Supporting our arts community during COVID-19

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Nillumbik Shire Council is supporting its vibrant arts community during the difficult time of COVID-19.

Nillumbik Mayor Karen Egan said Council was today releasing a series of “In the Time of COVID-19′ employment opportunities for artists that are aimed at engaging artists in doing what they do best – responding to the world around them.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted us all, and disrupted the connections and interactions that are integral to everyday life and the pursuit of arts and cultural activities,” Cr Egan said.

“The arts sector has been among the hardest hit by the rapid economic shutdowns and important social distancing measures put in place to mitigate these extremely challenging circumstances.”

The three programs – Live Streaming in the Time of COVID-19, Art in the Time of COVID-19 and Writing in the Time of COVID-19 – not only provide paid opportunities to local artists and writers, but also deliver high-quality artistic outcomes to the Nillumbik community.

Live-Streaming in the time of COVID-19

Council is offering paid live streaming opportunities to artists. The events can feature any art form such as a visual arts demo, an art workshop, a studio tour, theatre or literary reading.

Art in the Time of COVID-19

Artists are invited to apply for visual arts commissions to create new artworks in any medium that respond to the theme “Art in the Time of COVID-19”.

Commissions of $2500 each will be offered in the local category for artists who live, work, play or study in Nillumbik. Commissions of $5000 each will be offered to artists across Australia including local artists.

We hope to exhibit commissioned artworks in September during Council’s Major Collections Exhibition at Montsalvat (subject to social distancing restrictions).

Writing in the time of COVID-19

Writers are invited to respond to the current circumstances in short texts of 100 words or less.

Submissions could be poetry, fiction or non-fiction.

Selected texts will be “published” as temporary public artworks on footpaths throughout Nillumbik, with payment to the writers for the use of their work.

Applications for the three programs open Friday 1 May and close on 24 May.

/Public Release. View in full here.