Artists and musicians sitting at home out of work, are called to creatively respond to adversity and develop a creative work for Lismore Quad and Lismore Regional Gallery.

The paid creative work will be part of the new Together//Alone project.

It comes at a time when the coronavirus outbreak has put an end to all community celebrations, and galleries, festivals and public spaces have closed. During this, many Northern Rivers artists are facing serious income loss.

The Together//Alone project offers paid opportunities for Northern Rivers artists across all artforms to develop a creative concept over a two week at-home ‘residency’ that includes a component that can be communicated via a digital platform.

Artists do not need to present fully formed complete works - the emphasis is on the creative process and connection.

Works will be shared via The Quad and Lismore Regional Gallery’s websites and social media channels.

Together//Alone asks Northern Rivers artists to creatively respond to the question: ‘How do we remain connected to community places from our homes?’

The Quad Placemaking Officer Jane Fuller said “we ask that a component of artists’ projects can be shared digitally so that our community can connect and engage with the work; view it, sing along to it, dance to it, admire it, read it, be inspired by it, and feel a sense of connection with community”.

“Together//Alone with The Quad and Lismore Regional Gallery is an opportunity for Northern Rivers artists to extend their creative practice from an isolated location and counteract the lack of access to our shared creative community gathering places of The Quad and Lismore Regional Gallery,” Jane said.

“We are redirecting the funds from Create NSW for The Gallery and The Quad’s cancelled public programs to Together//Alone so we can help support Northern Rivers artists directly during this time of hardship.

“The importance of the arts in responding to and helping us through these times cannot be underestimated. We’ve seen it already with Italians singing on balconies, the Australian Opera’s chorus singers performing in Sydney’s Waterloo, and an amazing suite of live streams of dance, music and writing coming from our artists. The Quad and Lismore Regional Gallery are committed to our wonderful Northern Rivers creatives and maintaining the vital connection with our community.’

Northern Rivers based artists working in all mediums are invited to apply to be part of Together//Alone, including, but not limited to: writers, musicians or other performance artists, sound and or multimedia artists, video, installation or performance artists, ceramicists, craft or textile artists, comedy, dance workshops, animations, experimental music, conversation and panels, ezine’s, photography, podcasts and more.”

A minimum of five artists will be selected to participate in the first Together//Alone project (April – May 2020) with future programs to be considered.

Expressions of interest will be considered by The Quad’s Placemaking Officer, Lismore Regional Gallery Director and Lismore Regional Gallery Learning Officer.

Applications for the first project are open until Friday, May 22.

Visit http://www.lismorequad.org.au for more information or to discuss concepts.

Artists are welcome to contact Jane Fuller at jane.fuller@lismore.nsw.gov.au.