Firstdraft

Firstdraft: Supporting the Emergent and Experimental Arts Practice in Australia

Firstdraft is a renowned artist-led initiative that has been supporting the development and presentation of emergent and experimental arts practice in Australia for over three decades. Founded in 1986, Firstdraft has become one of the longest-running organizations of its kind, providing a platform for emerging artists to showcase their work and connect with audiences.

At Firstdraft, we believe that art is an essential part of our cultural heritage, and we are committed to promoting new voices in contemporary art. Our mission is to provide a supportive environment where artists can experiment with new ideas, take risks, and push boundaries. We offer a range of programs designed to help emerging artists develop their skills, build networks within the arts community, and gain exposure for their work.

One of our core programs is the Firstdraft Gallery Program. This program provides emerging artists with an opportunity to exhibit their work in our gallery space located in Sydney's inner west. The program runs throughout the year and includes solo exhibitions as well as group shows curated by guest curators from around Australia.

In addition to our gallery program, we also offer a range of other initiatives designed to support emerging artists. These include professional development workshops on topics such as grant writing, marketing strategies for artists, social media management for creatives among others; mentorship opportunities where established practitioners provide guidance on career development; residencies that allow artists time away from distractions so they can focus solely on creating new works; public talks featuring leading figures from across various creative industries who share insights into their practices.

We are proud to have supported many successful Australian contemporary artists over the years through these programs including Abdul Abdullah (2010), Keg de Souza (2012), Emily Parsons-Lord (2015) among others who have gone on to achieve national recognition both locally & internationally.

At Firstdraft we understand how important it is for young creatives not only get exposure but also be able make ends meet while pursuing their passion which why we pay all exhibiting artist fees along with offering travel stipends when required so that they can focus solely on creating great art without worrying about financial constraints.

Our commitment towards supporting emergent arts practice extends beyond just showcasing artworks at our gallery space or providing professional development opportunities but also through collaborations with other organisations such as Art Month Sydney & Sydney Contemporary Art Fair which allows us reach wider audiences while promoting Australian contemporary art scene globally.

In conclusion,

Firstdraft has been instrumental in shaping Australia's contemporary art scene by providing much-needed support for emergent arts practice since its inception over three decades ago. Our commitment towards nurturing young talent continues today through various initiatives aimed at helping them develop skills needed succeed within this competitive industry while ensuring they receive fair compensation along way too!