What does the name boorda yeyi mean?
boorda yeyi are two Whadjuk words that together mean ‘future now’. The program’s title has been developed in consultation with Whadjuk elder, Dr Richard Walley OAM, and Whadjuk members of PICA’s Aboriginal Advisory Group in the spirit of bringing more awareness to the language and culture of the Whadjuk Noongar people on whose lands boorda yeyi and the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts are based.
Who is this program for and how are participants selected?
PICA welcomes applications from artists or individuals who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI), Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD), gender diverse, and/or living with a disability.
Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for all platforms of the program will be reviewed by a selection panel, which will include industry representatives, a member from the boorda yeyi Advisory Group and PICA staff.
Can I apply if I don’t have experience with immersive technologies?
The Foundational Symposium weekend is for the curious. It is designed to introduce you to the concepts, skills and technologies necessary for working with immersive technologies, regardless of your technical experience.
The 3-month Intensive Mentorship then matches you with technical creatives to support you to make an immersive art prototype. This stage requires some immersive literacy, as does the annual Immersive Arts Commission.
Can I apply as a creative team or only as an individual artist?
The Foundational Symposium weekend is for individual applicants only.
The 3-month Intensive Mentorship matches artists up with creative technicians but if you already know the technical team you wish to work with, we welcome you to include their details in your application. If you are applying as part of a team, please ensure you provide relevant details about each collaborator’s role and area of expertise.
The annual Immersive Arts Commission is open to individual artists or artist collectives.
Can I participate in both the Foundational Symposium and the Intensive Mentorship?
Yes, artists residing in Western Australia are encouraged to apply for both parts of the program. Participating in both will provide a highly comprehensive learning and development experience, from foundational skills to deeper, hands-on understanding.
Applicants for the Intensive Mentorship should have participated in the Foundational Symposium or be able to demonstrate an equivalent level of immersive technology literacy.
Are there restrictions to the number of people who can apply in a group or collective?
The Foundational Symposium is for individual applications only, with a capacity of up to 40 participants.
For the Intensive Mentorship, artists may apply as individuals or as teams that include technical support. Teams must be limited to three people, including the artist. Where relevant, please include details of your technical team in your application.
The Immersive Arts Commission is open to both individual artists and collectives.
What kind of support will be provided during the program?
Different levels of support will be provided for the different stages of the program.
For the Foundational Symposium, attendance is free and catering is provided. Travel bursaries will also be available for participating artists living in regional or remote Western Australia. Please indicate this in the relevant section in your EOI submission.
As part of the Intensive Mentorship, selected applicants will receive a fixed participation fee, mentorship, the opportunity to work with a team of technologists and designers, technical support and access to industry experts. Travel bursaries will be available for participating artists living in regional or remote Western Australia.
The annual Immersive Arts Commission includes a commissioning fee of $50,000, with hardware provided for presentation. Tour resources will be developed in partnership with ART ON THE MOVE.
What is the timeline for the program?
The boorda yeyi program has four platforms that offer career development opportunities for artists. Each of these platforms are detailed on this website and include key dates. Artists accepting offers to participate in any of the four platforms must be available to commit to these dates.
Who can apply?
Only Western Australian artists are eligible to apply for the Foundational Symposium and the Intensive Mentorship.
The Immersive Arts Commission, which will tour, is open to artists from across Australia.
Is the program open to artists working in different disciplines and art forms?
PICA is a multi-arts organisation and actively encourages artists working across various disciplines to apply for any of the boorda yeyi platforms. The key concept behind the program is for artists to use new technologies to create immersive art. Artists applying may be practicing in multiple forms, including dance, sound, experimental performance or visual arts.
Your application should clearly explain how your practice incorporates the use of new technologies.
Please direct any additional questions to Lillian Silk, Program Manager, boorda yeyi on lillian.silk@pica.org.au.
