Australia Council supports international arts exchange at APT8

Australian artists and First Nations curators will benefit from the expertise and influence of some of the world’s leading arts professionals from this week as part of The 8th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT8).

APT8 is the flagship exhibition of the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), with the exhibition highlighting extraordinary work from Asia, the Pacific and Australia. This year’s event will include more than 80 artists and groups from more than 30 countries, including 17 from Australia.

Australia Council Chief Executive Officer Tony Grybowski said the Council was proud to have supported the Asia Pacific Triennial since its inception in 1993, stating “the Asia Pacific Triennial is the premier visual arts event in our region and a significant inclusion on the international visual arts calendar “It is extremely important for our artists to make strategic international connections and to have their work seen alongside other leading artists from across the Asia Pacific region.

“Supporting Australian representation at APT8 is part of our commitment to developing sector capacity through initiatives that enable artistic and cultural exchange, as well as critical engagement with international colleagues and audiences.

“The importance of this investment has been confirmed by recent international arts activity research that highlighted the key role played by Australia Council expertise, networks and introductions in connecting Australian artists and arts organisations with international markets.

“The Council’s International Visitors Program is one of our most important development initiatives for the Australian visual arts sector and APT provides an extraordinary platform to highlight our artists, curatorial expertise and leadership in the region.”

As part of the program, international arts professionals are brought to Australia to attend an intensive week-long program of meetings, events, industry discussions and tours of galleries, museums and studios.

Australia Council Executive Director Dr Wendy Were said the Council was delighted to continue partnering with the QAGOMA to host the International Visitors Program, as well as developing a new initiative - the First Nations Curator Exchange.

Dr Were stated “the last APT saw 15 arts professionals from some of the world’s most prestigious galleries take part in the International Visitors Program to see firsthand the diverse talent Australian contemporary arts has to offer and we look forward to welcoming 13 international visitors this year.

“The aims of the program are to raise the profile of Australia’s artistic excellence and curatorial expertise, demonstrate Australia’s growing regional engagement, and develop long-term relationships which will enable new partnerships, collaborations and market development.”

QAGOMA Director Chris Saines CNZM said the International Visitors Program added significant international attention to the APT’s profile.

Saines added “this is an amazing opportunity to show some of the world’s leading curators what the APT has been doing for more than 20 years, and why the art of the region is so vital and thrilling.”

Visitors include representatives from Tate Modern, London; Guggenheim Abu Dhabi; Ullens Centre for Contemporary Art, Beijing; Musée du quai Branly, Paris; and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

The inaugural First Nations Curator Exchange will start this week, bringing together 12 Indigenous curators from Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

The week-long event will enable an exchange of knowledge and ideas between First Nations’ curators working in all three countries to build strong connections. The program is the first in a partnership between the Australia Council, Canada Council for the Arts and Creative New Zealand.

The 8th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT8) at QAGOMA runs from 21st November to 10th April 2016 and is free.

Australian artists exhibiting include Abdul Abdullah; Richard Bell; Juan Davila; Janenne Eaton; Lawrence English; Gabriella and Silvana Mangano; Danie Mellor; Christian Thompson; and Yukultji Napangati.

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Top image shows APT 7 in 2012.

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