A rare opportunity for artists to travel to Antarctica and the Southern Ocean as expeditioners, and gain first-hand knowledge of the Australian Antarctic Program, opens for application today.

The Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship enables people from the creative sector, not necessarily with a science focus, to share their experience with the broader community through their chosen art form.

The objectives of the Arts Fellowship are to communicate:

  • the activities of the Australian Antarctic Program;
  • the importance of the unique Antarctic and sub-Antarctic natural environments;
  • human stories and endeavours;
  • Australia’s historical Antarctic and sub-Antarctic legacy; and
  • the international Treaty history, values and cooperation that shape Antarctica’s geopolitical significance.

The Arts Fellowship is aimed at people gifted in communicating through various media including the visual arts, film-making, performance, writing, and music.

The 2020/21 Arts Fellow(s) will travel south to Australian research stations on the Antarctic continent or on sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island.

In ongoing support for Fellows, the Australian Network for Art & Technology (ANAT) will again provide the successful applicant with $5000, to help cover medical and ancillary travel expenses.

Previous Arts Fellows include sound artist Philip Samartzis, children’s author Alison Lester, visual artist Stephen Eastaugh, writer Jesse Blackadder and screenwriter Jane Allen.

The 2019/20 Arts Fellows are digital artists Dr Adam Nash and Dr John McCormick, currently returning to Australia from Mawson and Davis research stations on the Aurora Australis.

Expressions of interest can be submitted online until 27 March 2020. Shortlisted applicants will then be invited to submit a more detailed proposal.

More information for applicants – Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship

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