For 25 years, TiNA in all its forms has been a custodian of Newcastle’s cultural journey. We have been nurturing and nourishing experimental and emerging artists and audiences with innovative programming and opportunities culminating in our flagship event This is Not Art Festival.
Many of you will have heard that following a rough few years, we’ve decided it’s time to wrap up our operations. We are saddened to see TiNA go but pleased to be able to end with the same spirit of generosity that has kept us delivering the goods for decades.
We are determined to close this last chapter doing what we love the most - supporting emerging and experimental creative practice - so we’ve designed a small grants program to support artists/creatives living and/or working in our target areas.
We have had a great run, but like many not-for-profit organisations there is unfortunately a finish line in sight. We just haven’t managed to secure reliable funding or attract the next generation of TiNA alumni to keep pushing forward.
At our AGM in May the Board supported a motion to wrap up operations. It is disappointing but we are confident we are leaving Newcastle in much better cultural shape than when we started in the late ‘90s.
Key dates:
- Applications open: Tuesday 1 October 2024
- Applications close: Midnight, Tuesday 22 October 2024
- Funds disbursed: Before 30 November 2024
About
The grants are intended to support existing emerging and experimental practice and are not necessarily tied to a specific project outcome. Funds can be used for activities that support you or your organisation to keep pushing boundaries and create innovative work.
Relevant activities include (but are not limited to), studio rent, materials, transport, travel, tuition, venue hire, equipment and documentation such as photography or videography.
Eligibility
Individuals and organisations are eligible to apply.
Individuals must meet all the following criteria:
- You are an Australian citizen, permanent resident of Australia or have a valid working visa for Australia
- You are aged 18 or older
- You have a valid ABN
- You define your creative practice as emerging or experimental (refer to the FAQs below for our definitions)
- You live or work in one of the following Local Government Areas: Newcastle, Maitland, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, Cessnock.
Organisations must meet all the following criteria:
- Your organisation has experience supporting emerging practitioners and experimental creative practice (refer to the FAQs below for our definitions).
- Your organisation's work is based in one of the following Local Government Areas: Newcastle, Maitland, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, Cessnock
- Your organisation has a valid ABN.
Assessment
Eligible submissions will be assessed by the Executive Members of the TiNA Board, based on the following criteria:
- Creative excellence: artistic merit and excellence of creative practice.
- Capacity: ability to execute proposed activities.
How to apply
Complete the relevant online form by midnight on 22 October:
Queries
Please reach out via email to admin[at]octapod.org if you have any questions. Please note that TiNA's social media accounts may not be actively monitored.
Frequently Asked Questions
What artforms does TiNA support?
TiNA supports all artforms and creative disciplines, this includes visual art, music, dance, performance, creative poetry and prose.
What is experimental art?
Experimental art – of any discipline – will have the following characteristics:
- It is identifiably innovative
- It pushes the limit of the chosen discipline, or revels in the margins between disciplines
- It contains a degree of trial and error, or an unknown outcome – this is either inherent within the project, or can be demonstrated in the lead-up to the project
- It doesn’t always succeed.
What is an emerging practitioner?
TiNA chooses to define an emerging practitioner as:
- Someone in the first decade of their creative practice OR
- Either before, or in the first five years following a key milestone in their career. This can include, but is not limited to:
Securing representation. In visual art this might be a commercial gallery, or in music a record label deal.
Achieving something big. We might never feel like we ‘have made it’ but in many ways we can sense when we have moved on from our emerging practice. This might include the commencement of a paid position in the ability to live exclusively off creative earnings. It might also be a point where an artist's work has achieved a signature style.
How do I get paid?
Successful applicants will be required to supply an invoice prior to payment.
Will I need to acquit the grant?
A formal acquittal will not be required. Instead, we will request that you make at least one post to your social media account acknowledging support from TiNA.