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TAP Gallery aims to provide an open policy, non-selective and non-profit exhibition space, giving artists and community groups the freedom of exhibiting without portfolio appraisal. TAP aims to provide a stepping-stone for emerging artists into commercial galleries. TAP also offers established artists the freedom of their own curatorial stance with an open policy. TAP aims to nurture all art forms including poetry readings, theatre recitals, educational lectures, short film nights and practical art classes. On a more general level, TAP provides assistance to younger generations by helping them to find a voice and a vocation in an environment that is conducive to community spirit without alienation, frustration and despair.
5. FULFILLING THE NEEDS OF HIGH NEED GROUPS
TAP Gallery has existed for the past 20 years solely because of the need and demand for a community-based space. Since the beginning artists and groups have clambered to TAP Gallery to put on shows and to workshop their skills. No other gallery has supported so many diverse cultural and community groups over the years. Groups such as Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, Korean- Australian Artist Association, Amnesty International Australia, Green Peace, Aid Watch, Hope Street Baptist Church (Indigenous exhibitions) and Kings Cross Arts Guild have annually utilised TAP Gallery for their projects.
TAP Gallery has co-ordinated other annual art events, such as the renowned REAL REFUSES ART PRIZE (compiled from art works not selected for the ARCHIBALD PRIZE) running for the last 10 years, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL ART PRIZE, OUTLOUD ART EXHIBITION, in conjunction with Mardi Gras, ENVIRONMENTAL ART PRIZE, in conjunction with World Environment Day, and THE IMAGES OF THE CROSS EXHIBITION, in conjunction with the Kings Cross Arts Festival, running for the last five years.
Many artists speak of the difficulty of being readily accepted into a commercial gallery. In consideration of the high number of graduates from the two arts institutions nearby TAP offers to fulfil that need.
TAP Gallery exhibits artists from many diverse cultural backgrounds. During 2005 TAP has staged a Kurdish refugee exhibition, Cuban art shows, an exhibition organised by the Polish Consulate (because of its community-based familiarity of galleries back in Poland) an exhibition by Russian migrant artist Efim Novikov as well as an art exhibition by Norwegian students (on grants) while on study in Australia, which was attended by the Prime Minister of Norway. Other corporate galleries tend to have closed stables of artists.
Many artists who have utilised TAP Gallery have spoken of the familiarity, simpatico, goodwill and ambience they feel which reflects upon European galleries. TAP Gallery endeavours to bridge social and economic gaps by reaching out to people and thus reaching back into the past. The gallery is set up for artists and their friends to share from this collective space and make it their own.
TAP Gallery encourages all social and cultural sectors to a have a voice and find appreciation in sharing resource with collaboration on different levels not only with artists, the arts community, business and residential communities, but also with special guests, and last but not least, the volunteers.
6. HOW DOES THE GALLERY ENHANCE WELL BEING OF SYDNEY?
TAP Gallery stimulates creativity, an appreciation of the arts and the ever-evolving richness of Sydney culture. TAP Gallery enrols people of disadvantaged backgrounds. TAP provides opportunity, space and resource for many graduates from the local Arts Institutions and Acting Schools, thus providing a substantially low-priced venue for many whom otherwise would not have a voice. TAP Gallery also provides employment for young artists, having run four ‘Work for the Dole Schemes’ as well taking in art students from secondary and tertiary schools. TAP Art Gallery provides opportunities not provided by the more materialistic mainstream art scene, and gives new and non-mainstream artists a platform for expression. TAP Gallery fosters good will with other institutions and community groups offering networks they have met through utilising TAP Gallery resources. Many young people without direction have found their calling in the arts and media through utilising TAP Gallery. (Testimonials can be supplied.)
7.TRACK RECORD
TAP Gallery has a track record of 20 years of support and promotion of artists in their chosen artistic endeavour.
TAP stages weekly changing shows expressing a greater diversity of art to the public on an annual basis. TAP would be one of the busiest art galleries in Sydney by changing exhibitions on a weekly basis, with many group shows and several art prizes each year. Over 600 artists exhibit at TAP annually and an estimated 10,000 guests would attend TAP Art Gallery annually.
Media recognition: TAP Art Gallery as an institution is recognised as worthy of press coverage, particularly by all community radio stations, and more selectively by the major media networks. TAP is often featured in the Sydney Morning Herald, and in the past Channel 9, ABC and SBS have featured programs about TAP Gallery.
High community profile and engagement of speakers to open exhibitions and judge art awards:
TAP gives high profile community members access to the public and community arts. Past speakers have been: Tanya Plibersek, Clover Moore, Virginia Judge, Tony Abbott, Julia Duncan, Peter Berner and other TV identities, head surgeons, doctors, recognised writers & distinguished community leaders such as indigenous elders. Many references and letters of support can be supplied.
Tap Art Gallery has provided continuous support to performance artists and visual artists since 1989.
Community Events: Since its inception Tap Art Gallery has been actively involved in numerous community arts festivals providing artists and performers with venues within the TAP Art Gallery space itself and in local shopfronts as well as outdoor locations. These locations were used for The Sea Theatre Festival, The Sydney Fringe Festival, The Kings Cross Arts Festival, Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras and the Taylor Square Arts Festival.
Charity fundraiser: TAP Art Gallery has organised many charity fundraisers including art exhibitions for the Garvin Institute, Bobby Goldsmith Foundation and Suicide Prevention.
8. SERVICE PROGRAMS
The services/programs that TAP Art Gallery make facilitation for:
Art gallery space
Theatre/lecture space
Practical art classes
Art and history lectures with guest speakers e.g. John McDonald, renowned art critic and lecturer
Computer workstations and training
Bi-monthly newsletter
Website
Work for the Dole (previously)
Film nights (with projector supplied)
Framing facilities and classes
All these projects function on site
9. WHY LIMITED SUPPORT
Tap Art Gallery is run by volunteers who continuously offer their time, resource and energy, forgoing the more materialistic lifestyle received by others. The art gallery is a non-profit organization with no paid staff. Therefore, it is extremely difficult for Tap Art Gallery to find staff to help run the art gallery and theatre, hang shows, maintain upkeep and maintenance, answer telephone enquiries and take bookings, let alone apply for grant proposals. In the past Tap Art Gallery has applied for specific grants, but due to the highly competitive grant process within the Australia Council and the NSW Ministry for the Arts, as yet has not succeeded in receiving funding. City of Sydney Council has always been the most supportive because TAP is a local community group.
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