tinygold is a non profit artist-run initiative that aims to strengthen support networks between Queensland artists and the community.

Our goal is to provide Queensland-based emerging artists with exhibition avenues that enable them to progress into a professional arts practice. We also seek to debunk the mis-conception of the Gold Coast as a cultural desert by encouraging audience participation through artist-run events, and by staging these at locations that highlight the unique iconography of the city and the independent art community that resides here. Our projects also encourage important discussions between local artsmakers, artsworkers and the community through the establishment of artist-run events that overcome the lack of space and resource.

Each year tinygold organizes ‘Tales from the Cold Ghost,’ an art event held at an alternate location on the Gold Coast. Staging a multi-arts group show at a non-traditional space enables us to provide contemporary artists with a platform to experiment/develop, produce and promote works that appeal to a broader market not normally witnessed inside a white-cubed context.

Our annual survey is aimed at showcasing fresh artworks produced by some of the most exciting artists in Queensland. We feel that it is important to showcase artists from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and practices. We believe that all artists are equally deserving of exposure, whether they be traditional or experimental artists, site-specific to ephemeral, first time-exhibiting artists or represented artists. The artist demographics in our shows vary from artists who are entirely self-taught, to artists who are currently attending university, or who have just graduated, to artists who are nationally represented. By exhibiting together a range of arts practices the show becomes a curated-production that is peer-supported, free from high/low art schematic, and allows for creative challenges.

Our inaugural show ‘Tales from the Cold Ghost I’ was held at Mermaid Beach during the winter of 2007. The exhibition showcased over seventy artworks produced by 22 painters, film-makers, installation artists, jewelers, self-publishers, sculpturers, photographers and fashion designers. The exhibition was funded by the Project Directors, and was advocated by sponsors who shared our support for local artists.

The success of this project proved, on a national scale, that the city’s self-sufficient art sector is due to the untiring determination of local artists who are willing to find new and exciting ways to get their art ‘out there.’

This year’s exhibition Tales from the Cold Ghost II was held at the brand-new 19 KAREN Contemporary Artspace on Mermaid Beach during August/September. The space was donated to tinygold in return for its coinciding public launch as a permanent artspace.

tinygold was launched in 2007 on the Gold Coast by Mariam Arcilla and Megan Cope as a positive response towards the dilemmas they faced as emerging artists. With projects such as the Tales from the Cold Ghost series, we aim to continue producing artist-run events that implement cultural participation and support towards local art practices. The tinygold Project Directors operate on a voluntary basis, and do not recieve government financial assistance.

For more information about tales from the cold ghost please click here.

Artist statements and artworkimages from tales from the cold ghost II can be seen here.