PAC Australia Impact Awards recognise HOTA, Home of the Arts’ ArtKeeper program

The innovative ArtKeeper program developed by HOTA, Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast to improve secure and fair work conditions for artists across the sector, has been recognised at PAC Australia’s 2022 Impact Awards.

Presented in a ceremony at the Sydney Opera House on Monday evening, HOTA was one of two winners of the 2022 Innovator Award.

HOTA was presented with the award in recognition of its leadership and innovation in the development and delivery of models that support artist and sector development, particularly through HOTA's ArtKeeper program.

In an effort to improve secure and fair work conditions for artists across the sector, in 2021 HOTA piloted a new way to support artists and help them to keep creating art through ArtKeeper.

Reaffirming the work that artists do as being essential to venues, the sector, and to the audiences who have relied on artists work more than ever over the past two years, it saw ArtKeeper roles advertised as jobs for artists, not as opportunities or grants.

This, now nationally recognised model of artist support, placed four artists on HOTA’s payroll for five months, providing income security, fair work conditions and organisation-wide support to develop new work and ideas.

Expressed her sentiments on the achievement, HOTA Chief Executive, Criena Gehrke stated “I’m proud that the ArtKeeper program has been recognised by our industry peers with an award that celebrates innovation. It’s truly exciting and proves that our instincts to develop this program were correct.

“We always say that you can’t be the Home of the Arts without having a deep commitment to supporting artists and for this program and concept to have now been recognised nationally in this way is amazing.”

The 2021 ArtKeeper program was transformational demonstrating what practicing artists can contribute not just through their creative work, but through their unique perspectives in the workplace.

The award recognition coincides with the launch of HOTA’s ArtKeeper Program for 2022 and kicking off the search for four bold, contemporary artists to come on board this year.

The successful candidates will be placed on payroll for three days per week from November 2022 through until June 2023. They will work onsite at HOTA, across a range of spaces depending on their artistic practice and requirements, including the $60.5 million HOTA Gallery.

Gehrke added “after the success of the first ArtKeeper program, we are excited to continue the program for 2022/23. Our commitment to evolve the program is firm and through this our commitment to artists and ensuring their contribution can continue is our passion.

“It’s a testament to the program that we can deliver this through ArtKeeper again this year.”

As part of ArtKeeper, HOTA has once again engaged internationally acclaimed playwright and artistic director Wesley Enoch AM, as Artist Provocateur for the roles, to ask key questions for artists to consider as they create, provide feedback, and support the artists throughout their contract.

Enoch noted “artists and creative thinkers shape the way we see the world, explore complex ideas and help bring us together.

“The Gold Coast is a place full of creative thinkers who often get lost in the shadow of the Tourism and Lifestyle image of surf, sun and beach. Artistic endeavours, creativity and an entrepreneurial spirit are the human face of the Gold Coast.”

Click here for more information on the ArtKeeper program and position description.

Image: Team members at HOTA.