About Critical Light

Attend ANAT SPECTRA 2025 :: Reciprocity with provocateur Kieran Swann. Ten contemporary experimental practitioners in their first five years of practice will be selected to attend the triennial gathering as a group to critically engage with the presentation of interdisciplinary art practice and creative research. Over three days, the group chosen from across Australia will together view works, attend talks and meet with contributing artists and attendees, to engage in rigorous conversations about the works and ideas.

2 - 4 October 2025

About ANAT SPECTRA 2025

ANAT SPECTRA 2025 :: Reciprocity is a three-day gathering designed to spark curiosity, foster co-creation and inspire transformative arts practice. It brings together artists, makers, scientists, and technologists. Days one & two of the gathering will take place at University of Sunshine Coast (UniSC) Sippy Downs Campus and surrounds, and day three will be off campus: Tallo Billa with Lyndon Davis, Leah Barclay and Tricia King on board a boat leaving The Wharf, Mooloolabah.

Bundanon, Thinking Together, 2025. Photo by Jacquie Manning.

Image courtesy of Kieran Swann.

About Kieran Swann

Leading the critical discussion is provocateur Kieran Swann. Kieran Swann has over two decades of experience as a curator and producer, he has worked across visual art, performance, public art, and socially engaged practice in Australia and the UK. Most recent roles include Senior Curator at Create London, commissioning socially engaged art and architecture embedded in everyday life; Head of Programme at Arnolfini (Bristol); Head of Live Programme at Wellcome Collection (London). Kieran is the in-coming CEO of Metro Arts.

The Program

Critical Light is targeted to artists in their first five years of professional practice working experimentally and are sci-curious. With the support of Creative Australia, four of the artists will be selected from outside of Queensland and receive a $1,500 travel bursary to support their attendance. All selected artists will receive a 3-day registration to the gathering and the program will commence with a lunch on Thursday 2nd October. Selected applicants must be available to attend the whole three day event.

Tully Arnot Soft 2024, 4k video, surround sound, 21 minutes on endless loop, music by Megan Alice Clune. Courtesy and © the artist. Photo by Jacquie Manning.

ANAT SPECTRA 2025 :: Reciprocity
Program overview

Full program announced in August.  

  • Welcome to Country with Kabi Kabi, Gubbi Gubbi Traditional Custodian Lyndon Davis and Gubbi Gubbi Dance, live performances, outdoor screen program and a reception for the Reciprocity exhibition*.

    *Reciprocity exhibition will run from 16 August to 25 October 2025 at UniSC Art Gallery.

  • Welcome to Country with Kabi Kabi Elder Aunty Helena Gulash followed by a keynote with artist, activist and academic r e a, from the Gamilaraay / Wailwan and Biripi Peoples of New South Wales.

    Throughout the day, be immersed in intimate, thematic and participatory conversations and artist activations featuring site-specific works and screenings across the campus.  

  • Tallo Billa ocean experience
    Board a Sunreef vessel at Mooloolaba Wharf with Kabi Kabi (Gubbi Gubbi) artist Lyndon Davis for a deep listening journey: a unique performance that combines live streaming of Humpback Whale song from underwater hydrophones. 

R|Short Program: Critical Light is by application. Applications close midnight Tuesday, 12 August 2025.

Applications must include:

  • 2 page CV

  • examples of previous work provided as a PDF or a link to a website

  • 1-2 paragraphs addressing why you’re interested in participating in the program.

Application Process

Critical Light is presented by SCCA as part of The Refinery, in partnership with ANAT Spectra 2025. 

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.

The Refinery is supported by Major Partners: the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, the Creative Ecologies Research Cluster at UniSC and Sunshine Coast Council through the Regional Arts Development Fund.

Eugenia Lim, Metabolism, 2023, 2K digital video, colour, sound, Cinematographer: Tim Hillier.

Jude Roberts, Collaborative night projections, installation facilitated by Marian Drew and performance by Vernessa Fien, 2024.

FAQs

  • There is no program fee. A ticket to ANAT SPECTRA 2025 is provided to all selected artists as part of the program.

  • No, successful applicants must be available to attend all events on all three days.

  • No, the bursaries are only available to interstate attendees.

  • Yes, if your application is successful, you will be reimbursed by ANAT for your purchased ticket.

  • Notifications will be sent to all applicants week commencing 25 August.

Have a Question about Critical Light?

Check out our FAQs above, or contact us if you have any other questions!