Yulgilbar Travelling Fellowship Recipients Announced

Grafton Regional Gallery has announced the Yulgilbar Travelling Fellowship Award recipients for 2021. Every two years the Gallery offers an opportunity to individual artists, or artist groups of the Clarence Valley who work across all mediums and subjects to apply for Yulgilbar Travelling Fellowships. These fellowships are designed to broaden and enhance professional development. The Gallery and The Yulgilbar Foundation provides assistance for artists to develop their arts practice within Australia. As a reflection of the high standard of applications, two additional highly commended awards of $2500 each were also announced.

Highly Commended was awarded to Katrina McAndrew for her project to explore the architecture of Melbourne, attend a print making workshop and the Melbourne Art Fair, plus Cassandra-Lyn Palmer for her project to create a series of works on the caldera of the Wollumbin shield volcano; inspired by her First Nations heritage. This project also includes a residency at Tweed Regional Gallery.

The 2021 Yulgilbar Travelling Fellowship recipients are Cher Breeze, for her project ‘Pots Pros & Stones’ where she will research her family history, specifically Mary Breeze, a madam who ran an establishment in “Back Row” and her great great grandfather who was one of Sydney’s first potters, as well as other family ties in Rookwood cemetery. Cher will attend a master class at the National Art School and visit the studio of artist Steve Lopes. Madeleine Richey also received the fellowship for her project that connects her back to her homelands of Gomeroi Country, Maddy plans to spend time on Country creating work inspired by her deep connections to Country and family, exploring natural resources, connecting with Elders and family and giving back to the community by sharing her learnings through workshops and gatherings.

“We are fortunate to be able to provide this opportunity for artists of the Clarence as part of the Yulgilbar Foundation’s support of the Gallery” said Gallery Director, Niomi Sands. “The best part of my job is to provide opportunities for artists to realise their projects. Artists of the Clarence are lucky to have this support at a local level.”

These fellowships provide assistance towards the cost of travel to undertake a residency, internship or mentorship, or to undertake a self-initiated artistic project; or research which may include establishing valuable contacts, researching current international practices, and engaging with exhibition programs.  At the conclusion of each Fellowship the successful artists will be required to submit an artistic report on their experience and present a talk or slide night at the Grafton Regional Gallery to share stories from their experience.