Orange Regional Gallery calls for central west artists to participate in pilot educational program

Experienced and motivated central west artists are being sought by Orange Regional Gallery to participate in its Artist Educator Pilot Program.

Expressions of interest are open to people living in the Central West Local Government Areas of Orange, Bathurst, Blayney, Cabonne, Cowra, Forbes, Lachlan Shire, Lithgow, Oberon, Parkes and Weddin Shire.

The program, which is funded by the NSW Government, invites practicing artists to develop and deliver exhibition-linked workshops and other activities for the gallery’s younger audience.

Orange Mayor Reg Kidd said the program was a great opportunity to get the region’s artists involved in mentoring and educating young people about the arts sector.

Mayor Kidd advised “the program will create employment and professional development opportunities for Central West artists while complementing the development of Orange Regional Gallery’s youth program and school holiday activities.”

Applicants will require an active creative practice, interest and knowledge of visual art and experience facilitating educational activities with diverse audiences.

They will also need excellent communications skills and the ability to work collaboratively to develop creative learning programs and hands-on activities for young people.

Gallery Director Bradley Hammond said they were looking for artists with experience in facilitating meaningful connections with art.

Hammond noted “the Artist educators will bring their own creative practice and experience to our programs, offering unique perspectives on our collections and exhibitions.”

Council’s Services Policy Committee Chair Scott Munro added “we are looking for artists from right across the region. The Orange Gallery is one of the great institutions in the region and as this program illustrates it is much more than a place to visit.”

The program will be presented at various stages from November 2021 to December 2022, with the majority of activities scheduled throughout 2022.

Interested artists can download an Expression of Interest brief and application form as well as a timeline and program of activities from the Orange Regional Gallery website 

Image: Artist/Educator Heather Vallance speaking to a group of young people in front of her work Falling Stars, 2018 as part of the StarPicket exhibition with the CORRIDOOR project.