Transitions 2023
Mentorship program for emerging visual artists
In partnership with Townsville City Galleries, Umbrella is delivering the third iteration of the Transitions program in 2023. Transitions supports recent arts graduates (including high-school and TAFE graduates) and emerging artists to develop their skills and confidence to forge a career in the arts. Six successful artist mentees (comprised of 4 individuals and one duo-collective) have each self-defined their outcomes and are working through important steps to achieve their goals. They are being mentored one-on-one by established North Queensland artists. The mentees learn to build / develop a studio practice and portfolio, develop professional arts skills and exhibit in a small group exhibition.
Read about the broader Transitions project here and explore the participants and individual project details below. More details and images will be shared throughout the program dates this year.
Mentee - Mentor
Sharron Condren - Ricky Emmerton
Frank Hollingsworth - Neil Binnie
Kit Holloway & Nora Gigney (Squeak and Bubble) - Baret One
Natalie Ward - Jenny Mulcahy
William Loveday - Barbara Cheshire
Introductory intensives and group critique sessions
The 2023 program commenced with introductory sessions at Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts. Umbrella's Gallery Manager and Curator Daniel Qualischefski led the mentees and a few mentors in discussions to help the group bond and share their goals for the program. Daniel also led professional development sessions around writing artists CVs and art texts and applying for exhibitions. Umbrella's Business and Partnerships Manager Alan Marlowe ran a session on photography for artists, developing their skills to help photograph their artwork. The group were joined by guest artists Ann Vardanega and Sheree Kinlyside, who spoke about their arts practices and careers, with tips and insights for the emerging artists. Rachel Cunningham, Senior Education and Programs Officer from Townsville City Galleries also contributed to the discussions.
Beyond the one-on-one mentorship sessions, the mentees will also be attending group critique sessions monthly, sharing their artwork progress and receiving ideas, suggestions and critiques from their peers, some of the individual mentors, staff from Umbrella and Townsville City Galleries and guest mentors.
Alan Marlowe (Umbrella) presenting to participants in the group intensive photography session. Photograph: Daniel Qualischefski.
Mentor Ricky Emmerton (far right), with mentees left to right: William Loveday, Natalie Ward, Sharron Condren, Frank Hollingsworth, and Kit Holloway and Nora Gigney (Squeak and Bubble Art). Photograph: Daniel Qualischefski.
Daniel Qualischefski (Umbrella) presenting to participants of a group intensive professional development session. Photograph: Erin Ricardo.
Participating artists left to right: Kit Holloway and Nora Gigney (Squeak and Bubble Art, mentees); Ricky Emmerton (mentor); Rachel Cunningham (Townsville City Galleries); Natalie Ward (mentee); Barbara Cheshire (mentor); William Loveday (mentee); Sharron Condren (mentee); Neil Binnie (mentor); Frank Hollingsworth (mentee). Photograph: Daniel Qualischefski.
The Transitions program is a partnership between Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts and Townsville City Galleries.
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Sat - Sun: 9am-1pm
Gallery closed Mondays, public holidays and during exhibition install weeks.
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Contact
408 Flinders Street,
Townsville, Qld, 4810 Australia
PO Box 2394,
Townsville, Qld, 4810 Australia
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Acknowledgement of Country
Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts respectfully acknowledges the Wulgurukaba of Gurambilbarra and Yunbenun and the surrounding groups of our region; Bindal, Gugu Badhan, Nywaigi, Warrgamay, Bandjin and Gudjal as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we gather, share and celebrate local creative practice. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the first people of Australia. They have never ceded sovereignty and remain strong in their enduring connection to land and Culture.
Acknowlegements
Umbrella is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, part of the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy, and by the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, an initiative of the Australian, state and territory governments.
Townsville City Council is a strategic partner of Umbrella's program.
