UNTAPPED invites visual artists to apply to participate in one of two group shows to be held each year at SHOPHOUSE 5, an art space located in the Geylang area of Singapore. The goal of the series is to establish support networks and offer practical experience for local artists at this crucial early stage in their career. UNTAPPED does this by presenting two annual juried group exhibitions and by connecting artists directly with arts patrons.
UNTAPPED EMERGING exhibits new work by up to 10 artists with 2-4 years of professional practice. Open Call for the next UNTAPPED EMERGING will take place January 2018.
UNTAPPED DISCOVERY features new work by up to 15 artists between the ages of 16-35 within the first 2 years of professional practice. This show is slated for December 2017.
UNTAPPED Connections, newly introduced this year, selects two of these artists by two art patrons who will be gifting $3,000 and $2,000 for each of the selected UNTAPPED Discovery and UNTAPPED Emerging artist, respectively. A dinner will also be hosted by these very generous art patrons to enable connections with other patrons, collectors or academia.
The feature that sets UNTAPPED apart from other emerging artist programmes is its close collaboration with arts patrons. Local patrons provide the up-front funding for the project. In return, each patron is able to collect one artwork from each exhibition. This means that over a third of the artworks shown by these young artists will automatically be acquired by established art patrons. This goes beyond general exposure and connects artists directly with individuals who are actively supporting the visual arts in Singapore.
UNTAPPED will be promoted directly to students at Singaporean art schools as well as posted on local arts notice boards. Submissions will be reviewed and selected by the VADA Advisory Committee.
The exhibitions will be promoted to media, the arts industry and general public through press releases, social media, and featured on the VADA website.
Artists selected to participate in UNTAPPED will receive a $200 SGD artist fee and compensated for artworks sold.
2017 UNTAPPED Advisory Committee
Boo Sze Yang - Artist
Martin Constable - Assistant Professor, The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Vietnam
Adeline Kueh - Senior Lecturer at LASALLE College of the Arts
Zainudin Samsuri - Faculty of Visual Arts, School of the Arts Singapore
PREPARATION & EXHIBITION
In the lead up to the December 2017 exhibition, selected artists will be required to attend a Kick-off Meeting and an Educational Session on working with galleries. Prior to opening night, artists will attend a Patrons Preview during which they will present their work to the UNTAPPED Patrons and other participating artists. Artists are encouraged to attend the opening night event and visit the exhibition often during the exhibition run.
Additional details regarding preparation requirements and activities for the UNTAPPED Discovery artists will be provided immediately following their announcement.
2017 UNTAPPED DISCOVERY TIMELINE:
July 2017 - Applications Open
28 August 2017 - Submissions Due
28 September 2017 - Selected Artists Announced
30 September 2017 - KO Meeting (2 hours)
14 October 2017 - Proposal for new work due
19 November 2017 - Working with Galleries Presentation and Exhibition Final Prep Meeting (2 hours)
8 December 2017 - Patrons Preview (2 hours)
9 - 23 December 2017 – Exhibition (Includes Opening Event - 2 hours)
Dates and times are subject to change.