Thursday, February 27, 2014 – 5:45 p.m. Melbourne time
By Teressa Jackson
I had another vocational day today, spending several hours at
Arts Project Australia. Sandy, their Office Manager, graciously spent the
morning with me, orienting me to their philosophy and approach, and Sim spent
the afternoon orienting me to their curatorial practices, social media efforts,
events, etc. Much like Rauch, Arts Project Australia was founded 40 years ago
by a parent of a daughter with an intellectual disability. Myra Hilgendorf saw
the artistic potential in her daughter, and became inspired. The project began
by collecting and displaying art from institutions around Melbourne. This
original collection is permanently housed in the organization’s archives.

Most of Arts Project Australia’s income (around 80%) is from
day service funding from the state and federal (commonwealth) government. As
such, they receive funding to support the time the artists spend at the studio
and the support provided to them during that time. Artists receive 60% of the
proceeds from the sale or license of their work. This setup required
negotiation and understanding with the government due to its innovative nature.
Arts Project Australia also receives grants and sponsorships, and is working to
implement a donor program.
Of course, the highlight for me was seeing the artists at
work. Many of them were intrigued that I was from America. I was told I looked
like a “supermodel”, asked about the death penalty, discussed Elvis and
Graceland, and requests were made to accompany me back to the U.S. I must admit
that it made me miss the people who make my life special every day at home.
View more photos from the day and stay up-to-date with all our latest at our Facebook page:www.facebook.com/gse2014.
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