Artspace Visual Arts Centre facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Artspace Sydney

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Location	Woolloomooloo, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Type	Contemporary art
Visitors	363,762 (2019)

Artspace, also known as Artspace Visual Arts Centre, is a special place in Sydney, Australia. It's an independent art centre that focuses on contemporary art, which means art made in our time. Artspace helps artists create new works and doesn't collect art like a traditional museum.

It is located in the old Gunnery Building in Woolloomooloo, right by Sydney Harbour. In December 2023, Artspace reopened after a big makeover. It now has more space for exhibitions and more free studios for artists.

History of Artspace

Artspace started in 1983. It was created by artists who wanted a different kind of gallery. They wanted a place to show new and experimental art. This was different from regular art galleries or big national museums.

Artspace aimed to support new ideas and practices in modern art and culture. It was a place for artists who were just starting their careers.

Artspace first opened in Surry Hills at 11 Randle Street. This building was a hat factory built in 1912. Sadly, a large fire destroyed it in 2023. The first big show there was called ‘A Different Perspective’. Many artists who later became famous showed their work there. These included Mikala Dwyer, Rosemary Laing, Lindy Lee, Banduk Marika, and Tracey Moffatt.

The Gunnery, 43-51 Cowper Wharf Road, Woolloomooloo

In 1992, Artspace moved to its current home, The Gunnery, in Woolloomooloo. This building is now a protected heritage site. It was first built for the The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper. Later, the government used it for defence until 1948. In the 1970s and early 1980s, artists used the building as a place to live and create art. They held studios, performances, and exhibitions there.

In 1989, the government wanted to sell The Gunnery. Artists protested this plan and saved the building from being torn down. In 1991, the government decided it should become an art centre. Artspace moved in the next year.

In 2015, Artspace received money to improve the ground floor of The Gunnery. This funding also helped create new art programs. These included the Ideas Platform, the Volume book fair, and free studio spaces for artists.

In 2021, Artspace began a big project to become an even better art centre. This included more exhibition spaces and more artist studios. It also aimed to connect better with Woolloomooloo and Sydney Harbour. The entrance to Artspace moved from Cowper Wharf Road to Forbes Street Plaza.

The project restored all three floors of The Gunnery. This created bigger galleries and more free studios. It also made the building easier for everyone to access. The ground floor now has more exhibition space. The first floor has new areas for education, outreach, and performances. Artspace reopened to the public in December 2023.

How Artspace Works

Artspace gets support from different government groups. These include the Visual Arts and Crafts Strategy and Create NSW. It is also helped by Creative Australia. Artspace is part of a group called Contemporary Art Organisations Australia.

Alexie Glass-Kantor became the executive director of Artspace in 2013.

Past Leaders

• Alexie Glass-Kantor (2013–present)
• Blair French (2006–13)
• Nicholas Tsoutas (1994–2005)
• Louise Pether (1992–94)
• Sally Couacaud (1988–1992)
• Gary Sangster (1984–87)
• Judy Annear (1982–83)

Art Exhibitions

Artspace has shown many important exhibitions over the years.

• Koori Art 84 in September 1984 was the first show to focus on new Aboriginal artists. Many of these artists were from cities. It featured artists like Banduk Marika and Michael Riley.
• TWO WORLDS COLLIDE: Cultural Convergence in Aboriginal and White Australia Art was shown in 1985. It explored how different cultures come together in art.
• Frames of Reference: Aspects of Feminism and Art in 1991 featured many female artists. It explored ideas about feminism in art.

Artspace Programs

Since 1983, Artspace has helped new and early-career artists. It also supports modern and experimental art. Each year, Artspace hosts many gallery projects and artist residencies. It also runs public programs and education activities. Artspace publishes journals and books about art.

Biennale of Sydney

Artspace has been a partner of the Biennale of Sydney since 1992. The Biennale is a big art festival that happens every two years. The first artists shown at Artspace for the Biennale were L. C. Armstrong, Julia Morison, and Perejaume.

Installation view of the 21st Biennale of Sydney, 2018

Recent Biennale shows at Artspace have included works by famous artists like Ai Weiwei and Ibrahim Mahama. The 23rd Biennale of Sydney, called rīvus, was shown in 2022. Artspace featured works by artists like Jumana Emil Abboud and Dineo Seshee Bopape.

Touring Exhibitions

Installation view of Just Not Australian at Artspace, 2019

Artspace also sends its exhibitions on tour around Australia. It works with Museums & Galleries of NSW to reach people in regional areas. These tours have visited places like Tweed Regional Gallery, Newcastle Art Gallery, and Wagga Wagga Art Gallery.

Artist Studios

Since 2015, Artspace has offered free studio spaces for artists. This is very rare in Australia. The One Year Studio Program provides ten free studios each year. Artists can use these spaces to try out new ideas and create new work.

Artists are chosen for the program through an open application process. Artspace staff and board members review the applications. The program helps artists connect with other artists and audiences. It also supports their careers for a long time.

2024 Studio Artists

• Brian Fuata
• David M Thomas
• Gemma Smith
• Jack Ball
• Jazz Money
• Julia Gutman
• Latai Taumoepeau
• Leyla Stevens
• Thea Anamara Perkins
• Tina Havelock Stevens

2020 One Year Studio Artists

Past Studio Artists

2020

• The Re-Right Collective (Dennis Golding and Carmen Glynn-Braun)
• Rainbow Chan
• Marion Abboud
• Seth Birchall
• Rochelle Haley
• Fiona Lowry
• TV Moore

2019

• Lauren Brincat
• Abdullah Syed Muhammad Iyhab
• Chris Dolman
• Jelena Telecki
• Club Ate (Bhenji Ra and Justin Shoulder)
• Salote Tawale
• Marian Tubbs

2018

• Snack Syndicate (Astrid Lorange and Andrew Brooks)
• Cybele Cox
• David Griggs
• Elizabeth Pulie
• Eugen Choi
• Heath Franco
• Matthew Griffin

2017

• Agatha Gothe Snape
• Justene Williams
• Keg de Souza
• Bianca Hester
• Karen Black
• Mason Kimber
• Tom Polo

2016

• Benjamin Forster
• Brown Council (Frances Barrett, Kate Blackmore, Diane Smith, Kelly Doley)
• Hossein Ghaemi
• Nell
• Koji Ryui
• Raquel Ormella
• Khaled Sabsabi

2015

• Khadim Ali
• Hany Armanious
• Kelly Doley
• Nick Dorey
• Mikala Dwyer
• Claire Milledge
• Tim Silver

52 artists 52 actions

This project started in 2018. It involved one artist or group each week creating art in different places in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2021, the project moved online because of the pandemic. Since 2022, 52 ARTISTS 52 ACTIONS has toured around Australia.

VOLUME Book Fair

Artspace hosts VOLUME, a special international book fair. It happens every two years. The 2017 fair had 70 exhibitors from many countries. It also included talks, workshops, book launches, and performances.

International Visiting Curators Program

This program brings art experts from around the world to Artspace. It helps Australian artists connect with international art networks. It also encourages cultural exchange.

NSW Visual Arts Emerging Fellowship

The New South Wales Travelling Art Scholarship began in 1900. It helped artists travel and develop their skills. In 1939, artist Lance Solomon won the award.

In 1997, the award was renamed the Helen Lempriere Travelling Art Scholarship. This was thanks to funding from the Helen Lempriere Bequest. It helped early-career artists with money for professional development. They could travel internationally or within Australia.

Since 2012, this award has been known as the NSW Visual Arts Emerging Fellowship. Artspace presents this important $30,000 fellowship each year. It helps a New South Wales artist who is starting their career. The fellowship gives them a chance to grow their skills and career. While Artspace was being redeveloped, the fellowship was presented at other Sydney art places.

Past Scholarship Winners

• 1939: Lance Solomon

Helen Lempriere Travelling Art Scholarship Winners

An exhibition called How Yesterday Remembers Tomorrow toured New South Wales in 2012. It showed works by six past winners of the Helen Lempriere Travelling Art Scholarship.

NSW Visual Arts Emerging Fellowship Winners

• 2023 – Morgan Hogg
• 2022 – Eddie Abd
• 2020 – Dennis Golding
• 2019 – Shivanjani Lal
• 2018 – EO Gill
• 2017 – Claudia Nicholson
• 2016 – Consuelo Cavaniglia
• 2015 – Heath Franco
• 2014 – Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran
• 2013 – Jamie North

See also

In Spanish: Artspace Sídney para niños