Responding to a call-out for artworks from Collingwood Neighbourhood House, a group of artists decided that, instead of installibng a large, temporary work in a space that is characteristically in flux, a more interesting model would be to install artists themselves on the site.
In March 2011 the first round of artists established a small studio and office space in The Underground and began working on a series of large-scale, medium-to-long term, community engagement projects.
Throughout the year, four artist or collaborations runs a program or project for three months from The Underground studios, working with residents and using the vastness of the former carpark space and the scope of the housing estate block to realise large-scale and/or long-term projects.
Presence on site is a critical element to the project, and the relationships formed with local residents and the estate itself are an important aspect of the works. This program is influenced less by public art sculptural longevity and more by relational aesthetics and social interaction.
Presence on site is a critical element to the project, and the relationships formed with local residents and the estate itself are an important aspect of the works. This program is influenced less by public art sculptural longevity and more by relational aesthetics and social interaction.
Part of the residency program is the development of a collaboration with the RMIT Public Art Program, to establish the RMIT Public Art Graduate Prize. Awarded to a Public Art student with excellent results and from a proposed project, it is a stepping stone between formal studies and professional practice. The prize gives recent students an opportunity to immediate work in the public realm, with a studio space and a small amount of project funding.
The Aura Project is a community partnership between artists and residents of the collingwood housing estate.
It is supported by Belgium Avenue Neighbourhood House, Collingwood Neighbourhood House, CHEAC and a Community Partnerships Grant from Arts Victoria and the State Government of Victoria.
