At The Vanishing Point - Contemporary Art Inc.   (ATVP)

 

ATVP Outline:

 

ATVP is an artist-run regional contemporary art space that showcases a challenging and dynamic program of contemporary art exhibitions and related public programs that engage with issues pertaining to contemporary discourse and action in and around art, culture, environment, society (community), ecology, philosophy and politics. 

 

Coordinated and managed on an entirely voluntary basis by a dedicated team of local artists and arts workers, ATVP provides a platform for artists, especially emerging artists, to be developed through mentoring, critiquing and celebrating the artistic and cultural merit of their ideas, arts practices and artworks. 

 

ATVP has a deep focus on building and nurturing community through audience development initiatives that are accessible, inclusive, interactive, thought provoking and welcoming.

 

 

ATVP Philosophy:

 

ATVP is a platform for contemporary art and contemporary issues to be exhibited, conversed upon and engaged with on meaningful and accessible levels. 

ATVP aims to :

* assist in the development of artistic practices and cultural production by presenting a dynamic and challenging program of contemporary art exhibitions and related public programs.

* enhance and encourage community engagement in contemporary art and contemporary issues.

* provide an accessible and inclusive gallery that is professional and of unique experience and quality.

* provide a platform for artists, curators, directors and volunteers to gain further experience and knowledge, and to develop professional and creative skills that can be applied in their careers across the arts and creative industries.

ATVP Program:

 

The gallery runs a series of seasonal (quarterly) projects that include:

 

* ATVP Show of the Season program (SoS) - a thematic group exhibition devised and curated by ATVP Directors. These exhibitions showcase on average 15-20 artists selected from proposals submitted in response to a public call-out of a theme or curatorial concept created by ATVP and derived from the galleries recognition of important contemporary issues or artistic ideas.

 

* ATVP Emerging Curator Mentorship program (ECMP) - a thematic group exhibition in which selected aspiring curator candidates are mentored - by ATVP Directors - through the entire process of conceiving, realising, administering and staging a contemporary art exhibition.

 

 * ATVP Spotlight on Local Artists program (SoLA) - a new program that identifies and  showcases the work of local artists who have exhibited at ATVP on previous occasions in group exhibitions. The program aims to further challenge and develop artists who have shown ingenuity and significant promise in their artistic practice by working with the artist to present a whole gallery solo exhibition.

 

* ATVP Courtyard Mural project (ACMP) - a program of ephemeral artworks on mural boards mounted in the gallery courtyard. There are three mural spaces, two at 1.8 x 3.6m and the other 1.5 x 2.4m.

 

* ATVP artCYCLE project - In partnership with Bike Sydney, artCYCLE is a social guided tour, by bicycle, of gallery spaces, artist studios, public art and art events in and around Sydney. Each tour is unique and free.

 

* A TVP Exhibition Access program (EA) - an exhibition program where ATVP presents exhibitions that have been selected via an open exhibition proposal process offered to artists, curators and organisations.

 

 

Community Building:

 

ATVP places high value on community development and engagement, and artistic and creative partnerships. The gallery has worked closely with and been supported by a number of other artistic and cultural organisations and institutions on various projects in the past, and will continue to foster creative relationships in its projects into the future.

 

In projects past, ATVP has had the support of, or worked in partnership with local businesses, universities, TAFEs and public high schools across Sydney, Marrickville Council, local commercial and artist-run galleries and studios and public galleries across greater Sydney.

 

 

ATVP Location:

 

The gallery is located on busy King Street Newtown, the heart and iconic cultural, shopping and cafe district of Sydney's Inner West. The premises are on the south end of King Street, 10 minutes walk from Newtown train station or 2 minutes from St. Peters station. The gallery is housed in an early twentieth century terrace amongst the heritage valued late 19th and early 20th century terraces that line the famous street.

 

'The area contains one of the highest percentages of artists, cultural workers and arts industries of any local government area in Australia' (www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au) and has 'the reputation for being a centre for new and emerging independent artists' (www.newtownprecinct.net.au).