Calling all artists of any stripe, the community of Cairns, Australia is looking for people to travel Down Under and spend up to three months in residence at its Tanks Arts Centre.
It’s an opportunity for Sidney-area artists — from painters and dancers, to musicians and producers — to live with others from around the world in what is the first Sister Cities Artists Residency Program.
Lesley Nicholls, with the Sidney Sister Cities Association committee, says this program is being offered by the Tanks Arts Centre in Cairns, in Queensland, Australia. They have invited Sidney — one of their sister cities — to submit artist applications to the program.
“We need to see their portfolios and take a look at what kind of work (the artist) does,” said Nicholls. “Really, we’re just trying to see who’s going to apply and take it from there.”
The Sidney area, she continued, has a vibrant and active base of artists of all forms. Already, one person has made an application — but there is room for many more.
The program offers studio or production space in Cairns, accommodation with other artists from around the world, programming assistance, performance space, promotion support, the handling of sales of both artwork and tickets and a residency of a minimum of three weeks and maximum of three months.
Nicholls said the deadline to apply — call her at 250-655-3467 to get a form — is pretty open right now, so don’t delay.
Sidney has been a sister city with Cairns since 1985. Sidney is also a twin community with Niimi, Japan and Anacortes, Washington State.
Nicholls added a delegation of youth from Japan will be the community next week.