MILLICENT resident Caroline Hammat will gain hands-on skills and experience in curatorial and exhibition management after receiving the inaugural Spur: SA Regional Curatorial Mentorship.
Ms Hammat will work over a 12 month period to develop an exhibition, which will be launched at the Murray Bridge Regional Gallery between March 20, 2021 and May 2, 2021.
Country Arts SA – in partnership with the regional gallery – is offering the $10,000 mentorship, which provides a regional practitioner with the opportunity to develop and explore skills in visual arts curatorial.
Ms Hammat is currently studying Bachelor of Arts (Visual Culture) through Curtin University and has been a strong advocate of public art in the community.
An artist herself, Ms Hammat was a founding member of the Imagine Millicent Arts Group in 2017, which commissioned Adelaide-based artist Mimby Jones Robinson to transform a 1930s-era bank building with bold images of a water goddess and butterflies.
“I am interested in undertaking opportunities to learn about all aspects of arts practice,” Ms Hammat said.
“I have a keen interest in public art and community arts projects and understand the health and social benefits these projects have within regional and rural communities.
“This is an area I am interested in pursuing and I would love to be in a position that supports and creates opportunities for regional artists.”
Ms Hammat will be supported by Rural City of Murray Bridge arts development team leader and gallery director Fulvia Mantelli and Country Arts SA Visual Arts program manager Lauren Mustillo.
Ms Mustillo praised Ms Hammat’s “incredibly strong application” and said the group was confident her experiences would continue to benefit the Millicent community.
“She has an impressive history working across the arts and the Spur: SA Regional Curatorial Mentorship is a chance for her to step up a level and work on a major exhibition presentation at one of our best South Australian regional galleries,” she said.
“By building skills locally, we ensure that regional communities have the necessary skills required to realise their artistic visions and continue to be exciting and thriving place to live.”
