Bringing art to the business world
Clifford Gouldson Lawyers’ Artist-in-Residence program 2023 will again offer one local artist the opportunity to work in and develop a profile with the Toowoomba business community.
For the successful artist, the program offers a workspace within Clifford Gouldson’s office, a weekly stipend over 8 weeks and an end-of-residency launch event with the firm’s clients and contacts.
As this year’s Artist-in-Resident Exhibition Evening is combined with the official Opening of our new office at The Foundry, 259 Ruthven Street, we particularly invite artists whose works or medium reflects the history of our building as an industrial and manufacturing hub in Toowoomba. However, all artists are invited to apply.
Benefitting Business and the Arts
We believe the Clifford Gouldson Artist-in-Residence Program will provide immediate benefits to our firm, our clients, other visitors to our office, the artist involved and the wider Toowoomba art community.
Our aim is to:
- provide an opportunity for our staff to interact and engage with a working artist within our workplace
- provide an opportunity for our staff, clients and other visitors to our office to experience artworks outside the usual venue of an art gallery
- demonstrate to our staff, clients and other visitors to our office that Clifford Gouldson Lawyers understands that there is more to life than the law
- provide a forum for a broader audience to view the artist-in-residence at work
- provide a venue for the display of the work of the artist-in-residence
- provide modest financial assistance to the artist during the in-residence period
- open an additional connection between Toowoomba’s business and art communities
The opportunity for the Artist-in-Residence
The Clifford Gouldson Artist-in-Residence Program will provide:
- an 8-week residency period commencing the week of 14 August 2023
- a space in our office in which to create their artwork during the residency period
- a stipend of $250 (gross)/week during the residency period
- promotion of the Artist and the Program via Clifford Gouldson’s website and other marketing materials
- Exhibit Evening function combined with the official Office Opening event to reveal the artwork prepared and to promote and offer for sale the artists other displayed works.
What Clifford Gouldson expects of our Artist-in-Residence
We expect the Clifford Gouldson Artist-in-Residence to:
- attend our office one afternoon each week to work on their piece/s (preferably on a Friday)
- actively engage with our staff, and other visitors to the office, who are interested in their artwork
- provide a short “give it a try” session for Clifford Gouldson staff interested in trying their hand at the artist’s chosen medium
- hanging of artworks including labelling and artist statement at the Exhibit Evening function
- donate 5% from the sale of any works to a charity of choice (charity to be approved by CGLaw)
- promotion of the end of residency Exhibit Evening function & official Office Opening to be held on Friday 20 October 2023
Who are we looking for?
We believe the Clifford Gouldson Artist-in-Residence is:
- an artist with an existing body of work that can be displayed throughout the duration of the artist-in-residence period
- particular interest in an artist whose works or medium reflects the history of our building as an industrial and manufacturing hub in Toowoomba.
- an artist with the confidence to talk about their work and also to actively engage with interested staff and other visitors
- an artist whose medium is compatible with being prepared and displayed in an office environment
- an artist who is comfortable providing a group with an interactive “give it a try” session
How do you apply to be the Clifford Gouldson Artist-in-Residence?
To apply for this program we ask that each artist email our Marketing Co-ordinator, Aiden, at events@cglaw.com.au with your resume and portfolio of available artworks as an expression of interest by 5 pm 28 July 2023. We will then contact you to advise if you have been successful to the interview stage.
For the interview, we ask that you bring in a selection of your available works (3-4 pieces), along with your artist statement for this Artist-in-Residence Program/Exhibition. All available works are to be approved prior to hanging.
The successful applicant will be notified by Monday 4 August 2023.
CGLaw Artist-in-Residence Hall of Fame
I had a ball painting in the Clifford Gouldson office because the team were so friendly, and it reminded me of my father’s office when I was little. I wanted to capture some of the details of this office and encouraged the team to stretch their creative muscles and sketch with me. The exhibition was a lovely finale and sincerely appreciated the opportunity to see all of my work displayed and appreciated in such an interesting and creative space.
I’m very grateful to CGLaw for this artist residency program that has supported my arts practice in a meaningful way through funding, professional development and providing the opportunity to explore new places, develop new concepts and techniques, and significantly expand my network while engaging new audiences in the region.
I adore seeing the value of arts and creativity recognised, and am incredibly impressed by the progressive and dynamic approach of Clifford Gouldson to host such a residency. It’s truly inspiring that such a wonderful program is being run in Toowoomba — I’m thrilled to have been part of it!”
I wanted to create on a broader spectrum and the intensity of this law practice with its focused and passionate staff, took me to another level of creativity and provided me with the commitment to invest in a new body of work.
Maryika Welter
My time as Artist-in-Residence was both challenging and rewarding. The challenge was to work in an unfamiliar work space away from the normal studio setting and in someone else’s professional work space and be creative and productive at the same time. The reward was the stretching of my comfort zone as well as stretching the comfort zone of the staff. The uniqueness of each individual was great and the concept of left and right brain was very prominent. The meeting of thinking versus feeling was merged and a playful attitude was adopted to produce works for a final exhibition.
