Initiated in response to the disruptions of COVID-19, the Digital Diasporas online research residency has finished after a two-year program, delivered by Yáo Collaborative.
Digital Diasporas was supported as a partnership between Creative Australia and Canada Council for the Arts, aiming to share policies, research and knowledge, and to facilitate collaborations and reciprocal exchanges between organisations and artists of both countries.
The 2023 residencies took place in May and June. Resident artists from Chinese diasporas in Australia, Canada and the United States were selected from over 350 applications, with Beau Lai, Ann Chen, Yutong Lin, Winnie Cheung and Kim Ye undertaking the exchange. Each artist was supported with AUD $10,000 for a program of international peer-to-peer learning and mentoring focussed on their experimental practice and research processes.
The following partner organisations provided advice, support and introductions to their networks for participating artists:
- Yáo Collaborative
- 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art (Sydney)
- Gendai (Toronto)
- Asian Arts Initiative (Philadelphia)
Alice Nash, Executive Director, Arts Investment at Creative Australia said:
“We were very pleased to partner with the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations, and the Canada Council for the Arts on this initiative. These global virtual residencies have supported diasporic communities to build relationships and future pathways for collaboration.”
Sylvain Cornuau, Head of International Coordination, Cultural Diplomacy and Partnerships at the Canada Council for the Arts said:
“Digital Diasporas demonstrated the ability of public arts organisations to provide artists with innovative platforms that foster international creative and human connection. Through this project, artists were able to engage in critical dialogue on equity and sustainability during a time of global disruption. We hope this will continue to nurture important conversations across cultures.”
The media release from the inaugural edition can be viewed here.
Digital Diasporas 2023 was jointly funded by the Australian Government through Creative Australia (formerly known as the Australia Council for the Arts), the Canada Council for the Arts, the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Creative Australia
Sean Brogan, Media Manager, Creative Australia
Mobile: 0498 123 541
Email: sean.brogan@creativeaustralia.gov.au
Canada Council for the Arts
Communications and Engagement
Phone: 613-239-3958 (Canada) / 1-800-263-5588 ext. 5151 (International)
E-mail: media@canadacouncil.ca
