Expressions of Interest Sought for Outsider Art Fair

For immediate release 1/July/2014
Expressions of Interest Sought for NZ’s debut Outsider Art Fair

New Zealand's first Outsider Art Fair in Auckland will showcase the quality and creative diversity of artists outside of the mainstream and will explore the term ‘Outsider Art’ in a New Zealand cultural context.

Modeled on the globally renowned New York Outsider Art Fair, the event offers an opportunity for New Zealand’s diverse community of innovative thinkers, inspirational speakers, and creative minds to come together to shed light on this growing phenomenon.

The main event will be held at the Nathan Club, Britomart, Auckland from the 21st till the 23rd of November 2014. The Fair seeks to promote the unique qualities of this art genre, through exhibitions, installations, performance programs, panel discussions, workshops and portfolio presentations. All open to the public.

Pop up exhibitions and mini events will be featured around the Auckland CBD and beyond in the weeks surrounding the main event.

The Outsider Art Fair is the brainchild of Toi Ora Live Art Trust, an award winning art organisation, providing innovation and leadership in the field of creativity and mental wellbeing since 1995. One of New Zealand’s leading minds in Outsider Art Stuart Shepherd has been brought on board to lead the curation of the visual exhibition element and provide his vast experience having represented artists at the New York Outsider Art Fair for many years. Also on the team and supporting the event are TedX Auckland, Heart of the City, Auckland Council, Tim Walker and the Tim Melville Gallery.

The event is already shaping up to be a memory maker and debut what the team hope will become a landmark on the International Outsider Art Event calendar.

Calls for expressions of interest are now open from artists, presenters, and those with an interest in Outsider Art. For more information please visit www.outsiderartfair.co.nz or email us at EOI@outsiderartfair.co.nz

Artwork by Andrew Blythe
Auckland Outsider Art Fair. Nov 21 – 23 2014.
Calling for Expressions of Interest.
Introduction.
The Auckland Outsider Art Fair is a weekend long event in Nov. that showcases the quality and creative diversity of artists that do their work, for whatever reason, outside of the mainstream and explores the term ‘Outsider Art’ in a New Zealand cultural context.
The controversy surrounding the exact definition of Outsider Art and allied fields has been going on for many years.
http://www.rawvision.com/about/raw-visions-definitions
The Fair is loosely modelled on the concept established by the New York Outsider Art Fair, which has worked for the past 20 years at building awareness around the diverse community of artists with unique experience and practice. It has played a vital role in building a passionate collecting community and continues to grow on a global scale. Europe and the UK have a long history of art collection in this field.
This event will see Toi Ora expand its relationship with TedX Auckland , the collaboration offers an opportunity for Auckland’s diverse community of innovative thinkers, inspirational speakers, and creative minds to come together, shed light on this growing phenomenon.
Located in central Auckland, the Fair will promote the unique qualities of this art genre and stimulate awareness and dialogue through an exhibition, installation and performance program, plus panel discussions, workshops and portfolio presentations. All open to the public.
The Programme
We are currently calling for expressions of interest from across New Zealand to participate in the Outsider Art Fair. In particular we are looking for people to participate in the programme in the following ways:

1. Panel Discussions and Presenters :
Below are some examples to whet the appetite …
• The experiences of Outsider Artists
• Ethical considerations, the challenges surrounding the label, who defines the boundaries?
• Is the title 'Outsider' appropriate in todays contemporary art world.
• Historical validity verses the present day, has it changed.
• Contemporary collecting, curation and the market for Outsider Art
• The rise in interest and inclusion of Outsider Art internationally
• When 'Outside' artists being invited to exhibit alongside 'other' artists is the concept still relevant? Why is it important to carry the label?

2. Portfolio and project presentations (10 – 15 mins)
• This is a great opportunity for outsider artists looking to showcase their work in a high profile, public space with
marketing and publicity support.
• Artists are asked to send through a portfolio of their work (or a link to your work online) and a short paragraph about your proposed presentation.
• Due to the nature of this project, we are inviting those artists who consider themselves to be 'outsider artists', your work may come under the following categories, folk art, naive art, self taught, regardless of the label please feel free to apply.
• There may also be an opportunity to exhibit artwork in the digital/online gallery space.

3. Artists
• Visual artists for exhibition (digitally and onsite)
• Pop Up exhibitions
• Performers
• Digital/Technology Driven artworks.
• Key skills sought: Visual arts practitioners, painters, printmakers, sculpture, photography, performance artists, multimedia artists.

The Event. Nathan Club and environs of Britomart Auckland
21 - 23 NOV. 2014

Opening night. Friday 21st Nov - Auckland Outsider Art Fair launch and Exhibition opening.
Main Programme. Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd A mix of presentations , panels discussions, installations , music and more.

The Team

We have secured Auckland Council Community Group Support Funding and seeking other revenue sources and partnerships to ensure a dynamic and successful inaugural event.
Current organisation group, members and supporters include Toi Ora, Stuart Shepherd, TEDX Ak, Auckland Council, Tim Melville Gallery and Tim Walker.
Toi Ora Live Art Trust.
Toi Ora Live Art, is an award winning art organisation, providing innovation and leadership in the field of creativity and mental wellbeing since 1995. www.toiora.org.nz
Stuart Shepherd
Visited the first Outsider Art Fair in N.Y. 20 years ago. Lectures in Dept. of Art and Design, Massey University and worked at Vincents Art Workshop in Wellington for several years. 2001, university sponsored national survey of self-taught artists in N.Z. and in 2009 took a booth at the N.Y. Outsider Art Fair, showcasing artists work from both N.Z. and Arts Project Australia . Subsequently curated various collections of work by New Zealand artists internationally, most recently a one day exhibition in New York featuring work by both trained and untrained N.Z. artists.
TedX Auckland
TEDxAuckland brings together some of the country's most interesting minds for a full day of talks, discussions and learning. The annual event is held in Auckland in August. http://tedxauckland.com/about/
TEDx events are held in about 1200 cities worldwide and are a spin-off of the annual TED Conference, which started in California 25 years ago. "New Zealand is a country founded upon ingenuity, innovation and courage, and it's time that we celebrate our many talents,” Elliot Blade (TedX Auckland Producer)
In the interest of partnership and idea spreading TedX are supporting the NZ Outsider Art Fair.
To Submit your expression of interest you can either:

Email us at EOI@outsiderartfair.co.nz

Email us your:
Name
Contact Details
Whether your EOI relates to:
- Workshop
- Presentation
- Project/Portfolio Presentation

Then max 500 words on what you are interested in presenting.

or fill in the form online at www.outsiderartfair.co.nz

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