TRANSFORM YOUR ART INTO LIGHT WITH THE VIVID FIRST NATIONS LIGHT ACCELERATOR PROGRAM

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Ever looked at the gleaming lights of VIVID Sydney and wondered what it’d be like to have one of your designs projected on the city? For people to move through and interact with something you created? Or something that’s been passed down through your Mob for thousands of generations? 

What would it look like to transform your story into light? 

We’re teaming up with Vivid Sydney to help you make that happen. No need to wonder!

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ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

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The First Nations Light Accelerator program connects visual and light artists with professional motion and graphic design studios so First Nations creators can successfully apply to participate in VIVID Sydney’s annual light show. The program is designed to build pathways that ensure Mob have the connections and resources they’d need to make submissions for and show work in VIVID programs this next year and in years to come. 

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YOU’LL GET

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- Paid $16K + costs.
- The opportunity to work towards potential presentation in VIVID 2028.
- Development of your practiceIndustry connections, mentoring and resources.

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WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR

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First Nations artists and creatives who: 

- Are younger professionals passionate about light or technology (not necessarily students) or;
- Work with traditional mediums but are interested in developing a new side of their practice such as animation and light artworks or;
- Are already developing skills in animation and light artworks but find the paperwork/process overwhelming or;
- Don't know where to start or who to partner with to bring their visions to life.

Please note, all applicants must have a willingness and ability to spend up to two days a week (over four months) with an office-based team working on projects. 

Applicants must be Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

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SUBMITTING AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

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Key dates:

- Expressions of interest open 16 September.
- Expressions of interest close: 4 October.
- Successful participants will be notified in October.

Submission checklist:

- Full name and phone number
- A short artist bio
- Please tell us about you, your practice, and your desired outcomes for this project. Detail what professional success and artwork success look like to you. 
- Three previous works as images, videos (public links) or PDFs – maximum 5MB per attachment. 
- A brief pitch for a project you would like to see appear as part of a future VIVID light festival

Send an email to submissions@awesomeblack.studio with all items in the checklist above. Only submissions with all checklist items will be considered. 

Awesome Black will get in touch soon if we would like to discuss the project with you some more. Unfortunately we are unable to respond to everyone.

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ABOUT VIVID SYDNEY

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Vivid Sydney is an annual comprehensive arts festival, lighting up Sydney into a colourful canvas of Light, Music, Minds and Food programming. 

Vivid Sydney transforms the city’s icons and streets with the Vivid Light Walk – a free trail of Light projections and installations across the Harbour foreshore. 

Plus, Vivid Music electrifies venues across Sydney with live music; Vivid Minds inspires with talks, art and immersive events from innovative thinkers and creatives; and Vivid Food serves up fresh flavours and unforgettable, unique dining experiences. 

Vivid Sydney is owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW, the NSW Government's tourism and major events agency.
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ABOUT AWESOME BLACK

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Awesome Black is a creative consultancy and studio committed to transforming contemporary culture through a First Nations perspective. We are artists, storytellers and cultural thinkers who infuse a fresh, dynamic approach into creative projects. Our work spans various mediums, including large-scale immersive and live experiences, audio and visual storytelling, and curatorial, strategic and cultural consulting.

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Image courtesy Vivid Sydney

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