Art Park/Atlantic Residency Program

You may have already heard about this, maybe you haven’t. Either way it’s still a pretty rad idea that is going on. It’s the Art Park/Atlantic Residency Program and it gives an artist an opportunity to kick it in Byron for 6weeks while creating new works.

Just quickly, the program aims to financially support an artist, allowing them to produce a body of work outside of their everyday environment. Two 6 week residencies are offered each year. The program is coordinated, funded and managed by Art Park, a new clothing label based in Byron Bay. Neat huh!

The first residency went to Joni Sternbach from the Big Apple – that joint where Elaine can’t buy a root dude, Kramer don’t have a job and George has lost the penski file – New York City.

Joni won with her ‘SurfLand’ series of photographs – sidenote: The residency has a pretty tight selection process, all artists have to submit bodies of work to be considered, etc.. – Joni will arrive in Byron Bay on February 18, 2011 where she will get accommodation, studio/workshop space, return travel and a daily allowance enabling her to focus on her art practice for a period of 6 weeks.

This whole program is coordinated, funded and managed by Art Park, a new clothing label based in Byron Bay. The company is owned by Craig Rochfort and Paul McNeil. The program is generously supported by Atlantic Guesthouses Byron Bay, who provide the artist with accommodation and studio/workshop space. Each residency may incorporate a solo exhibition, public lecture/floor talk and community workshops.

Pretty rad concept.