Applications open for the $80K Mordant Family Moving Image Commission for Young Australian Artists

ACMI today announced applications are open for the second $80,000 Mordant Family Moving Image Commission for Young Australian Artists, in partnership with Catriona Mordant AM and Professor Cav. Simon Mordant AO, the City of Melbourne, John Allsopp from Web Directions and ACMI.

Worth $240,000 over three years, the commission supports Australian artists under 35 to realise an ambitious artwork that deepens and extends their practice.

The commission resources young artists to undertake research, collaborate with experienced mentors and engage professional technicians or performers. ACMI will provide curatorial and production support to each successful project. The commission supports projects that reference contemporary social, cultural or political issues with energy and originality, and is open to artists working across a range of formats including film, video, interactive installation and mixed reality.

Now in its second year, the commission further extends the impact of ACMI’s vibrant commissioning program that has seen 20 artists receive commissions worth more than $1 million over the past three years – and reflects the longstanding partnership with Catriona Mordant AM and Professor Cav. Simon Mordant AO and the City of Melbourne.

The recipient of the inaugural $80,000 Mordant Family Moving Image Commission for Young Australian Artists was Stanislava Pinchuk. Pinchuk’s work Self-Preservation is an ambitious and timely multi-channel installation examining women’s beauty salons across war and conflict zones around the world. The work will explore the spaces in which women work to maintain daily life and connection in times of great violence, suffering and uncertainty. It will be presented at ACMI in 2022.

In addition to financial support, the recipient of each commission will receive expert advice and support from ACMI in the development phase, as well as a workspace in ACMI’s vibrant Southbank co-working studio for the screen industries, ACMI X. Each work will premiere at ACMI in Fed Square and an edition accessioned into ACMI’s collection.

Applications for the Mordant Family Moving Image Commission for Young Artists are open now and close at 7pm Sunday 9 May, 2021.

Quote attributable to the Lord Mayor: 

“It’s so important that we continue to support our city’s young and vibrant artistic community to develop new works which challenge, inspire and encourage debate.”

Quote attributable to ACMI CEO & Director Katrina Sedgwick OAM:  

“We’re delighted to continue our vibrant commissioning program through this wonderful partnership with Catriona Mordant AM and Simon Mordant AM, the City of Melbourne, and Web Directions. In an increasingly constrained funding environment, it is crucial that young Australian artists are given the opportunity to access meaningful resources and support to be able to extend their arts practice into moving image mediums.”

Quote attributable to Professor Cav. Simon Mordant AO:

“Catriona and I are delighted to be supporting this commissioning series at ACMI focused on helping young Australian artists bring critical contemporary stories to an audience.”