An exciting opportunity has arisen for digital artists in the Tamworth region. Some may recognise the Outdoor Gallery as a place where projections have been played on buildings in the Fitzroy Street Plaza area during events such as the Lighting of the Christmas Tree. Local artists now have the chance to showcase their work on here too, as Tamworth Regional Gallery in collaboration with Arts North West are calling for expressions of interest for works to be displayed.
Director of Gallery and Museums, Bridget Guthrie says this is a great initiative to connect the community with alternate forms of art.
“There are so many different forms that can be considered art, and now we have a way to showcase video-based artworks in a public space. With Tamworth having been known historically as the first City of Light this is a fantastic way of gesturing to that title by ‘lighting up’ a building with art.”
“We encourage any digital artist to apply between now and the ninth January. There are only a limited number of spots that can be filled over the next two years, so EOI’s must meet the criteria” Guthrie says.
Expressions of Interest are currently open for artists to have their digital based works play in a high-traffic area of Tamworth’s CBD, and create a deeper connection between the general community and video-based art forms.
Executive Director Arts North West Lauren Mackley says “This project has been two years in the making and is an incredible opportunity for regional creatives to showcase and experiment with innovative and contemporary digital media in public spaces”.
A panel of judges will look over all submissions to determine the final selection of works that will be displayed through the Outdoor Gallery over the next two years.
There are a range of ways that the artworks may be played including being on a constant loop, or during specific times. Artists will have the chance to apply online until 5pm, Thursday 9 January, 2025 through the form found on Gallery’s website.
This is a CBD activation and urban renewal project featuring large scale animations on the ‘Stacks building’, 1 Fitzroy Street. This project funding was secured by Tamworth Regional Council through the NSW Government Department of Planning, Industry and Environment ‘Streets as Shared Spaces’ initiative and Council has now allocated ongoing funding to continue the Outdoor Gallery for a two-year trial period.