Making Art Work—a commissioning initiative responding to the COVID-19 lockdowns—launched in June with artworks presented online via makingart.work. The IMA has now re-opened to visitors and IMA Belltower at Judith Wright Arts Centre has been converted into a project space to physically present these new commissions at the gallery.

See selected works from the first two commissioning rounds by Tony Albert, Kieron Anderson, Monika Noémi Correa, Merinda Davies, Ana Paula Estrada, ∑GG√E|N, Chantal Fraser, Hannah Gartside, Susan Hawkins, Gordon Hookey, Jenna Lee, Sally Olds, Sarah Poulgrain, Amy Sargeant, Des Skordilis, and more.

Commissions span video, sculpture, drawing, performance, an essay, and posters. Amy Sargeant will present Anthem live at IMA Belltower Saturday 15 August, 11am–3pm ∑GG√E|N will perform 11am–12pm Saturday 22 August, and Merinda Davies will perform Imprints Saturday 22 and 29 August, 12–3pm.

Making Art Work at IMA Belltower will morph and change throughout the year, showcasing the work of Queensland artists at this tumultuous time.

About Making Art Work:
Taking place across 2020, the project will see over 40 artists create new works that reinforce the importance of creative labour in a time when the cultural and economic value of art has been diminished. Drawing from the politicised language of our current crisis, each artist has been asked to respond to the provocations posed by four curatorial pillars; Unprecedented Times, Industrial Actions, Permanent Revolution, and Relief Measures.