2023 Call For Proposals: Firstdraft x Metro Arts Exhibition Program

A reciprocal partnership program supporting regional NSW and regional QLD artists to exhibit at both Firstdraft (Sydney) and Metro Arts (Brisbane). In 2022 this was offered to a regional NSW artist, and in 2023 will be offered to a QLD artist.

Across two years, this program supports two projects, one by regional NSW artists and and one by regional QLD artists to be presented at both Firstdraft and Metro Arts.

In Round 1, a project by a regional NSW artist was selected through the 2022 Firstdraft Program Callout, to exhibit at both Firstdraft and Metro Arts.

We are now calling for proposals for Round 2. One project will be selected through this Metro Arts Call for Proposals to exhibit at both Metro Arts and Firstdraft. The applicant/s must live and work primarily in regional QLD.

THE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT RECEIVES

• $2,000 artist/s fee from Firstdraft × Metro Arts (i.e. $1,000 per exhibition);
• $2,000 fee to support travel and freight costs to Firstdraft and Metro Arts (i.e. $1,000 per exhibition);
• A fully subsidised four-week Gallery 2 exhibition at Metro Arts (March – April 2023);
• A fully subsidised six-week Gallery 4 exhibition at Firstdraft (June – July 2023);
• Access to equipment and resources at both Firstdraft and Metro Arts;
• Marketing and communications support for both presentations.
• An opening night event and an artist/s talk evening for both presentations.

Metro Arts welcomes proposals from early career through to established practitioners presenting solo, collaborative or group exhibitions. The program is open to artists, artist collectives and curators looking to exhibit new and experimental works in all fields of visual arts, including sculpture, installation, moving image, painting, drawing, digital media, sound, photography and live art.

Metro Arts is committed to engaging with a diverse range of artists within our programs and encourages applications from members of the creative community across spectrums of ability, age, race, gender identity and sexual orientation. Metro Arts operates under a Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan and has officially adopted the “Protocols for using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts” which can be viewed here.

• The applicant/s must live and work primarily in regional QLD.
• The applicant/s must be available to exhibit in both (approximate dates):
  • March – April 2023 (Metro Arts, Brisbane)
  • June – July 2023 (Firstdraft, Sydney)
• The applicant/s must have or be willing to procure Public Liability Insurance by the first exhibition date. You can read more about public liability insurance on the NAVA website.
• Collaborative applications are welcomed but this must be demonstrated and evidenced in your proposal and support material