Arts Northern Rivers

The Gallery Foundation is hosting Art at Ashby - an opportunity for artists to sell their work and for the public to buy art and enjoy a day at a magnificent property overlooking the Clarence River. Art on Ashby is on Sunday 20 May 2012 (set up Saturday 19). A 33% commission on any sales made on the day will be payable to The Gallery Foundation. Participation is invited from any Northern Rivers artist. The Gallery Foundation supports the Grafton Regional Gallery.

Grafton Regional Gallery have turned the roadsides of the Clarence Valley and surrounding regions into alfresco exhibition spaces. Art at Large is a multi-site billboard project that presents a significant opportunity for artists to display their work in a high profile format and promote the Clarence Valley and Grafton Regional Gallery. Eligible artists must live and work in the Clarence Valley or be represented in the Grafton Regional Gallery Collection.

The Grafton Regional Gallery offers residences twice a year. The program is an opportunity for artists to pursue their practice and interact with the Clarence Valley community. Each residence includes studio space in the Studio Gallery at the Grafton Regional Gallery, a second space in The Link Grafton Shopping World and accommodation at No.1 Duke Street.

The Arts Activated Conference planned for October 2012 will bring together the growing culture of inclusive arts in Australia. A call is now open for proposals for papers, performances or workshops. Download submission forms with guidelines at http://aarts.net.au

Expressions of interest are sought from artists using natural dyes/fibres/fabrics, who are interested in the opportunity to show at the Australia Naturally 2012 exhibition, taking place at the Isend Weft Conference to be held in Sarawak Malaysia from September 27 to October 1 2012 - http://isendweft2012.com/. The exhibition will show the diverse ways Australia Naturally is practiced by Australian and New Zealand artists. Presented by World Shibori Network ANZ.

The art-making process has been the highest priority at the Bemis Center, where both the atmosphere and environment offer ideal situations for creative growth and experimentation. The Artists-in-Residence offers 3 months of uninterrupted, self-directed work time in urban warehouses totaling 110,000 square feet, a generously sized live/work studio and access to facilities including a wood shop, installation spaces, dark room and sculpture fabrication facility.

The Gallipoli Memorial Club is once again calling on Australian, New Zealand and Turkish artists to submit paintings to the $20 000 Gallipoli Art Prize. Artists are invited to submit one piece of original work produced in oil, acrylic, watercolour or mixed media for the prize which includes the Gallipoli Club's acquisition of the work. Artworks do not need to reflect warfare or the Gallipoli but to reflect relevant themes.

A new online magazine, Lazybox, created by local brothers Oli and Dougal Shaw, is seeking contributions including photographs and stories for publication. Any person who's submission is published will get an exclusive profile on LB Creatives Int'l. This is an ideal opportunity for young emerging artists, writers, photographers and other creatives to network and get their work out there.

Northern Rivers songwriters between the ages of 12 and 25 are invited to submit your entry to the Lismore Youth Week Young Songwriters Competition. The four song categories that will be judged are: Pop/rock, Folk/country, Hip Hop/R&B and Electronica. Submit your entry in MP3 format with lyrics (attached as a word document) to lismoreyoungsongwriters@gmail.com Include name, age, contact details and song category.

The 2012 Macquarie Photography Prize has $10,000 prizemoney and is open to anyone from any country. Featuring three categories for pure photos with subjects Storms, Architecture and Funny Faces and also a section for altered photos called Arthouse. There are 3 public exhibitions of the selected 25 photographs planned for Sydney, Dubbo and Orange in Australia.

The R & M McGivern Prize was established through the will of the late Muriel Evelyn McGivern, to promote artistic excellence in watercolour, oil and acrylic painting. Each year a different theme is selected, the 2012 theme is Uncertainty. The winning artwork becomes an acquisition piece which remains the property of the City of Maroondah for the purpose of the exhibition. The 2012 award is valued at $25,000.

Swell Sculpture Festival, Queensland's leading outdoor sculpture exhibition, invites submissions from artists to exhibit in the 10th annual exhibition at Currumbin Beach from 14 to 23 September. Artists will vie for Gold Coast City Council acquisition of up to $20,000. Other awards include the highly popular People's and Kids' Choice Awards, Emerging Artist Award, Media Award and Artist Peer Award. Swell supports full freedom of expression for all forms of sculpture.

Now in its seventh round, the program is a core element of the Synapse initiative of the Australia Council for the Arts and ANAT, which supports collaboration between artists and scientists. The residencies are open to Australian artists with a demonstrated interest in science working in any discipline and/or medium. Australian-based residencies of 16 weeks' duration that take place during the 2012 calendar year will be supported.

Tin Sheds Gallery at the University of NSW is pleased to announce the Curate/Innovate Grant, to help encourage curatorial practice in Australia. Successful applicants receive $4000 and a 4 week exhibition at Tin Sheds. We encourage applications that seek to build affinities beyond the gallery through public programs, lectures, discussions, concerts, outdoor events, etc. Download application forms at http://tinsheds.wordpress.com/category/innovatecurate-application-form.

When you look at the details around you what do you see? We often see Australia photographed with sweeping landscapes and sprawling skies. But have you ever wanted to zoom in and see what's really going on? Submit your photo to ABC Open, send us an email, and you'll be in the running to win an amazing opportunity - a ticket to be part of a photographic adventure with Nick Moir, one of Australia's most esteemed press photographers.

Call out for visual artists and designers interested in displaying their works in shop windows in the Lismore CBD. Art in the Heart Project Manager, Stephen Nelson, is currently seeking new arrangements with Lismore shop owners to allocate window space for artists/ designers to display their work. If interested contact Stephen and ask him to send you a Window of Opportunity proposal form.