a seat at the table is a shared workspace prioritising and supporting creatives, academics, and political works focused on racial and gender equity, driven by the primary agenda to make publicly visible discourses, issues and solutions relating to inequality.
In the establishment phase, participants contribute to the program itself through revising the title, the selection criteria and selection process for future applications in order to develop and maintain a healthy community and culture within the workspace. Applications are through an on-going open EOI process.
‘a seat at the table’ will broadly engage a Contra Exchange program, Contra agreements are fundamentally a consensually designed exchange of space for programmable content or research outcomes in an area of relevant interest.
Outcomes become part of the Twosixty public program and/or the Twosixty website, with possible further outcome opportunities via project partners.
A long term seat or multiple short term seats are available to rent. The revenue will directly fund public outcomes of the residency seats.
Through process, design and action, we acknowledge, respect and thank the Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation on the land of whom this project is based.
Infrastructure Details
Duration: November 2020 - February 2022. All seats have a minimum use of 3 days/week.
Accessibility: Located on the second floor, accessed via stairs only, the Community Room at Siteworks will be available as an accessible indoor meeting space as required.
Access: 8am - 6pm access using a fob key provided.
Size: 60 square metre room (15.5m x 15.5m) with a West and two East facing windows.
Layout: A desk-based shared workspace suitable for individuals. Large central table with five individual desks and adjoining small office for meetings and phone calls as available.
Features: Sink, urn, heating, lighting, multiply power points, NBN, Whiteboards, pin-boards, comfy area.
Not suitable for work that requires ongoing and regular discussion / calls, or loud sound based work, studio work that requires a wet room or dust and fume extraction.
Appropriate contra agreements will be discussed and set with each seat holder to define program outcomes. This excludes paying seat holders.
Residency Seat —
Seat 1 (18 months)
Dr Nilmini Fernando, a postcolonial/black feminist scholar and educator whose work focuses on critical intersectionality, anti-racism, diversity and offers facilitation/training, consultancy, research and project advisor. Nilmini is the founding director of Loving Feminist Literature and is working on a program of research and public events that take a decolonial approach from November 2020 — February 2022.
Residency Seat —
Seat 2 (18 months)
Fjorn Butler, an artist, researcher and community event organiser. As a researcher, she is interested in how neoliberal forms of governance in the contemporary formation of the colony use racialised and sexualised discourses to shape the political and instituting power. Fjorn is working on a program of research and public events that take a decolonial approach from November 2020 — February 2022.
Creative Partner Seat —
Seat 3 (18 months)
Brunswick Mechanics programmed seat, supporting four writers per year in 3 month residencies as part of the Next Wave Creative Development Program.
Community Seat —
Seat 4 (3 - 6 months)
Primarily Twosixty programmed creative and/or contra seat, filled via open EOI process, the community seat will be available for on-going programming by creative organisations using the Brunswick Town Hall and 260 Sydney Road infrastructure as an extension of resources in supporting their communities and program.
Seat 5 (up to 18 months) —
Pay The Rent Seat
Revenue will directly fund public outcomes of the residency seats. For individuals who want their monies to directly fund social equity work.
Criteria
Community-engaged practitioners, artists and critical thinkers who work in the public realm are encouraged to submit proposals that are:
Priority is given to First Nations, Black-identifying and People of Colour.