Women Sculptors initiative launched

The Lorne Sculpture Biennale has launched a new initiative aimed at supporting female sculptors in the lead up to the festival in 2018.

The vibrant festival of art and events celebrating the best of Australian and international sculpture will be held along the stunning Lorne foreshore from March 17 until April 2 next year.

The theme “landfall” is devoted to global issues of nature and endangerment; artists will play with the open-ended term “landfall” and explore the intersection of nature, humanity and art.

The sculpture industry is male dominated, but festival organisers hope to change this.

Lorne Sculpture Biennale curator Lara Nicholls said, “Many women sculptors struggle with equitable access to capital in what is a very expensive field of practice and we would like to help even out the playing field”.

The Women Sculptors Initiative was launched on the Australia Council Cultural Fund site to raise funds in support of females participating in the 2018 biennale.

“The initiative will focus the public’s attention on the achievements female sculptors make and help achieve gender parity in the 2018 biennale,” Ms Nicholls said.

Funds raised will assist female artists in creating and exhibiting ambitious work in 2018 at the biennale, which is one of Australia’s leading public arts events.

Donations can be made at australianculturalfund.org.au/projects/women-sculptors-initiative. For more information on the festival, visit lornesculpture.com.