Bicentenary of the Legislative Council is an opportunity to reflect, celebrate and imagine. The two-dimensional work will have a future facing theme incorporating a spirit of reconciliation and responding to the question “where do we want to be in another 200 years?”.

The mediums considered will be painting, drawing or mixed media. The commission will measure no less than 2.5m x 2.5m. Photography, sculpture and electronic media will not be considered.

The commission will be owned by NSW Parliament and be displayed within the public exhibition and foyer spaces, accessed from Macquarie Street. The work will be displayed alongside other permanent and temporary works that are non-political and of a high curatorial and artistic standard. Works displayed in the public exhibition and foyer spaces must be suitable for the broad public audience that moves through the space. Public audiences range from young school children through to adult members of the community, official guests, and members of Parliament. Works on permanent display within the foyer spaces include large portraits of former monarchs and the painting The Founding of Australia.

The exhibition spaces include:

• The Fountain Court: A major thoroughfare of the building where wall-mounted artworks are displayed
• The Reconciliation Wall: A section of the Fountain court exhibition space dedicated to displaying works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and organisations. The space reflects the Parliament’s commitment to reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The Fountain Court and the Reconciliation Wall temporarily host works that are ordinarily rotated monthly, have some connection to NSW communities and celebrate the work of community artists and organisations. These spaces are accessible free of charge to members of the public five days per week. More information. 

The exhibition space also includes the walls on which the Parliament’s collection and items on loan from other institutions are on long-term display.

Aboriginal artists are encouraged to visit the space and consider how their work would respond to this unique environment.

Bicentenary of the Legislative Council Art Commission

The value of the commission is $100,000 excl. GST. This budget includes framing and delivery of the work by the artist.

Key Dates

Eligibility 

Artists must identify as Aboriginal, reside in NSW and be an Australian citizen or permanent resident. Artists are required to confirm Aboriginal heritage, connection to clan or country, and affiliations.

Cultural and Intellectual Protocol, Support and Rights

Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property

"Based on the right to self-determination, Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) rights are Indigenous People’s rights to their heritage and culture. Heritage includes all aspects of cultural practices, traditional knowledge, and resources and knowledge systems developed by Indigenous people as part of their Indigenous identity. ICIP rights also cover literary, performing and artistic works, languages, types of knowledge, including spiritual knowledge, tangible and intangible cultural property, Indigenous ancestral remains and genetic material, cultural environmental resources, sites of Indigenous significance and documentation of Indigenous heritage." Source.

First Nations artists who are commissioned to develop a concept or final work will be asked to demonstrate that they have appropriate approval to use any First Nations knowledge, stories or other cultural elements contained in their work. The EOI Assessment Panel* will include First Nations arts assessors with extensive experience and artistic and cultural peer recognition who will have capacity to assess the appropriateness of such cultural approval.

NSW Aboriginal Arts & Culture Protocols   

Create NSW acknowledges cultural business through the NSW Aboriginal Arts & Cultural Protocols in support of a strong and vibrant Aboriginal cultural sector. Create NSW supports the priorities of First Nations self-determination, cultural integrity and agency while continuing the management, maintaining and preservation of their arts and cultural practices.  

The NSW Aboriginal Arts and Culture Protocols is a best practice guide for all artists, groups and organisations that have Aboriginal cultural content within their projects/programs.  

There are five principles:  

1. Cultural Authority and Agency  

• Where does the ownership lie within the project/program and who controls the direction that the project/program takes? 

2. Recognising Rights and Maintaining Culture  

• Are the rights of people being acknowledged and protected?  

3. Prior Informed Consent and Consultation  

• Are Aboriginal people being engaged in the right way and are their wishes being observed?  

4. Integrity of Aboriginal Culture  

• Is cultural knowledge and information being respected and managed in the right way?  

5. Attribution and Sharing Benefits  

• Are the right people getting the benefits? 

The NSW Aboriginal Arts and Culture Protocols have been developed as a living document, Create NSW will continue to work with the NSW Aboriginal arts and cultural sector to update the protocols to remain current and ensuring continual growth. Read the Protocols. 

Cultural Applicant Support

Create NSW and the NSW Parliament will ensure Aboriginal staff are available to artists to provide support for the duration of the commission. Create NSW staff will also be available to guide artists responding to the EOI. If you would like to speak to an Aboriginal officer please email alo@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Shortlisted artists will be briefed by Create NSW staff and the Parliament’s staff including the Senior Aboriginal Liaison Officer to aid in the development of their concept designs.

The selected artist/s will be able to liaise with the Parliament’s Senior Aboriginal Liaison Officer and Create NSW staff during the design development phase to support the development of the artwork. 

Selection Process and Criteria

Commission Selection

All entries will be assessed by an Assessment Panel, consisting of Firsts Nations arts assessors nominated by Create NSW and representatives of NSW Parliament, to develop a shortlist of five artists invited to develop concept designs. All applicants will be contacted via email to confirm the outcome of their submission. The panel will select the artist/s to develop a two-dimensional artwork in response to the selection criteria outlined below.

Selection Process

There will be a two-step process to select artists for the Bicentenary of the NSW Legislative Council Art Commission. This opportunity is open only to Aboriginal artists. Artists are required to confirm Aboriginal heritage, connection to clan or country, and affiliations.

STEP ONE

Artists make a submission to this public EOI via SmartyGrants to be considered for the Commission. The EOI will be open for four weeks and strictly closes at 5pm on 19 October 2023. The selection panel will recommend up to five successful artists to be placed on a shortlist. Late applications will not be accepted.

When applying, artists should consider Create NSW Aboriginal Arts and Cultural Protocols and Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property in relation to culturally sensitive information, stories, and motifs. 

EOI Selection Criteria 

As part of the initial EOI, artists are not required to submit a proposal or concept and any submitted concepts will not be considered by the panel. Applications will be assessed against the criteria outlined below. Each application is assessed as a whole and rated against the criteria. The criteria are: 

• Artistic merit as evidenced by the material provided. 
• Previous exhibition experience. 
• Ability to provide the commission by the deadline. 
• Willingness to consult and collaborate with Legislative Council stakeholders. 

Applicants are to apply via the SmartyGrants portal on the Create NSW website.   

Create NSW Contact: danella.bennett@create.nsw.gov.au   

Applicants are to provide the following: 

1. A maximum 500-word response addressing the above criteria and detailing your interest in this commission. 
2. A maximum 300-word description of your current practice, experience, achievements, and career highlights as a professional practitioner. 
3. A maximum 300-word response outlining your willingness to work with stakeholders. 
4. A maximum 1-page CV, relevant to painting, drawing and/or mixed media. 
5. Five (5) relevant examples of your works submitted as a single PDF, including titles, dates of work, medium.

STEP TWO

Following the EOI and the selection of five shortlisted artists, the shortlisted artists will be invited to develop a preliminary concept and be paid a fee of $1,000 for submission of the concept. Create NSW and NSW Parliament staff including the Parliament’s Senior Aboriginal Liaison Officer will brief the artists and support the development of the concepts.

Based on the quality and appropriateness of the concept proposals, a successful artist/s will be selected by the Assessment Panel to create the artwork for the commission. 

Start your Expression of Interest application

Applicants are to apply via the SmartyGrants portal.  

Apply 

Create NSW Contact: Danella Bennett, Public Art Manager danella.bennett@create.nsw.gov.au   

Applicants are to provide the following: 

1. A maximum of 500-word limit response addressing the above criteria and detailing your interest in this commission. 
2. A maximum 300-word limit description of your current practice, experience, achievements, and career highlights as a professional practitioner. 
3. A maximum 300-word limit response outlining your willingness to work with stakeholders. 
4. A maximum 1-page CV, relevant to painting, drawing and/or mixed media. 
5. Five (5) relevant examples of your works submitted as a single PDF, include titles, dates of work, medium.

Applications close 5pm Thursday 19 October 2023. Late applications will not be accepted.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that this material is free from error and/or omission at the date of publication. The authors, publisher and any person involved in the preparation of this publication take no responsibility for loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action because of information contained herein.