Applications Open — Judy Wheeler Commission 2024

Applications are now closed
The Judy Wheeler Commission is a 10-year site-specific commissioning program dedicated to the memory of the late Judy Wheeler. Generously supported by the Simpson Family through a significant gift – the largest in PICA’s history – this program will support 10 artists over 10 years to realise 10 ambitious new works. The program was inaugurated in 2023 with work by Meanjin (Brisbane)-based artist Elizabeth Willing.
The Judy Wheeler Commission invites artists from across Australia to propose a work that responds physically or conceptually to the architecture and history of PICA’s building and its site. Artists are encouraged to match PICA’s spirit of risk and experimentation in their proposals, addressing spaces that PICA’s visitors move through when visiting the building, including its entrance lobby, foyer, stairwells and balcony mezzanine. Each commission includes an artist fee of $10,000 and will be installed for up to a one-year period.
Our 2024 selection panel includes Stephen Gilchrist (Senior Lecturer, UWA School of Indigenous Studies), Melissa Keys (Curator, Heide Museum of Art and former PICA curator) and Sarah Wall (Curator, PICA).
The Judy Wheeler Commission is open to all Australian-based artists at any stage of their career. 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.
Online Information Session
Registrations are now closed. To watch a recording of the online information session, please click the button below
Applications Close
Applications are open from Wednesday 8 March and close Sunday 30 April 2023, 5pm (AWST).
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please contact:
Olivia Nichols
Exhibitions Manager
exhibitions@pica.org.au
(08) 9228 6300
Who Can Apply
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.
Selection Criteria
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.
Artist Fees & Budget
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.
Key Dates
Applications Open | 7 March 2023 |
Online Information Session | 4 April 2023 |
Applications Close | 30 April 2023 |
Applicant Notification | Week of 22 May 2023 |
Artwork Development & Production | July – December 2023 |
Artwork Installation | 5–9 February 2024 (dates TBC) |
Application Resources
Find images of PICA’s building, floor plans, building history and site context in the links below.
Submitting Your Application
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).
Access Support
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.
Selection Panel
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)
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will the work be presented for?
Each commission will be installed for up to a one-year period.
Do I have to be based in WA to apply?
No, you do not need to be based in WA to apply. Applications are open to artists from all states and territories, who are based in Australia. Travel costs for a site visit and installation will be covered by PICA.
Can a collective of artists apply?
Yes, however, the artist fee will remain $10,000 and will need to be distributed among the collective members. Additionally, PICA can only support travel costs for one member of the collective.
Can I get feedback on my draft application?
Please be sure to bring all of your questions to the online information session on Tuesday 4 April 2023 as PICA is unable to provide feedback on individual applications. If you’re unable to attend this information session, please contact exhibitions@pica.org.au.
Can I submit more than one proposal?
Only one submission per individual artist will be accepted. An artist can however submit an additional application as part of an artist collective.
Do I need to identify key project personnel in my application?
Yes, if there are additional paid creatives and/or you are actively working with members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to develop the proposed work this should be identified in your proposal.
Can the proposed work have been previously presented?
No, the proposed work must be new and made specifically for the Judy Wheeler Commission and PICA site.
Which spaces in PICA are available for proposed commission works?
All spaces in the PICA building excluding galleries, studios and administration spaces are available for artists to consider in their proposal. This includes the entrance lobby, foyer, stairwells, hallways, balcony and windows.
Do I have to select one PICA space for my proposal?
No, you can propose to use multiple areas of the PICA building, excluding gallery spaces
Can I get feedback on my submission if I am unsuccessful?
Due to the high volume of applications received, we are unable to provide feedback to each applicant. We do, however, encourage you to maintain a relationship with PICA and apply again in the future.
Are applications going to open every year, or are you programming all the works for the next 10 years this year?
Don’t worry! We are excited to see what future artists have to offer. Applications open once a year with the project to be delivered early the following year.
Do you provide documentation of the work and how can it be used afterwards?
Yes, PICA will document the work. Use of the photographs will be subject to approval by PICA and require all appropriate acknowledgements and credits.