Firstdraft aims to encourage excellence in arts writing practice and increase professional development opportunities for emerging arts writers through a process of mentorship and the provision of remunerated publishing opportunities.

What the program involves:

–3 month writing mentorship with an established arts writer. The mentorship will involve critical feedback and guidance about your writing practice and the arts writing sector
–Mentorship with your nominated arts writer negotiated by Firstdraft on the writers’ behalf
–Publication of a critical review, interview or short essay
–Printed publication to accompany an exhibition of your choice at the Firstdraft exhibition program
–The opportunity to interview Firstdraft Studio artists to be published on the Firstdraft Studio blog and/or the annual Firstdraft Studio Publication
–Critical discussion with Firstdraft artists and directors over a 3 month period
–Writers’ fee of AU$500.00

Applications for 2012 close 6.00pm Friday 12 August 2011.

For further information and to download an application form visit Firstdraft here.

–Expand their professional practice by conceiving of and realising an exhibition project at the gallery
–Provide exhibition space and funding for a publication that accompanies the creative project
–Encourage creative dialogue and discussion through public artist and curator talks

Firstdraft will provide the successful applicants with:

–3 week exhibition in the Firstdraft Depot gallery (including promotion and opening costs)
–Access to and assistance with Firstdraft’s equipment and resources
–Funding of up to AU$1,500.00 for the production of a catalogue that accompanies the show and a curatorial fee

Applications close 6.00pm Friday 12 August 2011.

For further information and to download an application form visit Firstdraft here.

Eligibility – For the purposes of this application you must consider yourself to be ‘emerging’. Firstdraft will consider applications from any individual meeting these selection criteria regardless of race, ethnicity, sexuality or gender. Applications from collaborating artists are also welcome, but due to the nature of the program will receive no extra allowances. There is no restriction on the thematic or the types of artwork that will be considered; however due to Firstdraft’s grant requirements, the exhibition should consist primarily of emerging artists.

The scholarship is offered by the New South Wales government through Arts NSW. The recipient will be assisted to develop a program of professional development in the United Kingdom and other countries if desired.

This program may include but is not limited to:
- Study or training, including short-term courses or workshops
- Professional research
- Undertaking residencies, and/o rmentorships or internships with approved designers, manufacturers, companies and/or organisations

The British Council will assist the recipient with their program of professional development in the UK by providing support and advice, and facilitating introductions to up to eight leading practitioners relevant to the winner’s field.

The Design NSW: Travelling Scholarship is presented by the Powerhouse Museum and Arts NSW in partnership with the British Council.

To be eligible to apply for the scholarship, applicants must be within the first five years of professional practice as a designer. Professional practice, for the purpose of this scholarship, is generally understood to commence with either a) the completion of a design-related undergraduate degree or relevant course of study or b) the start of professional industry experience.

The scholarship is open to designers working in the broad areas of product and communication design (including for the home, industry and the body). The scholarship is not intended for designers working in the built environment (including architecture and landscape architecture).

All applicants must be either Australian citizens or persons holding permanent residence visas; and a resident of New South Wales.

The Design NSW: Travelling Scholarship winner will be announced during Sydney Design 2010.

Applications are due 19 May 2010.

For more information and to apply visit here.

One of the wonderful qualities of cloth is that it wears out, breaks down and is continuously being remade into something new. Stitching, mending and patching create a surface of unintended beauty and the sense of “lives lived”. It is from these ordinary practices that Dorothy Caldwell has developed the vocabulary of marks that she uses in the making of her large fabric constructions.

The talk will address this aspect of traditional textiles and how it has been used as a basis for Caldwell’s work.

Dorothy Caldwell is a graduate of Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia and maintains an active international exhibition and teaching schedule. She has carried out research in Japan, India, and Australia on textile traditions and is the recipient of grants and awards including the prestigious Bronfman Award given to one Canadian craftsperson each year.

Her work is included in many permanent collections including the American Museum of Art and Design, Canadian Museum of Civilization, The Carlton and Reta Lewis Collection in Washington D.C., The Canadian Consulate Bangkok Thailand, and the International Quilt Museum and Study Center University of Nebraska.

The talk will take place at 7pm on Thursday 29 April 2010 at the COFA Main Lecture Theatre, EG02, Corner Oxford Street and Greens Road, Paddington.

Dorothy is visiting Australia at the invitation of the Australian Forum for Textile Arts and teaching at their forum in Orange this April.

For more information visit here.

Since its inception in 2006, Gaffa Gallery has provided a creative space for emerging and established artists and designers. As an integral part of its move to Sydney’s CBD, Gaffa will open the doors to a new retail store dedicated to showcasing remarkable and exciting work, with a strong emphasis placed on quality craftsmanship, innovation and interesting design.

If you are interested in having your wares showcased in the retail store please contact Gaffa with some information about yourself including:

- A brief biography (200 words)
- A CV (1 page only)
- Images of your work (maximum 5 images)
- A word document of captions details (title, materials and retail prices).

Please make sure the size of your attachments does not exceed a total of 1MB.

This is an ongoing opportunity.

For more information or if you have any questions about Gaffa and their retail store you can visit their website www.gaffa.com.au or contact Retail Manager Zoe Brand on zoe@gaffa.com.au or (02) 9283 4273 or Gaffa’s director, Kelly Robson on kelly@gaffa.com.au.