Friday 20 December 2024
Open 9:00am - 5:00pm

Transitions 2025

Program outline

Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts and Townsville City Galleries are now calling for applications for Transitions 2025. Building on the strength of previous years, the expanded 2025 program will see four emerging visual artists learning and working alongside an emerging visual arts writer. All five emerging practitioners will become mentees, supported with one-on-one mentorship, professional development, networking and group critiques. Throughout the program, the mentees will hone their skills and knowledge while developing a greater understanding of the contemporary arts landscape.

Given that there are only five mentee places available, this will be a competitive application process. Shortlisted mentee applicants will be invited to informal interviews at Umbrella, then matched with established artist mentors (or an arts writer mentor) based on their skill set/s, interests, personality-fit and availability. Successful mentees must then regularly meet with their mentors and complete the outlined commitments. 

Explore the full program dates, benefits and requirements below. If you have any questions or want to check your eligibility for the program, please contact Umbrella's Gallery Manager and Curator Daniel Qualischefski by email or phone 07 4772 7109. 

 The Transitions program is a partnership between Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts and Townsville City Galleries. 

Key dates

Applications close: midnight Monday 30 December 2024

Shortlisted applicant interviews and potential mentor meetings: January 2025

Successful mentees contracted: January - February 2025

Introductory intensive sessions: 10am-2:30pm Saturday 22 February 2025

Gallery and mentor studio visits: 9-1pm Sunday 23 February

 Group critique sessions: 3 x 2hr sessions March, April / May and June (dates TBC based on selected participants' availabilities)

 16hrs of mentorship: February - June 2025

Mentee program benefits:

Throughout the program, all mentees will receive:
- Free participation in the program, including extensive professional development and networking
- A budget allocation for purchasing art materials
- Free entry to Wedgwood: Artists and Industry at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery for a group critique
- Access to Umbrella’s library of art journals for inspiration, research and review

Upon completion of the program, mentees will each receive:
- A free one-year Umbrella membership
- A free one-year Townsville City Galleries Friends of the Gallery membership
- Participation in a Transitions group exhibition in late 2025 at Umbrella (or an equivalent public / published outcome for the writing mentee, to be negotiated in consultation with the successful applicant)

Mentee requirements

All mentees must:
- reside in the Townsville City Council region
- self-define as an emerging artist or be a recent arts graduates (including high-school and TAFE)
- complete surveys at the start and end of the program
- attend the intensive and critique sessions with staff and guest mentors
- actively engage with their mentor, including flexibly working with them to complete 16hrs of contact time (approximately 2hrs fortnightly)

Visual artist mentees must:
- dedicate time (2hrs+ weekly) to reading allocated texts, visiting exhibitions and / or developing artwork
- document their work and progress throughout the program
- resolve at least one artwork by the completion of the program for display in the group exhibition

The writing mentee must:
- dedicate time (2hrs+ weekly) to reading allocated texts, visiting exhibitions, responding to writing prompts and / or writing visual arts related reviews, essays or other texts
- keep copies of their writing work and document their progress throughout the program
- resolve at least one extended written text by the completion of the program

Feedback and advice from previous participants:

“My experience in Transitions was pivotal in helping me to definitively think of myself as an artist.”
“This is a great platform to launch the next level of your arts career.”
“Enjoy the opportunity and experiment with ideas.”
“Be open to your project evolving across the course of the program.”
“Give 100% and be prepared to push yourself. Remember that growth can involve letting go.”
“Listen to and learn from the feedback given. Keep engaging with the local arts community.”
“Work out a timetable to meet up with your mentor, but have some backup plans!”


Video Courtesy of Townsville City Galleries. Videography: Limitless Films.

Apply now

Please ensure your application is written clearly and includes high-quality images. You may wish to save drafts of the texts for your application in Microsoft Word or a similar program, to avoid losing your workings in the event of a computer or internet crash. Please note the required fields in the form below are marked with asterisks * and these fields must be completed for your application to successfully submit. 

Apply to be mentored

Artist / writer details

Please list your legal name
Please list your legal name
(if different to your legal name)
While we understand that there is often crossover between both writing about and creating artwork, for this program you will need to limit your mentorship to one of the two avenues.
Share any website links separated by commas (e.g. artist website, video channels, social media pages like Facebook or Instagram)
Please tick all that apply.

Please upload your arts related CV (PDF file) if you have one Upload File

(50-300 words). Artists, please make reference to the visual style of your work and any concepts that underpin your practice. Writers, please reference the styles of writing you are interested in, whether you have had writing published and / or what you are most interested in learning as a writer.
Professional experience in the arts is not a mandatory requirement of Transitions applicants. (100-300 words).

Please upload your arts qualifications / certificate if applicable Upload File

(50-300 words).
File uploads

ARTISTS, please upload at least 3 images of recent artworks created by you that relate to your application, with image details in each field below. WRITERS, please upload at least one sample of your arts writing, with a description about the writing in each field below.

Attach a high-quality image (.jpg) of one of your strongest artworks, or a strong sample of your arts writing * Upload File

ARTISTS: Artwork title, year, medium, dimensions, photographer name. WRITERS: Description about the text.

Attach a high-quality image (.jpg) of one of your strongest artworks, or a strong sample of your arts writing Upload File

ARTISTS: Artwork title, year, medium, dimensions, photographer name. WRITERS: Description about the text.

Attach a high-quality image (.jpg) of one of your strongest artworks, or a strong sample of your arts writing Upload File

ARTISTS: Artwork title, year, medium, dimensions, photographer name. WRITERS: Description about the text.

Attach a high-quality image (.jpg) of one of your strongest artworks, or a strong sample of your arts writing Upload File

ARTISTS: Artwork title, year, medium, dimensions, photographer name. WRITERS: Description about the text.
Mentorship details

(100-300 words).
Umbrella will match applicants with mentors based on their respective availabilities.
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Open Hours

Tues - Fri: 9am-5pm

Sat - Sun: 9am-1pm

Gallery closed Mondays, public holidays and during exhibition install weeks.

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Contact

(07) 4772 7109

408 Flinders Street,
Gurambilbarra (Townsville),
Qld, 4810 Australia

PO Box 2394,
Gurambilbarra (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.

Umbrella is a Dealer Member of the Indigenous Art Code. This means we are committed to fair and ethical trade with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, and transparency in the promotion and sale of artwork. As a Dealer Member and signatory to the Code we must act fairly, honestly, professionally and in good conscience in all direct or indirect dealings with artists.

Help Us Elevate Regional Artists

We champion artists, amplifying their distinctive and authentic voices. We are an inclusive platform for independent, experimental, contemporary arts practice in local, national, and international arts landscapes. We have a thirty-six year history of connecting artists and audiences and we couldn't do it without your support.

Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts is registered as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) with the Australian Taxation Office. Donations to Umbrella are tax deductible for amounts of $2 or more. Click here to donate.


Acknowledgements

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. | Umbrella is supported by the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation and receives funding from Creative Australia through the Australian Cultural Fund. | Townsville City Council is a funding partner of Umbrella's program.