ART ET AL. x APA | 2021 | Melbourne
As part of the UK/Australia Season of Culture 2021-22, a major program of cultural exchange is taking place across the two nations.
The UK/Australia Season is a joint initiative by the British Council and the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Season highlights the breadth of partnerships between Australia and the UK and aims to deepen and extend cultural connections.
The theme ‘Who Are We Now?’ reflects on our history, explores our current relationship, and imagines our future together.
The Season commenced in September 2021, concluding in March 2022 in Australia and in December 2022 in the UK. The Season will feature programming for all ages and will celebrate the diversity of cultures and languages in both countries. It will emphasise Australia’s First Nations voices, enable cultural exchange with Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland, and the diverse societies that have emerged in both Australia and the UK through migration. Designed to strengthen and build cultural connections, the UK/Australia Season theme of “Who Are We Now?” will be reflected by Art et al. through how these artists felt during and now coming out of lockdown.
As part of the UK/Australia Season, Art et al. X 2021-22 has released a selection of virtual and in-person curatorial projects and opportunities. The series aims to further develop the practices of neurodivergent, intellectually and learning disabled artists in the UK and Australia.
“We are very excited to bring these commissioned international collaborations to people in a physical gallery setting. First in Melbourne at Arts Project Australia in December 2021, then in London at Cromwell Place in March 2022.”
Central to Art et al. X 2021-22 is the presentation of two international in-person exhibitions. The first was in December 2021 in Melbourne, at Art Project Australia’s new gallery in the Collingwood Yards complex. In a four-day pop-up exhibition, audiences experienced international peer-to-peer artwork collaborations, as well as writing from Australian and International writers such as Kelly Gellatly.
In March 2022, Art et al. will present its second exhibition in London in partnership with Cromwell Place. These curated neurodiverse exhibitions will include British and Australian artists featured on the Art et al. platform, with a focus on Peer/Peer Collaborations. Artists will include Emily Ferretti, Sandra Lott, David James, Alasdair McLuckie, Thom Roberts, and Cherelle Sappleton.
Explore our 2021 Art et al. exhibition installation.
Installation of work by Australian artist Alasdair McLuckie and British artist David James.
Visitor Contributions | Art et al. x APA | 2021
Art et al.’s UK steering committee of neurodivergent artists suggested that we create a space for audience participation so that our exhibition was truly inclusive.
As a result, Art et al. invited APA gallery visitors to create a one-page artwork, text, or other creative output in response to the theme "Who We Are Now". Art et al. plans to create a future digital publication of all pages made in response to this theme, once the Cromwell place exhibition concludes.
By leaving a one-page creation and signing a consent form, participants agreed to grant Art et al. a non-exclusive, worldwide, and royalty-free license to include their creation in an online publication grouping all the creations made at this event and Cromwell place.
Contributors retain copyright and are credited when they want to be, with several contributors wishing to remain ‘anonymous’.
Visitors to the exhibition were pleasantly surprised that they could sit in the space and make artwork. One visitor said of the experience:
“Who would have thought, when we went out for a walk in Collingwood that we would end up sitting down in a gallery and creating art—it’s been great!”
Some people that visited were adults, some were children, and some were practising artists, however. the majority were not. Everyone enjoyed the experience and opportunity to sit, imagine and play.
ARCHIVE: Art et al. x APA Exhibition Details
Dates: 2-5 December 2021
Opening: 2 December 2021, 6-8pm
Where: Arts Project Australia, Collingwood gallery
Address: Level 1, Perry St Building, Collingwood Yards, Melbourne, Australia
Exhibition hours: Thursday through Sunday, 11am to 6pm
More information: Please email info@artetal.org, or call +61 437 448 758
Accessibility
APA + COLLINGWOOD YARDS
Collingwood Yards is committed to universal access. They have invested in major accessibility upgrades as part of construction works and are committed to ongoing accessibility improvements as part of their operations.
There is wheelchair access to level one via the lift, which will take you up to the Arts Project Australia Collingwood gallery. There are entrances to the Precinct on Johnston St and Perry Street.
Tactile signage is available on the lift shafts on each level. The signage is on the righthand side of the lift doors and indicates what is on each level of the building.
Tactile indicators are at the edge of the outdoor steps. The outdoor steps are steep and not recommended for people with visual impairment.
Braille signage is available outside all toilets, close to all exit points and inside all lifts. See below for an example of the Braille signage at exit points.
An accessible parking bay is available for use by holders of a Disabled Persons permit. It is located near entrance 35C Johnston Street.
Covid Protocols: Everyone visiting the gallery in person must be fully vaccinated and have their Covid certificate to enter. Facemasks are optional, and visitors need to sign in by scanning the QR code on their phone code or by adding their details to a guest list provided if this isn’t possible.
Need Help?
Art et al. strive to provide open and clear communications regarding what we mean and publish.
The Art et al. and APA team has invested resources to help ensure that the content presented is clear, concise, and appeals to a wide range of people.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Art et al. at info@artetal.org, or Sim Luttin at sim.luttin@artsproject.org.au, or on +61 437 448 758.