SPACED Director, Elizabeth Pedler, looks back on the year that was a big transition for our organisation and shares a recount of SPACED's year of renewal.

2024 has been an incredible year of transition and renewal for SPACED. With the retirement of our co-founder and longtime director Dr Marco Marcon earlier this year, there was speculation about the future of our organisation. I am very happy to have been able to step in and take on the responsibility of leading this esteemed and innovative project. 

In July we launched our latest iteration of SPACED, our ongoing program of socially responsive regional artist residencies. SPACED 5: Circular Economies, is a partnership between SPACED, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, and host partners The Cannery Arts Centre, Arts Narrogin, Shire of Carnarvon, North Midlands Project, and Beverley Station Arts. Circular Economies is a fantastic new project, bringing seven talented artists into regional communities to undertake creative research, and connect in new ways with local artists and communities. We have already seen the completion of the first two Circular Economies residencies, by Loren Kronemeyer at The Cannery Arts Centre, and House of Natural Fiber with Arts Narrogin. Their residencies have resulted in some fascinating discourse, and you can read more, from the artists blogs linked here. Our other Circular Economies artists, Ilona McGuire, Linda Tegg and duo Susan Hauri-Downing and Tarsh Bates, will each be commencing their first residencies next year.  

Accompanying the Circular Economies program is a renewal of our education and training program, Open Space. This program, operating since the earliest days of IASKA, has now expanded to include online training and mentorship offered to emerging arts-workers, supported by our education partner UWA School of Design. The first two residencies have supported four emerging producers (Allyson in Esperance, and Cheryl, Ned, and Sauce in Narrogin), whose participation in the program is documented in their reflections. We are committed to supporting the professional development of a producer in each of the communities we’re connecting with. I am very excited at the evolution of this program, and the opportunity it offers to arts-workers in regional communities. 

As well as the continuation of Circular Economies, we are also excited that 2025 will bring the return of our metropolitan residency program, Know Thy Neighbour. We are looking forward to a call-out to artists and hosts next year, so please subscribe to make sure you hear about the EOI process. 

As a small arts organisation, SPACED is reliant on a small and highly skilled team. I’d like to thank Miranda, Pauline and Emilie for their commitment to and support of this organisation. Our board have been essential this year in supporting the transition between Directors, and I thank them for their ongoing efforts. Our host partners have also been incredible. Thanks to The Cannery Arts Centre, Arts Narrogin, Shire of Carnarvon, North Midlands Project, and Beverley Station Arts, without them our program would not be possible. We thank our partners PICA and UWA for standing by SPACED. Their contributions have expanded and amplified our impact, enriched our programs and connected us with an even wider audience. Circular Economies was made possible by the generous support of Creative Australia and DLGSC, and we are grateful for the contributions these agencies have made to supporting us and many other small organisations and artists in this challenging economy. 

And most of all, I’d like to thank you, our supporters, friends, and collaborators, for connecting with us, activating the projects, and contributing to the discourse, both online, and in the community. We’re lucky to have an enthusiastic and supportive network of communities and audiences, and I wish each of you a happy end to the year, and a safe and joyful beginning to 2025. 

To stay up to date with SPACED’s future programming please subscribe to our monthly email newsletter, and follow our pages on FB and instagram. 

Image 1-3: HONF’s community showcase activity at Arts Narrogin. Image by Danielle Halford.

Image 4: Cannery Arts Centre General Manager, Katie Witt, receiving the carefully restored arts centre brick from SPACED Curator, Miranda Johnson. Image courtesy of SPACED.

Image 5: Loren’s “E-waste Buy-back” event at Cannery Arts Centre. Image by Sarsby.

Image 6: Loren performing resource extraction on old electronics at Cannery Arts Centre. Image courtesy of Loren.

Explore our past programs