The Judy Wheeler Commission is open to all Australian-based artists at any stage of their career whose mediums might include, but not be limited to, painting, sculpture, sound and video. Artists must be aged 17+.

Applicants must be available to travel to Perth to install the work and participate in public program events between 5–9 February 2024 (dates TBC). PICA covers the travel costs for one artist only.

PICA is committed to ensuring a diverse representation of artists across the 10 years of the program and strongly encourages artists identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD), living with disability, or part of the LGBTQI+ community to respond.

Applications will be assessed against the criteria below:

Eligibility

Applicants must meet eligibility requirements (Who Can Apply).

Feasibility

The proposed artwork must be appropriate to be installed within the PICA Building and be delivered within the timelines and budgets set out.

Program Objectives

Proposals should respond to some, or all, of the objectives of the Judy Wheeler Commission.

The objectives of the Judy Wheeler Commission are to support works that:

Are accessible, high-quality and celebrate the breadth and inventiveness of Australian contemporary arts practice;
Respond to, or challenge, the architecture and history of PICA’s building and site;
Spark curiosity and expand the relevance and reach of contemporary arts experiences;
Activate the spaces through which visitors enter and move through PICA; and
Support the careers of artists that reflect the diversity of Australian society.

An artist fee of $10,000 will be paid to the selected artist.

PICA will further support the project by covering:

Materials & production budget up to $10,000;
Travel costs for one artist for a site visit and the installation period up to $5,000.

In addition to financial support, the commissioned artist will be supported by PICA’s curatorial and exhibitions team throughout the development, fabrication and installation of the work. During the development phase there will be regular meetings with PICA’s Curator to track and support the progress of the artwork and PICA’s Exhibitions Manager will provide support through the coordination and production planning of your project.

Find images of PICA’s building, floor plans, building history and site context in the links below.

Applications can be made online, with alternative options available for those who need access support. Your application must include:

Artwork proposal (written, max. 2 x A4 pages) addressing:
Outline of artwork concept and materials
Proposed PICA location for the artwork
Key production milestones
How the artwork responds to the objectives of the Judy Wheeler Commission
Visual presentation of proposed artwork (drawings or similar, max. 5 x images)
Artist CV (written, max. 2 x A4 pages)
Examples of relevant existing artworks (max. 5 x images)

Please note that PICA may request additional information or clarification from the applicant if shortlisted. To find out more, please register to attend our Zoom information session on Tuesday 4 April 2023, 2pm (AWST).

If you need to submit your EOI through a different process, or have access requirements that mean an EOI via a recorded Zoom conversation, Word document, Auslan or another method would work best, please get in touch with us via exhibitions@pica.org.au prior to the closing deadline to discuss.

Applications will be assessed against the selection criteria by a selection panel including:

Sarah Wall
Curator, PICA

Stephen Gilchrist
Senior Lecturer, UWA School of Indigenous Studies

Melissa Keys
Curator, Heide Museum of Art (and former PICA curator)