Associate Professor
Contemporary Art & Social Transformation
Design & Creative Practice ECP
Email: grace.mcquilten@rmit.edu.au
Phone: +61 39925 0196
Campus: Melbourne City
Contemporary Art & Social Transformation
Design & Creative Practice EIP
Email: grace.mcquilten@rmit.edu.au
Phone: +61 39925 0196
Campus: Melbourne City
Grace's research challenges and transforms conventional understandings of the relationship between margin and centre in relation to the cultural economy, contemporary art practice and art history. She has pioneered work on the field of art-based social enterprise in Australia, and has worked extensively in migrant and refugee settlement. She has a multidisciplinary approach that engages with a range of fields including art, design, architecture, sustainability, sociology, business and international development.
Grace’s curatorial research makes a significant contribution to models of community engagement, particularly by collaborating with emerging artists from diverse communities and cultural backgrounds as co-curators and co-producers. Through this work, she has supported cross-cultural exchange between Australian and Vietnamese artists and makers; and new migrant and refugee communities including Horn of Africa communities, Burmese and Afghani communities and Pasifika communities. These exhibitions have been presented across large, medium and small institutions and independent public spaces. Collectively, the exhibitions have reached audiences of 10,000+ and generated media coverage including in The Age, The Daily Review, ABC Radio and numerous online media outlets.
Grace has published widely across refereed and unrefereed publications, including creative works in literary journals, authored exhibition catalogues, working as an editor on local newspapers and engaging widely with local and national media.
Grace has a strong background in industry, particularly as the founding CEO & a current Board Director of The Social Studio, a fashion and art based social enterprise working with young people from humanitarian migrant backgrounds in Melbourne. Through this work she has supported the start-up of eight art-based social enterprises across Australia and continues to advise community and industry partners on community development and social enterprise leadership.
Professional Experiences
Board / Advisory Roles
Industry Working groups
Grace's research has several focus points, including (1) improving the economic landscape of the visual arts in Australia, including new and alternative economic models of organisation, to support greater equity for artists; (2) expanding knowledge of the lived experience, opportunities and challenges of art-based social enterprises in a time of increasing neoliberalism; and (3) transforming our understandings of contemporary art to center and privilege greater diversity - in terms of culture, ethnicity, ability, neurodiversity and socio-economic access. Grace is also interested in the relationship between art, craft, design and sustainable communities.
contemporary art, public art, social practice, craft, design, fashion, art and community development, art and sustainability, art enterprise, social enterprise, alternative economies, creative industries, outsider/outlier art, equity and justice in the arts, decentring/recentring art history
Publications
Projects
Awards
Ashgate Publishing, Farnham, United Kingdom
McQuilten, G. (2011).
I.B. Tauris, London, United Kingdom
McQuilten, G. and White, A. (2016).
Art & the Public Sphere, Intellect, United Kingdom, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 235-254
McQuilten, G. (2020).
Other: Curated or Produced Substantial Public Exhibitions and Events (Exhibition/Event)
Journal Article
Other: Curated or Produced Substantial Public Exhibitions and Events (Web-based exhibition)
Journal Article
Other: Curated or Produced Substantial Public Exhibitions and Events (Exhibition/Event)
Book Chapter
Journal Article
Other: Curated or Produced Substantial Public Exhibitions and Events (Exhibition/Event)
Book Chapter
Journal Article
Book
Conference Publication
Book Chapter
Conference Publication
Other: Curated or Produced Substantial Public Exhibitions and Events (Exhibition/Event)
Other: Original Creative Work (Textual work)
Other: Original Creative Work (Visual art work)
Conference Publication
Other: Curated or Produced Substantial Public Exhibitions and Events (Exhibition/Event)
Other: Original Creative Work (Textual work)
Other: Curated or Produced Substantial Public Exhibitions and Events (Exhibition/Event)
Conference Publication
Book
Other: Curated or Produced Substantial Public Exhibitions and Events (Exhibition/Event)
Australian Research Council - Linkage Grant
CIs: Assoc/Prof Grace McQuilten, Dr Marnie Badham, Professor Kate MacNeill, Assoc/Prof Jenny Lye
2020 - 2023
Australian Research Council - Discovery Project
CIs: Assoc/Prof Anthony White, Professor Charles Green, Assoc/Prof Grace McQuilten
2018 - 2022
Australia Research Council - Discovery Grant
CIs: Professor Peter Kelly, Assoc/Prof Grace McQuilten, Assoc/Prof Kim Humphery, Professor Deb Warr
2017 - 2022
Award date: 2020
Recipients: Grace McQuilten
Award date: 2019
Recipients: Grace McQuilten
Award date: 2012
Recipients: Grace McQuilten
National competitive grants
State or local government funding
Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.
Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.
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