This is an exciting opportunity for both recognized and established writers to review an exhibition at 2 Danks Street Waterloo. Last year, in conjunction with Artist Profile and Art for all/All for Art, the galleries of 2 Danks Street established the 2 Danks Street Award for Art Criticism, recognizing the importance of discovering new talent in arts writing and stimulating interest in the current work of contemporary artists.
The 2 Danks Street Award will be on offer again this year together with the offer to have your review published in Artist Profile. This is the only award of its kind in Australia and 2014 sees an exciting addition; an alternative prize of $500 for a review which shows flair and potential and/or stretches the boundaries of current reviewing, either in style, form or media. What is required is a 1500-word review of an exhibition run by one of the permanent galleries of 2 Danks Street from 12 July to 4 October 2014 or a new media review event of similar weight.
The opportunity to have your name published in Australia’s most prestigious art magazine will reach the eyes of many around the country. Artist Profile is known for its incredible ability to feature exclusive studio interviews and photographic profiles of visual artists concentrated within Australia and the Asia-Pacific Region. Each edition includes essays by artists, scholars and curators; artist projects; exhibition reviews; and information on books, films, fairs, biennials and contemporary art festivals.
The winner of last years the 2 Danks Street Award, Luise Guest spoke of the importance of raising the profile of arts criticism in Australia “In a crowded information world, visual arts writing not only has to jostle for space, but sufficient space for explaining the context and reasoned argument. Arts writers know how very hard this is.” Luise Guest is already a contributor to critical publications such as The Art Life and The Culture Trip, her profile of Gao Rong will be published in the next edition of Artist Profile.
Owen Craven, editor of Artist Profile and Art Almanac said that the overall quality of entries in 2013 was high. “But last year’s panel recognized that writers needed encouragement to move outside the box”, he said. “The alternative award gives the signal that the panel is not only searching for quality in art writing, but is also looking for a fresh approach – something that will make existing and new audiences sit up and take notice.”
The panel this year once again includes Prue Gibson lecturer in art writing at COFA and Teaching Fellow in creative writing at UNSW, and Owen Craven. The galleries of 2 Danks Street are delighted to announce two new panelists for 2014. Dr Andrew Frost is well-known as creator of the online blog The Art Life, a number of ABC series on contemporary art and contributions to the SMH and Guardian Australia, Dr Laura Fisher is an exciting young arts writer with exceptional insight into the creative processes of the artist.
For further information, contact Janet Clayton at Janet Clayton Gallery on 02 9698 8443 or janetclayton@me.com
