Copyright Agency Partnerships

**Please note the closing date has been extended to 1pm (AEST) Monday 19 June 2023**

The Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund supports an exciting opportunity for visual artists to create new work and exhibit with leading cultural organisations.

Copyright Agency Partnerships is a new, annual series to support major commissions for mid-career and established visual artists in partnership with leading cultural organisations around Australia.

From 2021 to 2024, the Copyright Agency will partner with the following cultural organisations to create and present significant new opportunities for visual artists:

• 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, Sydney (TextaQueen: Bollywouldn’t, 22 October–18 December 2022)
• Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne (James Nguyen: Open Glossary, 16 September–19 November
  2023)
• Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane (apply 2023/exhibit 2024)

In 2023-24 the Copyright Agency will partner with the Institute of Modern Art to create and present a significant opportunity for visual artists, in the third iteration of this annual commissioning series.

About the grant

Each year one visual artist or collective will be selected from a competitive application process to develop and present a major new commission with the partner organisation, with an overall budget of $80,000 (plus GST).

Mid-career and established visual artists working in all media are eligible to apply.

The total value of this grant is $80,000, inclusive of a $20,000 artist fee and $60,000 production and project funds towards the development and presentation of a new commission. Applicants will be required to submit an indicative budget that takes this breakdown into consideration.

Individual visual artists will apply directly to the Copyright Agency for the grant. We recommend you consult and review the Information Pack which includes information about IMA including its history, mission, gallery plans, equipment and the Frequently Asked Questions, prior to your application. If your application is successful, the grant and project budget will be managed by the partner organisation, alongside the curatorial development and presentation of the commission.

Who can apply

• Mid-career and established contemporary artists are eligible to apply for this grant
• If applying as a group, all artists must identify as mid-career or established artists
• Applicants must be Australian citizens or permanent residents
• Applicants must have acquitted any overdue Copyright Agency Cultural Fund grants

Your application

Applicants must provide a clear outline of your intended innovative and ambitious new project or body of work to be exhibited at and curated by the Institute of Modern Art in 2024. Your application must include a detailed project description, an indicative budget, and support material (see requirements below).

Applicants are required to address the following in the application:

• describe your work and the form it is likely to take
• provide an explanation of the subject, themes and ideas
• include details of any artistic and technical collaborators
• include a draft budget (see below)

Support Material

You must submit the following support material with your application as one PDF via the online SmartyGrants system:

• Draft schedule for completion of a work within a twelve-month timeframe
• One-page indicative budget outlining the estimated expenses for realising a major new project. The value of the commission is $80,000 (plus GST), inclusive of a $20,000 artist fee and $60,000 production and project funds.
• One-page professional curriculum vitae outlining exhibition history and significant achievements
• Examples and links to previous work (maximum of 10 images/links)

How to Apply

• In 2023 applications will be made to the Copyright Agency who will partner with the Institute of Modern Art towards an exhibition in 2024
• Applications must be submitted online by the closing date of 1pm Monday 19 June 2023 via SmartyGrants online grants portal
• Applicants may submit only one application per round
• For further information, please refer to the IMA Information Pack and Frequently Asked Questions
• Late and/or incomplete applications will not be considered

Assessment

Applications will be assessed by a panel comprised of representatives of the Institute of Modern Art; Australian Centre for Contemporary Art; 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art; the Copyright Agency; and external professional colleagues.

Timeline for applications submitted in 2023

• The successful visual artist/s will be notified mid-August
• The research and development phase of the process will be undertaken from August 2023
• The exhibition and public programs at the Institute of Modern Art will span September 2024 to December 2024

Copyright Notice

The Copyright Agency proudly supports creators of copyrighted content in Australia and New Zealand. If your work incorporates material (such as songs or music, still or moving images, logos or text) created by a third party we encourage you to speak with Copyright Agency about your work. Works that include third party material may not be eligible to apply.

If you would like clarification on whether your work meets these guidelines please contact Tristan Chant, Visual Artist Stakeholder and Community Manager, on 02 9394 7614 or tchant@copyright.com.au

More information and contact

Please ensure you consult and review the IMA Information Pack and Frequently Asked Questions prior to filling in your application. For further enquiries please contact IMA at ima@ima.org.au with the subject line ‘Copyright Agency Partnership enquiry’ or call (07) 3252 5750. The IMA will seek to address all enquiries in a timely manner.

To contact the Copyright Agency please email culturalfund@copyright.com.au