2017 ANAT Annual Reportarchive2019.anat.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/... · ANAT Annual Report 2017 Page 4 of 32 CHAIR’S REPORT Having come through a period of funding uncertainty,

ANATAnnualReport2017 Page1of32



CONTENTS3. INTRODUCTION 4. CHAIR’S REPORT 6. DIRECTOR’S REPORT 9. GOVERNANCE & STAFF 11. ARTISTIC PROGRAM 15. FINANCIAL REPORT Introduction Fromourbeginningsin1988,ANAThasbuiltanenviablereputationforsupportingartiststopursueexciting,transformationalcreativeresearchwithpartnersdrawnfromthetechnologyandsciencerealms.Wedosobyintroducingartiststoscientificandresearchpracticesandtothepotentialofnewtechnologiesandtechniques.Wechampionartisticexcellencebyidentifyingandsupportingprofessionalartistsatthevanguardoftheirpractice,andbyconsciouslyfosteringacultureofcreativerisk-taking.Weidentifyandsecuretheresourcesrequiredbyartiststoundertakeresearchanddevelopment,andweprovideaframeworkfortheestablishmentofenduringinterdisciplinaryresearchpartnershipsthathaveartattheircore.Finally,wecommunicate,andadvocatefor,theimportanceofcreativeexperimentationandrisk-takinginourrapidlyevolvingcultureandsociety.


CHAIR’S REPORT Havingcomethroughaperiodoffundinguncertainty,2017beganaperiodoflookingforwardwithoptimismandasenseofthepossibilityofgrowthandexpansiononceagain.AnticipatingANAT’s30thbirthdaycelebrationsin2018,therewasalsoadesiretolookbackandtoanchorourthoughtsforthefutureinourrootsandthemanyachievementsofthepast.HoldingthefirsteverSynapseAlumnimeetingwasacelebrationofthosewhohaveparticipatedinourart/scienceresidenciesandanopportunitytocommenceanewdialoguewithourcorestakeholders,theAustralianartistsworkingattheintersectionofart,scienceandtechnology.AttheBoard’sannualstrategyandplanningmeeting,akaNatmeet,westartedaprocessofrebranding,thinkingabouthowweneedtopresentourlargelyvirtualpresenceintheworld,communicatewithourstakeholdersandimportantlybuildandsharetheopportunitieswecreateforartists.Wehavebeguntolookathowwecanhavethekindofconversationsweneedtomakesurethatwearecontinuallyconnectedtoourbase,andtotheneeds,desires,interestsofthoseartists…tobeartist-ledinourthinkingaboutthefuture.OneofthebeautiesofANAT’sprimarilyvirtualpresenceisthatouractivitiesareallphysicallyhostedinthevenuesofourdiversecollectionofprojectpartners.Howeverthisdoesn’tdiminishtheimportanceofensuringasafe,comfortableandefficientofficeenvironmentforANAT’ssmallstaffteam.Inordertoensurethisinanongoingway,theworkwasdoneduring2017tolocate,secureandpreparetomoveANAT’sofficeoutof142NorthTerrace(ourhomefor11years).Wedidn’tmovefarfromhome,withthenewofficeslocatedafewmetresawayat144NorthTerrace,withthemovescheduledforJanuary2018.IhavehadtheprivilegeofcommencingmyroleasChairofANATatanexcitingtimeintheorganisation'slife.JoiningANAT’sboardinFebruary,IwasthenelectedaschairinAugustwhenGillianMorrison,whoheldtherolefor6years,steppeddowninordertofocusonherPhD.WewerepleasedtowelcomeAssociateProfessorChristopherFluke,DirectorofthenewAdvancedVisualisationLaboratoryatSwinburneUniversityofTechnologyontotheBoardattheAGMinMay.Chrisbringsawealthofexperienceofarts/science/technologypartnerships,includinghostingseveralartiststhroughANAT’sSynapseResidencyprogram.I’dliketothankmyfellowboardmembers.GillianMorrison,PeterMcNallyandRossHarley,allofwhomhavestayedontheBoardbeyondtheiroriginaltenureinordertocreatestabilityandcontinuityforANATduringmoreuncertainyearsandhaveplayedalargeroleinensuringtheongoingsustainabilityofANAT’scontributiontothefield.ElizabethEastland,JodiGlassandDavidAnderswhoeachhavecontributedrichlyfromtheirexperienceandexpertise.IwanttoacknowledgeDirectorVickiSowry,whoseintellectualcuriosityandunwaveringenthusiasmandloveforthefieldkeepsdrivingANATforward.SheissupportedbyANAT’ssmall,hard-workingandloyalstaff-MelissaJuhanson,JennBrazier,LouiseVlachandSteven‘Pix’Pickles–allofwhomgoaboveandbeyondtodeliverourprograms.AndfinallyI’dliketoacknowledgeourmanysupportersandprojectpartnerswhoduring2017included:AustralianAntarcticDivision,BritishCouncilAustralia,CopyrightAgencyCulturalFund,CreativeVictoria,CSIRO,UTS,TARNANTHI:FestivalofContemporaryAboriginal&TorresStraitIslanderArt,CityofAdelaide,Experimenta;ourmajorfundingpartnerstheAustraliaCouncilandArtsSouthAustralia;andthemanyartists,scientists,emaildigestsubscribers,programapplicantsandaudienceswhomakeupourcommunity.


ThefieldthatANATworksinisnotalwaysaneasyonetoexplain.Wesupportthepointyendoftheartbusiness,whereartistsarepavingnewpathways,exploringthetechnologiesandresearchthatareimaginingandcreatingourfutures.It’sanexcitingprocesstobearwitnesstoandaprivilegetobeabletocreatetheprogramstosupportthisprocessandtheplatformsthroughwhichthisfuturecanbepresentedtotheAustralianpublic.

CarolineFarmerANATChair


DIRECTOR’S REPORT Asweentered2017,thedusthadmostlysettledfromtheprior18-monthsofupheavalacrossfederalgovernmentandagencyfundinginfrastructure.ANATwasprovidedwithsuretyofoperationsthroughmulti-yearorganisationalfundingfromtheAustraliaCouncilandthroughreinstatedmulti-yearorganisationalfundingfromArtsSouthAustralia,havingbeeninreceiptofannualfundingoverthepreviousdecade.Ourorganisationalfundingsupportstheoperationalbedrockuponwhichwebuildanddeliverourannualprogramforartists.BecausenoyeariseverthesameintermsofwhatANATdelivers,aparticularchallengeistheneedtofindnewpartnersandestablishnewpartnershipsforeachyear’sprogram.In2017thiswascompoundedbyanewpolicymakingresultinginusbeingineligibleforAustraliaCouncilprojectfunding,whichuntilnowhasbeenourprimarygovernmentsourceofprojectfunding.Weapproachedthechallengeintwoways.Firstly,wecontinuedtofollowourusualcourseofsecuringsubstantialin-kindcontributionsfromprojectpartners,thenleveragingoffthistosecurefundingfromgovernmentsources.Togiveanexample:afterdiscussionswithscientistsatCSIROAdvancedManufacturingitwasagreedthatANATwouldpilotthedeliveryofart/scienceresidenciesinthreeoftheirresearchlabsin2017.WesecuredfundingfromCreativeVIC,thenewstateagency,todosoandthreeartistssubsequentlyspentthree-monthsinfull-timeresidenceattheCSIROcampusinClayton,Victoria.Sopositivewasthepost-residencyevaluationthatweareseekingcontinuedfundingtodelivertheprogramintofutureyears.Secondly,weadoptedanewapproachthatinvolvedworkingwithcolleaguesinalignedorganisationstoidentifywaysthat,bypartnering,wemightincreaseourorganisations’reachandsupportofartists.Forexample,in2015and2016,ANATsatontheselectionpanelfortheAustralianAntarcticDivision’sannualArtist’sFellowship.Itwasclearthat,whilstabletodrawonconsiderableresourcestosupporttheprogramitwasstrugglingtocoverthecostsassociatedwiththeFellows’timeinHobartimmediatelypre-andpost-voyage.ThisyearANATandtheAADenteredaformalpartnership,withANATprovidingassistancepre-andpost-voyageandhelpingspreadthewordabouttheprogramtoexperimentalandinterdisciplinaryartists,andAADexposingANATtonewandunfamiliarartists,andprovidingdirectassociationwiththeirprestigiousbrand.Pleasedotakethetimetoreadthe2017ArtisticProgramreporttofullyappreciatethebreadthanddepthofourwork,andthosewehaveworkedwith,overthepastyear.AsANAT’sfinancialpositionconsolidatedwewereabletoappointJennBrazierintotheroleofProgramCoordinator,apositionshetookupearlyintheyear.OurOperationsManager,MelissaJuhanson,continuedtoenableustomeetourfinancial,operationalandgovernancetargetsinatimelymanner,andourCommunicationsandAdministrationOfficer,LouiseVlach,keptartistsandotherstakeholdersuptodatewithopportunitiesandsectordevelopmentsacrossouronlineandsocialplatforms.TechnicalOfficer,StephenPickles(akaPix)ensuredourtechnicalinfrastructureworkedsmoothly,evenafteritwasconfirmedthatyes,ourinternetandVOIPservicesdiddropoutwheneveritrained!IhavenodoubtthatANATwouldbeconsiderablypoorerwithoutthededication,driveandpassionofthissmallteamandIsincerelythankthem.Thanks,too,mustgototheANATBoardandespeciallytoretiringChair,GillianMorrison,whohasbeenawellofwisecounsel,strategicthinkingandsustainedadvocacyoverhersix


yearsintherole.BoardmemberCarolineFarmersteppedupintotheroleofChairandalongsideherBoardcolleagues,DavidAnders,ElizabethEastland,ChristopherFluke,JodiGlass,RossHarleyandPeterMcNally,contributedconsiderabletimeandexpertisetoensuringANAT’songoingsustainabilityandrelevanceinarapidlyevolvingenvironment.Thankyou.Finally,mysincerestthanksandappreciationtoalloftheartistsandpartnerswehavebeenfortunateenoughtohaveworkedwiththisyear.Beingindailycontactwithsuchexceptionalthinking,creativityandvisionmakesitexcitingtocomeintoworkeverysingleday.Longmayyoucontinuetoinspire,exciteandchallengeus!VickiSowryDirector



GOVERNANCE

Board of Directors CarolineFarmer-Chair(fromFebruary–commencedasChairAugust)

GillianMorrison

DavidAndersElizabethEastland

ChristopherFluke(fromMay)JodiGlass

RossHarley

PeterMcNallyVickiSowry

Risk Subcommittee PeterMcNally-ChairDavidAnders

ChristopherFlukeGillianMorrison

VickiSowry

Development Subcommittee CarolineFarmer-ChairElizabethEastland

GillianMorrison

VickiSowry

Human Resources SubcommitteeThe HR Subcommittee is not a standing committee and is convened as needed CarolineFarmer-ChairRossHarley

STAFF

VickiSowryDirectorMelissaJuhansonOperationsManagerJennBrazierProgramCoordinatorLouiseVlachAdministration&CommunicationsOfficerStevenPicklesTechnologyOfficer



ARTISTIC PROGRAM SYNAPSERESIDENCIESSynapseinvolvesAustralianscienceorganisationshostingartistresidenciestodevelopnewcreativepartnershipsbetweenartistsandscientistsinordertogeneratenewknowledge,ideasandprocessesbeneficialtobothfields,andtodevelopasustainablesupportbaseforlong-termcollaborationacrossthesector.TheSynapseresidencyprogramisastrategic,focusedinterventionthatleadstoprofoundartisticandprofessionaldevelopmentforparticipants.Sinceitsestablishmentin2004theprogramhassupportedresearchcollaborationsbetween100+artistsandscientists.In2017fourSynapseresidenciesweredelivered-onewiththesupportoftheCopyrightAgency’sCulturalFund,andthreewiththesupportofCreativeVictoria.Synapseresidency-BadenPailthorpe+UTSSportsScienceArtistBadenPailthorpedrewonhisexpertiseinatmospheres,spatialmediatheoryanddatasciencetoworkwithProfessorAaronCouttsfor16weeksfull-timetodevelopmethodsforquantifyingtheinfluenceofcrowdbehaviouroneliteAFLplayerperformance.SynapseCSIROresidencies–CSIROAdvancedManufacturing,ClaytonVictoriaArtistAntonHasellworkedwithDanielEastandtheresearchteaminLab22–3DPrintedStructures,totestnewmethodsofbellproductionandtoanalysethefrequencyarrayoftestcastingsanddirectmetalprintsinordertocreatebellprofilesthatachievepredictableresults.ArtistJiannHughesworkedwithXavierMuletandtheresearchteaminMetalOrganicFrameworkstoinvestigatehowsuchframeworksandtheirproposedbiomedicalapplicationsmightinfluenceourunderstandingofwhatitistobehuman.ArtistJamesGeurtsworkedwithRichardEvansandhisresearchteaminPolymerCoatingsforCellAdhesiontoexamineconnectionsbetweenprebioticpolymersusedinthelabenvironmentandtheoriginsoftheprimordialpropertiesoftheMurchisonmeteorite.SYNAPSEALUMNINETWORK(SAN)SANisanetworkofAustralianartisticandscientificresearcherswhounderstandthevalueofinterdisciplinaryandexperimentalapproachestoknowledgeproduction.Comprising100+artistsandscientistswhohaveparticipatedinANAT’sart/scienceresidencyprogramssincethelate-1990’s,thenetworkmetinAdelaideforthefirsttimeinOctober2017.Post-meetingevaluationfoundunequivocalsupportforannualSANmeetings,andpointedparticularlytothenetwork’spotentialforseedingfuturepartnershipsandprojects,anditsvalueasa‘communityofpractice’forinnovatorsacrosstheartsandsciences.


ANTARCTICARTSFELLOWSHIPANATestablishedapartnershipwiththeAustralianAntarcticDivisiontosupporttheAntarcticArtsFellowship,whichin2017wasawardedtoMartinWalch,aTasmanianphotographer.WalchtravelledtoMawsonStationinlate2017andspentthreemonthscapturingtheuniqueicyenvironment.RUNDLEPROJECTIONPROJECTSANATcontinueditspartnershipwiththeCityofAdelaidetodeliveropportunitiesforartiststocreatecontentfortheEastEndMovingImageprogram,centredontheRundleProjectorlocatedontheeasternfaçadeoftheTargetbuildingindowntownAdelaide.ANATcommissionedandproducedtwonewprogramsofshortexperimentalscreen-basedworksin2017:NewLight–forTarnanthiFestivalofContemporaryAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderArt:PatrickCarter(WA),BradDarkson(SA),ReginaPilawukWilson(NT)andRaymondZada(SA);Luminosity:LinaLimosani+ThomBuchanan,MarkNiehus,EmmaNortheyandTuttiArtsFilmandNewMediaGroup(LaurenceByrne,MikhaelCrossfield,KathrynEvans,TrishFerguson,JaneHewitt,LorcanHopper,JamesKurtze,JennaMay,NataliePapandrea,JackieSaunders,PavlosSoteriou,JuhaVanhakartano(allSA).Anearlierexperimentalfilmprogram,WORD!,rescreenedalongsideNewLightandLuminositythroughout2017.EXPERIMENTA:MAKESENSEAspartofourcontinuingrelationshipwithExperimentaMediaArts,ANATcontributedtowardsthecommissioningoffivenewworksbyAustralianartistsforthetriennial,ExperimentaMakeSense,whichlaunchedinMelbourneinlate2017,priortotouringextensivelyuntil2020.ThecommissionedartistswereRobertAndrew(QLD),MicheleBarkerandAnnaMunster(NSW),SteveBerrick(WA),AntoinetteJCitizen(VIC)andGailPriest(NSW).Inaddition,wefacilitatedtheinclusionofUK-basedUnfixedartist,JaneGauntlett’sVRwork,InMyShoesinthetriennial,andsecuredsupportfromtheBritishCouncilAustraliaforhertotraveltoAustraliatopresentone-one-oneexperienceswithaudiencemembersandtoparticipateintheACMIVRSymposium.


AdvocacyOverthecourseof2017,theANATDirectorsatonnumerouspanelsandparticipatedinorattendedmanyevents,withthefollowingprovidingasnapshot:-Chair,ArtsSouthAustralia’sCACDfundingprogram-Member,ArtsSouthAustralia’sRichardLlewellynDeafandDisabilityArtsfundingprogram-Industryadvisor,AustraliaCouncil’sExperimentalandEmergingArts-Member,AustralianAntarcticDivision/ANATArtsFellowshipselectionpanel-DFAT’sInternationalVisitorsProgramjournalistbriefings-NationalFilm&SoundArchive’sDigitalDirectionsconference-AustraliaCouncil’sExperimentalPerformancesummit-TheBigAnxietyFestival+GroupTherapyexhibitionlaunch,UNSWSydney-HelenPynorexhibitionlaunch,DominikMerschGallery,Sydney-ExperimentaMakeSenselaunchandCurators’Talk,RMITGalleryMelbourne-SynapseAlumniNetworkmeeting,Adelaide-NewLightprogramlaunch,Adelaide-Tarnanthi:FestivalofContemporaryAboriginal&TorresStraitArtlaunch,AdelaideInaddition,ANATwrotenumerouslettersofsupportforartistspursuingfundingandotheropportunities.



















ANAT extends special thanks to:ArtGalleryofSouthAustralia:NiciCumpston,MimiCrowe;ArtsIndustryCouncilofSouthAustralia:GailKovatseff;ArtsSouthAustralia:JenniferLayther,AngelaSalomon;AustraliaCouncilfortheArts:JeremySmith,AndrewDonovan;AustralianAntarcticDivision:SachieYasuda;BritishCouncilAustralia:AnnaHay,HelenO’Neil,HelenSalmon;CapitalWastePictures:LiamSomerville;CityofAdelaide:SarahFeijen,EdwardJames,DanielleWalpole;CopyrightAgency;CreativeVictoria;CSIRO:DanielEast,RichardEvans,DeborahLau,XavierMulet;ExperimentaMediaArts:SusanKukucka,NickyPastore,JonathanParsons;NAVA:TamaraWinikoff;RiAustralia:LisaBailey,CaseyHarrigan;TenancySolutions.ANATacknowledgestheKaurnaPeopleasthetraditionalcustodiansoftheAdelaidePlainsandrespectstheirculturalauthority.ANATisassistedbytheAustralianGovernmentthroughtheAustraliaCouncilfortheArts,itsartsfundingandadvisorybody;theSouthAustralianGovernmentthroughArtsSouthAustralia;andthroughtheVisualArtsandCraftStrategy,aninitiativeoftheAustralian,StateandTerritoryGovernments.ANAT’sSynapseprogramismadepossiblebytheCopyrightAgency’sCulturalFund.

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Level7,144NorthTerraceAdelaide,SouthAustraliaPOBox8029,StationArcadeSouthAustralia5000Telephone+61882319037Facsimile+61882319766www.anat.org.auanat@anat.org.au

Documents

2017 ANAT Annual Reportarchive2019.anat.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/... · ANAT Annual Report 2017 Page 4 of 32 CHAIR’S REPORT Having come through a period of funding uncertainty,