Help save Firstdraft. Also, art bargains!
Come to the emergency fundraiser on Thursday 3 September.
Thanks to a compulsory fire order from the council, Sydney’s Firstdraft has been hit with a bill for more than $20,000 to bring the building up to code, including rebuilding, rewiring and providing disabled access to the three galleries and two studios.
To pay for it they’ll be holding an emergency fundraiser on Thursday 3 September with an auction of artworks hosted by MCA director Elizabeth Ann Macgregor.
Firstdraft is Sydney’s longest standing artist-run initiative, run on a voluntary basis by a group of practising artists. It has been giving breaks to emerging artists and young curators since 1986, and many have gone on to significant careers in contemporary art.
So far the list of artists and galleries who’ve donated artwork is pretty much a who’s who of the Sydney art scene: Del Kathryn Barton, Mike Parr, David Griggs, Lauren Brincat, Christopher Hanrahan, Sarah Goffman, Simon Kennedy, Brett East, Tom Polo, Agatha Gothe-Snape, Michaela Gleave, Mikala Dwyer, Helen Hyatt-Johnston, Jake Walker, Christine Cornish, Jessica Maurer, Rachel Scott, Mitch Cairns, Penelope Benton, Jess Oliveri, Sonny Day, Rod Jacka, Lionel Bawden, Jumaadi, Will French, Kate Scardifield, Tom Polo, Shane Haseman, Gallery 9, Gallery 4a, Breenspace, Stills gallery, Anna Schwartz gallery and Kaliman gallery, and there are more on the way.
Previews are available from 12pm on Wednesday 2 September and the auction runs from 6 to 9pm on Thursday 3 September.
Firstdraft is at 116-118 Chalmers St, Surry Hills. [map]
Michaela Gleave, ‘Proposed Model for Conversational Arrangement’ 2009
Update: 27 September
Media release from Firstdraft
Firstdraft has today announced the success of its emergency fundraiser art auction held on 3 September 2009. Over $20,000 was raised on the night to go towards funding compulsory renovations the gallery must soon undergo due to a Council Fire Order. Every dollar raised will go towards rebuilding, rewiring and providing disabled access to Firstdraft’s 3 galleries and 2 studios.
Hosted by Elizabeth Ann Macgregor, Director, Museum of Contemporary Art, the auction night saw hundreds from the contemporary arts community flock to Firstdraft to purchase works from a variety of artists and galleries that donated to the cause, ranging from big-name artists such as Mike Parr, Ben Quilty and Del Kathryn Barton, through to young and emerging artists.
The Directors of Firstdraft would like to sincerely thank everyone involved in making the fundraiser a success; from the artists and galleries who generously donated works, to those who came along on the night to buy up big or just to donate, the huge fundraising effort means that Sydney’s longest running Artist Run Initiative will continue to support innovative, experimental and emerging practices and add to the cultural vibrancy of the city for many years to come.
Firstdraft would particularly like to thank Elizabeth Ann Macgregor, Director, Museum of Contemporary Art and Ronan Sulich, Associate Director, Representative, Christie’s, for generously giving up their time on the night.
In another piece of good news for the gallery, City of Sydney Council has granted Firstdraft a 3-year lease of a disused building in Riley Street, Woolloomooloo to convert into artist studios.
Formerly a street-sweeper depot, the two-story building will be re-purposed into a vibrant arts facility hosting around eight studio spaces (including the Firstdraft Emerging Artist Studio Residency Program), a project/workshop space and the Phatspace video archive.
Stay tuned to www.firstdraftgallery.com for info on applying for the studio program and for more details about the opening of the space. For further information on the Riley Street property, contact Connie Anthes, Co-Director, Firstdraft at connie[at]firstdraftgallery.com
Paul Hayes 2009.