News

24 November 2011

Proposed agreement means better rights management and increased payments for artists.

A planned services agreement between two of Australia’s prominent rights management agencies, Copyright Agency and Viscopy, will see artists receive additional income, cut red tape and administrative fees and make it easier for organisations and businesses to license copyright material.

The proposed services agreement, under which Copyright Agency will provide membership, licensing and administrative services to Viscopy’s members and licensees, is anticipated to take effect from mid 2012 subject to regulatory approval. Viscopy members will continue to be served by the Viscopy board.

Viscopy was established specifically to provide rights management services to visual artists. Copyright Agency provides similar services for rightsholders including publishers, writers and artists, and was appointed in 2010 to manage the new artists' resale royalty scheme. Viscopy Chair, Jeremy Thorpe, said the agreement is an important development which will deliver significant benefits to artists and simplify the copyright clearance process for artistic works.

“This is an exciting and bold initiative which will see the back office operations of both organisations integrated, increasing licensing revenue to visual artists and cutting administrative costs.

“At the same time Viscopy’s membership of more than 8,000 visual artists in Australia and New Zealand will continue to be served by its own Board ensuring consistent high quality services for visual artists,” Mr Thorpe said.

Sandy Grant, Copyright Agency chair said with convergence taking place across many industries, organisations like Copyright Agency and Viscopy need to re-think the way they operate.

“This is about sharing resources to deliver better results for the creators of works and the users of those works, alike.

“In an ever increasingly converging world the services our organisations offer sit more naturally together than apart,” Mr Grant said.

The proposed agreement will create a ‘one-stop-shop’ for any organisation wanting licence approval to use domestic or internationally created text and artistic content.

Other significant benefits of the agreement include: cutting administrative fees and overheads on royalties to visual artists under statutory licences; pooling Copyright Agency and Viscopy repertoires, increasing blanket licensing coverage and increasing payments for all members; new licensing revenue streams for visual artists; high-quality information and training to visual artists; and principal policy advocacy for authors and artists in international and local policy making. The agreement will be reviewed by both organisations after three years.

For more information and Q&As visit www.viscopy.org.au/services-announcement

Media contact: Michael Salmon 0417 495 018

10 August 2011

Viscopy is pleased to announce Sanné Mestrom the winner of the John Fries Memorial Prize 2011 for emerging visual artists. Mestrom received the $10,000 prize at the opening of the exhibition of the fifteen finalists last night at Blackfriars off Broadway, Viscopy’s contemporary art space in Chippendale. The prize was awarded by acclaimed Sydney artist, Lindy Lee.

Mestrom's winning artwork, Thinking Props features in the exhibition with the other fourteen finalists: Cyrus Tang, Erica Molesworth, Eva Hampel, Heath Franco, Jennifer O'Brien, Karl Khoe & Tessa Zettel, Keiko Matsui, Kristel Britcher, Kurt Sorensen, Nathan Taylor, Pauletta Kerinauia, Susie Nelson, Wade Marynowsky and Walter Brecely.

The winning entry was selected by an auspicious panel of judges including Anna Davis, media artist and Museum of Contemporary Art curator, Hannah Bertram the 2010 John Fries Memorial Prize winner, Danie Mellor contemporary Indigenous artist and 2009 National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award winner and Kath Fries, artist and Viscopy Board member.

Mestrom's sculptural installation Thinking Props plays with the idea of a physical prop designed to promote cerebral and psychological contemplation. Made from everyday found objects, the work consists of three components: a table, a cluster of door handles and a “joy prop”. Her table is tailored to one assuming the classic position of Auguste Rodin's The Thinker, with elbow placed on table enclave and chin on cupped hand. It is a physical prop that encourages cerebral revelation. A grid of door handles below the table suggests opening doors, that endless possibilities and zones of discovery are just a simple action away. In front of the table sits a “joy prop” constructed of a cast bronze mould hypothetically designed to be fitted into the mouth to force a smile.

Danie Mellor says of the Mestrom’s artwork: “In her winning entry for the 2011 John Fries Memorial Prize, Mestrom engages with the everyday and what she terms ‘psychological props’. Through her interest in human intimacy and this field of research and play in her practice, she presents playful and thought provoking arrangements of objects that recall Modernist engagements with the readymade. The difference with her work by comparison though, is that an intimacy is invoked that allows a bodily interaction with form, if only through the viewers’ realisation that in fact ‘this is what you (can and are supposed to) do’ with the objects. They are both familiar and out of reach as fragile objects in a gallery space, a temptation for the curious. The complexity of the potential interaction that the installation suggests, and its resolution as an intricate and multi-layered object, lends this work its intrigue and place as a well deserving winner.”

The exhibition, curated by Venita Poblocki, runs until 30 September and is open between 1pm and 5pm from Wednesday to Friday.

The John Fries Memorial Prize for emerging visual artists is an annual prize donated by the Fries family in memory of former Viscopy director and honorary treasurer, John Fries, who made a remarkable contribution to the life and success of Viscopy. The competition is open to emerging Australian and New Zealand artists of all ages and disciplines who are not represented in a regional, state, territory or national public art collection.

For more information contact Viscopy on (02) 9310 2018 or visit www.viscopy.org.au/current-exhibition

11 July 2011

Viscopy is pleased to announce fifteen finalists in the John Fries Memorial Prize for emerging visual artists 2011. The artists are: Cyrus Tang, Erica Molesworth, Eva Hampel, Heath Franco, Jennifer O'Brien, Karl Khoe & Tessa Zettel, Keiko Matsui, Kristel Britcher, Kurt Sorensen, Nathan Taylor, Pauletta Kerinauia, Sanne Mestrom, Susie Nelson, Wade Marynowsky and Walter Brecely.

The fifteen finalists were selected to exhibit their works in a finalists exhibition by a judging panel including media artist and Museum Of Contemporary Art Curator, Anna Davis, John Fries Memorial Prize 2010 winner, Hannah Bertram, Indigenous artist and 2009 National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award winner, Danie Mellor and artist and Viscopy board member, Kath Fries. The finalists’ artworks were selected on their merit within their chosen medium and comparatively among all submissions.

Viscopy Chief Executive, Alida Stanley says: “We are very impressed with the high standard of the entries for this year’s Prize, which is now in its second year. The judges faced a difficult decision but we are confident that the finalists’ works will make for an exciting and dynamic exhibition.”

The John Fries Memorial Prize 2011 finalists’ exhibition showcases the diversity of mediums being used by current emerging artists. The exhibition includes site-specific interactive works and responsive installations involving robotics, touch, movement and sound as well as paintings, glass, porcelain, photography, sculpture and video. However, regardless of medium, the works represent contemporary artistic preoccupations including the nexus between object and process, self and culture, interactivity and audience, technology and viscera, nostalgia and time.

The John Fries Memorial Prize 2011 winner will be announced and awarded $10,000 at the opening of the finalists’ exhibition on the evening August 9th at Viscopy’s contemporary exhibition space, Blackfriars on Broadway. The finalists' exhibition will run from August 10th to September 30th.

The John Fries Memorial Prize for emerging artists is open to Australian and New Zealand artists of all ages and disciplines whose works are not included in a regional, state, territory or national public art collection. The John Fries Memorial Prize is an annual prize donated by the Fries family in memory of John Fries former Viscopy director and honorary treasurer who made a remarkable contribution to the success of Viscopy.

For more information contact Viscopy on (02) 9310 2018 or visit www.viscopy.org.au/current-exhibition

15 June 2011

Viscopy has appointed Venita Poblocki as the guest curator for the John Fries Memorial Prize 2011 for emerging visual artists. This is the first time that Viscopy has engaged a guest curator to oversee the prize which was established in 2010 and features an exhibition of fifteen finalists at Viscopy’s contemporary art space, Blackfriars off Broadway in Chippendale.

Ms Poblocki is an Aboriginal art specialist, gallery manager and independent curator. She has worked with local Australian artists, including Aboriginal artists as well as American artists. She says, “I am honoured and thrilled to be invited by Viscopy to curate the John Fries Memorial Prize 2011. The calibre of young artists heralding from Australia and New Zealand is outstanding and support from noted bodies such as Viscopy will help nurture them to the next stage in their practice.”

Viscopy Chief Executive, Alida Stanley says of the appointment: “Viscopy is delighted to provide this opportunity for an up and coming curator to contribute to this important prize for emerging artists. We hope that it will become a permanent feature of the John Fries Memorial Prize and look forward to working with Venita this year.”

The John Fries Memorial Prize 2011 is open to emerging Australian and New Zealand artists of all ages and disciplines who are not represented in a regional, state, territory or national public art collection. First prize of $10,000 will be awarded to the winning artist.

This year the judging panel includes media artist and Museum Of Contemporary Art Curator, Anna Davis, John Fries Memorial Prize 2010 winner, Hannah Bertram, National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award winner, Danie Mellor and artist and Viscopy board member, Kath Fries. The winner will be announced by the judges on Tuesday 9 August at the finalists exhibition at Blackfriars on Broadway, with the exhibition open to the public from Wednesday 10 August.

The John Fries Memorial Prize is an annual prize donated by the Fries family in memory of former Viscopy director and honorary treasurer, John Fries, who made a remarkable contribution to the life and success of Viscopy.

10 February 2011

Viscopy’s Interim Chief Executive, Alida Stanley has been appointed to the position of Chief Executive effective 9 February 2011.

Alida has held the position of Viscopy’s Interim Chief Executive since February 2010 following the commencement of former Chief Executive Joanna Cave’s maternity leave. During her tenure as Chief Executive, Joanna Cave conducted a comprehensive review of Viscopy which resulted in a period of transformation for the organisation. Alida Stanley has further advanced the organisation in its quest to seek proper financial recognition for visual artists.

Alida has been a director of Viscopy since 2006. Alida graduated from the University of New South Wales Law School in 1998 and has worked in intellectual property, information technology, competition and regulatory law in Australia and the United States. Upon returning to Sydney from New York in 2005, Alida worked as the Senior Solicitor at the Arts Law Centre of Australia representing artists and arts organisations and as a Solicitor in the Office of General Counsel at The University of Sydney. Alida is a passionate supporter of the arts in Australia.

For further information contact Viscopy on (02) 9310 2018.

11 August 2010

The winners of the inaugural John Fries Memorial Prize 2010 were announced last night at the opening of the finalists’ exhibition, at Viscopy’s new contemporary art space, Blackfriars off Broadway.

The competition was open to emerging Australian artists of all ages and disciplines who are not represented in a regional, state, territory or national public art collection. At its inception, the John Fries Memorial Prize 2010 offered a first prize of $10,000 to the winning artist and a solo exhibition at Blackfriars off Broadway in early 2011.

Viscopy and the organisers of the John Fries Memorial Prize 2010 wish to thank the 300 artists who submitted entries. The calibre of the works submitted was of such a high standard that selecting just one winner was difficult. The panel of three judges thus decided to award first and second prizes.

Sixteen finalists were selected and their works are now on exhibit at Blackfriars off Broadway until 30 September 2010. Congratulations to all finalists.

The winners of the John Fries Memorial Prize 2010 are: First Prize of $10,000 + an exhibition at Blackfriars off Broadway is Melbourne artist, Hannah Bertram. Second prize of $5,000 + an exhibition at Blackfriars off Broadway is Melbourne artist, Melanie Irwin.

The John Fries Memorial Prize is an annual prize donated by the Fries family in memory of former Viscopy director and honorary treasurer, John Fries, who made a remarkable contribution to the life and success of Viscopy.

Viscopy chairman, Jeremy Thorpe said: “Viscopy is delighted to be a part of this entrepreneurial award made possible by the generosity of the Fries family in honour of the memory of our colleague John Fries. The prize is substantial and acknowledges the difficulty many visual artists face in making a living through their art.”

In delivering a keynote address to members of the visual arts community, Red Cross NSW Executive Director, Lewis Kaplan, honoured the memory of John Fries and recognised John’s contribution to Australian Red Cross. “John was an indefatigable advocate of Red Cross. He contributed considerable business acumen and played an active role in governance and leadership. John is sorely missed by colleagues, members and volunteers at the Red Cross.

The decision to award the John Fries Memorial Prize to emerging artists of any age and discipline is an important symbol of John’s world view as a humanitarian” he said.

Details and images of the John Fries Memorial Prize 2010 finalists’ exhibition are now available from the new Viscopy website at viscopy.org.au/john-fries-prize