2014 Asialink Arts Residencies

18 Feb 2015

What

Since 1991, Asialink’s Arts Residency Program has provided professional development opportunities for arts professionals working across artform, in exchange for the sharing of skills, knowledge and networks with local host communities in Asia.

The program promotes sustained cross-cultural dialogue by facilitating reciprocal residencies and trialing new models of engagement. In 2014, Asialink facilitated arts residencies across three countries in Asia, for four Queensland artists:

• Visual artist Kenji Uranishi spent twelve weeks with Happy Lucky Site and Kou Raku Gama, Japan
• Visual artist Caitlin Franzmann spent ten weeks with Torna Gallery, Turkey
• Creative Producer Joon Yee-Kwok spent six weeks with Hong Kong Fringe Club, Hong Kong
• Visual Artist Chris Bennie spent seven weeks with Youkubo Arts Space, Japan.

Asialink also researched the potential for a reciprocal residency between Queensland and an Asian country in 2015.

When

January to December 2014

Where

Australia – Brisbane; Townsville; Cairns

International – Hong Kong, China; Arita and Tokyo,Japan; Istanbul, Turkey

Key stats

• 4 Queensland residencies
• 3 countries
• 57,459 unique page views during application period

Arts Queensland contribution

$50,000 – Projects and Programs Fund

Outcomes

Kenji Uranishi

• gained a knowledge of the processes and equipment used to produce porcelain items on a mass scale and design decals, leading to a number of designs that have since been produced and will be used by Happy Lucky Site studio in production
• produced a number of on-off pieces that were exhibited with Andrew Baker Art Dealer in Brisbane
• met and built relationships with local artists and craftspeople, including a Master Mould Maker who taught him the techniques of his craft.

Caitlin Franzmann’s residency:

• resulted in solo exhibitions in Istanbul and Brisbane
• inspired a video work which was exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney 
• led to a proposed collaboration on a sitebased sound work for Turkey Ozfest 2015.

Joon Yee-Kwok:

• researched and delivered a valuable report on the Fringe Club, including a proposed strategy for improving the venue experience. The Fringe Club have demonstrated intention to utilise aspects of the strategy in the next phase of their renovation and branding activities
• conducted a seminar for independent artists and companies about the Australian arts landscape and presentation pathways. This increased interest in Australian arts festivals, including an increase in the number of students from Chinese University of Hong Kong applying for an internship position at the Adelaide Festival Centre.

Chris Bennie:

• researched objects and communities affected by the 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami, including a research trip to Tohuku
• created a new work using strategies employed to develop his award winning artwork The Kissing Swans (2013) 
• a repurposed floodaffected caravan from Bundaberg that he transformed into a sculpture. The new work texhibited at Youkobo Arts Space
• developed a catalogue of work for promotional use.

Learnings and reflections

Asialink’s Arts Residencies Manager reflects on the key learnings from the program:

“The inaugural One Day Asia-Capability Orientation was very successful, as it gave residents the opportunity to meet peers and build connections. It was also an efficient and effective way to share Asia-specific knowledge and information about the residency experience.

Allowing Asialink Arts Residents to be flexible in their plans enables them to take advantage of unexpected opportunities.

Asialink encourages Arts Residents to allocate part of their grant funding to language classes as the language barrier can be a challenge at times.”

Contact for further information

Email: e.roberts@asialink.unimelb.edu.au

Phone: (03) 9035 4921

Website: www.asialink.unimelb.edu.au/arts/residency_program

Download a pdf version of the Asialink Arts Residency Program case study (PDF) (427.15 KB).