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News - 24th of July 2024

SPACED and PICA Launch Circular Economies Partnership

SPACED and PICA Launch Circular Economies Partnership

SPACED and the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA) are excited to announce Circular Economies, a series of socially engaged residencies in regional Western Australian communities over 2024–25, culminating in an exhibition at PICA in 2026.

Building on their long association, which saw SPACED present SPACED: From Space to Place at PICA in 2004, this collaboration will see seven international, national and local artists and collaborators spend sustained time in regional WA communities, supported by local arts organisations. The artists will dedicate their time in residence to socially engaged arts practice that captures WA communities and is responsive to local contexts and the project theme of Circular Economies.

PICA’s Director/CEO Hannah Mathews said ‘SPACED has played a vital role in WA’s cultural landscape for over 30 years, connecting artists with communities across the state. It is recognised, nationally and internationally, as Australia’s longest running and most rigourous socially-responsive and community-engaged residency programs. For many, SPACED has put Western Australia on the global art map. PICA is excited to be working with SPACED to realise the next edition of their program, Circular Economies. It is a valued opportunity to connect with regional communities on pressing ideas and to support artists to do what they do best – bring our attention to the issues that shape us.’

Spread across the vast state of Western Australia, from the Goldfields-Esperance region to the Mid-West and Gascoyne regions. The residencies consider WA’s relationship to the resources sector, the sector’s fluctuations and the export of crops and livestock from rural areas to offshore locations. Local opinions on the impact of this process on communities, cultures and the climate remain divided. However, the lack of resources in regional areas has led to the development of radical community-led solutions and sharing practices. From live exports to community gardens, renewable energy farms and seasonal workers, artists are encouraged to consider how communities are leading, resisting and forging new solutions to finite resources. 

Image: Loren Kronemyer, ‘Epoch of Reionization’, 2017. Video still courtesy of International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research

Image: Loren Kronemyer, ‘Epoch of Reionization’, 2017. Video still courtesy of International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research

‘Circular Economies will see SPACED continue its nearly 30-year history of meaningful collaborations with regional communities. Through the residencies, artists will be invited to consider their practice in a new context, understand Australian regional perspectives, and learn from local arts practitioners, building capacity through skills exchange and reciprocal knowledge sharing.’ – SPACED Curator, Miranda Johnson.

SPACED and PICA are thrilled to announce that the artists and communities in the project are:

Susan Hauri-Downing & Tarsh Bates (WA)
Hosted by Beverley Station Arts, Beverley

House of Natural Fiber (Irene Agrivina Widyaningrum & Haryo Hutomoto) (Indonesia)
Hosted by Arts Narrogin, Narrogin

Loren Kronemeyer (TAS)
Hosted by The Cannery Arts Centre, Esperance

Mary Mattingly (USA),
Hosted by Shire of Carnarvon, Carnarvon

Ilona McGuire (WA)
Hosted by North Midlands Project, Carnamah

SPACED is committed to facilitating the creation of innovative, context-responsive contemporary artworks by forging partnerships between artists and regional communities and will work to nurture artistic practice and community involvement as the projects emerge.

PICA operates as both a producing and presenting organisation, delivering an annual program of changing exhibitions, seasons in contemporary dance, experimental theatre, new music and live art as well as a range of artist-in-residence programs. Its programs are carefully crafted, ensuring connections are forged not only between artists and audiences but across art forms, cultures and geographies. For artists, audiences and other communities it serves, PICA is a meeting place, a provocateur, a resource and most importantly a partner in the realisation of big and new ideas.

Circular Economies is supported by Creative Australia and the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.

SPACED thanks its community host partners Arts Narrogin, Beverley Station Arts, The Cannery Arts Centre, North Midlands Project and Shire of Carnarvon.

Tarsh Bates is additionally supported by Umea University, Sweden.