Artspace has announced the first wave of Australian artists, creatives and collectives set to participate in their new 52 ACTIONS series, launching on 18 May 2020.
The selected Australian artists and creatives will receive $1000 for the development and presentation of new work and will see the creation of 52 artworks including live performances, photography, video, sound and text-based work, interventions and digital public programs. Each week for a year, a different creative will present a new commission shared globally across Artspace’s digital platforms.  The first selected practitioners include: Abdul Abdullah, Brook Andrew, Bankstown Poetry Slam, Archie Barry, Johnathon World Peace Bush (Jilamara Arts), Rainbow Chan, Erin Coates, Ruha Fifita, Henri Papin (Meijers & Walsh), Hayley Millar-Baker, Jason Phu, Stelarc, Tyza Stewart, Shahmen Suku | Radha, James Tylor and Kaylene Whiskey.

The project expands upon 52 ARTISTS 52 ACTIONS, Artspace’s year-long Instagram project that ran from 2018–19, inviting 52 artists and collectives across Asia to respond to important concerns in their local contexts. Utilising the digital framework established by 52 ARTISTS 52 ACTIONS, this new iteration centres around the social and cultural importance of artistic practice and art as action in times of uncertainty and transformation.

IMAGE: Stelarc, Reclining StickMan, 2020, installation view, Monster Theatres: 2020 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art, Art Gallery of South Australia. Photo: Saul Steed