The following categories will be used to assess submissions:

• Artistic Merit: This category evaluates the visual and conceptual quality of your works, assessing both visual language and how communication of ideas is demonstrated in the artwork. 

• Technical Merit: This category evaluates your technical skills in executing your chosen medium. Your submission will be assessed on how well you have mastered your medium and materials, including your attention to detail and precision in execution.

• Sustainability, Diversity and Inclusion: This category evaluates the degree to which your artwork addresses topic of sustainability, diversity, and inclusivity, including but not limited to sustainability of environment, cultural and community and personal wellbeing, as well as diversity and inclusivity by race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and ability. The artwork is also evaluated based on how accessible it is to a wide audience. Incinerator Gallery seeks artworks that actively promotes sustainability, inclusion and accessibility as prioritised under the Moonee Valley City Council Corporate Strategy and the MV2040 community vision and long-term strategy for supporting a healthy, vibrant and welcoming place to live and visit.

• Public Participatory and Engagement: This category evaluates how well your artwork can involve participation from public, either on-site or through digital engagement. The proposal will also be evaluated by how well the artwork communicates its intended message to a local audience, its capacity to resonate with a broad spectrum of audiences, and its ability to foster diverse and impactful dialogue through public programs and initiatives.

• Consideration of the exhibition space and local area: This category evaluates the degree to which your artwork acknowledges the site-specific nature of the exhibition venue. This includes consideration of the local area, history, or community.

Exhibition proposals for the Atrium will open on 5 August 2026 at 12am and close 5 September 2026 at 11.59pm.

Proposals

1. • Proposals will only be accepted during defined call for proposal dates. Only online submissions will be accepted.
   • All information included in the proposal must be true and correct to be eligible. The Artist may be held responsible for any loss caused to the Gallery due to incorrect information.
   • There is no application fee to apply.

Eligibility

1. • Proposals are open from Artists, Curators and Collective currently living and working in Australia, with connection to Moonee Valley City Council or the greater area of the Kulin nation, that covers greater metropolitan Naarm/Melbourne.
   • Moonee Valley City Council employees and Councillors, or their family members, relatives or household members are ineligible to enter.

Artist Responsibilities

1. • Artists must ensure that they can meet the Selection Criteria and Terms and Conditions before submitting their application.
   • The artwork must be available for the duration of the exhibition.
   • Artists agree that:
     • The artwork proposed is the Artist’s sole original work.
     • The Artist has the power to grant the rights under the artwork.
     • The Artist has obtained appropriate written releases, including the use of third-party images, locations, collaborators, and/or performers.
     • The Artist is entitled to reproduce any rights in the artwork.
     • The Artist will compensate the Gallery against any loss resulting from breach of these responsibilities.

Exhibition Conditions

1. • All artworks selected for the exhibition remain the property of the Artist.
   • The Artist is responsible for the packaging and transportation of the artwork to and from the Gallery within the time period set.
   • The final layout of the exhibition is determined by Incinerator Gallery. All efforts of site-specific installation will be considered but may not be able to be accommodated exactly due to building restraints.
   • The Artist is responsible for install and de-install of artworks within the time period set, and will advise the Curator of installation requirements and anticipated assistance required, 4 weeks prior to install/de-install.
   • The Artist is responsible for providing any specialised equipment required to exhibit the artwork, including media players and technology for digital works.
   • All artworks and supplied equipment must comply with OH&S standards. See gov.au/occupational-health-and-safety-act-and-regulations.
   • The Artist must complete and sign the Artist Exhibition Agreement and return within the requested time frame.
   • Artworks will be insured by Moonee Valley City Council for the duration of the exhibition and installation period.
   • Moonee Valley City Council will not be responsible for artworks not collected within the period specified by Incinerator Gallery, following the exhibition, and items will be disposed of at the discretion of Council.
   • The Artist will receive a fee to exhibit their artwork and present a public program. Council pays the Superannuation Guarantee as a separate contribution to nominated funds, details of which must be provided along with invoice for payment.

Use of Images

1. • The Artist will include with their proposal 5 high-resolution image (at least 1600 pixels wide at 300DPI) of the proposed artwork or relevant past artwork images for publicity purposes. 
   • It is recognised that authorship and copyright of artworks proposed belong to the Artist.
   • If selected, for marketing purposes, the Artist gives permission for Moonee Valley City Council to use:
     • images of artworks;
     • their name, biographical details and likeness for marketing purposes;
     • the Artist will be attributed to the artwork as reasonably possible wherever the image is reproduced.

Selection

1. • Decisions for selections are final and appeals will not be considered.
   • Incinerator Gallery reserves the right to accept or reject any artworks proposed.

The Atrium is a 40sqm exhibition space, with soaring industrial ceilings and a full wall of windows to the street; that can be activated day and night. The space receives considerable natural light which should be considered. It is best suited to sculptural, digital and spatial practices that are site-specific.

Measurements of the Atrium:

• Entrance: 2.28m W x 2.5m H
• Interior space: 5.4cm W x 7.4m L
• Ceiling height: 7m (pitched with one I-beam for suspended works)
• Height to upstairs landing: 2.8m, with clearance height: 2.55m

The Atrium features:

• Concrete floor 
• South-facing window
• Metal i-beam for suspending works
• MDF wall opposite entrance

Q. Does my artwork need to be completed at the time of proposal?

A. No. We highly encourage the development of new and site-specific works for the Atrium and we will accept drawings and sketches indicative of the new artwork. We also encourage you to include additional images of past artworks and exhibitions, which are indicative of your artistic practice.

Q. What does it mean to consider the exhibition space?

A. This means that you have given thought to how artworks will be displayed in the space given the constraints of the venue, such as multi-functional use (adjacent reception and office, and nearby galleries) and heritage overlay.

Q. Can I present projection artwork?

A. The Atrium is a light-filled space and not ideally suited to projection artwork. Previous exhibitions have successfully presented video works on monitors. Light treatment of the space works well for night-time activation. The windows can be treated as a nighttime projection surface with the application of film. 

Q. Can I suspend artwork from the i-beam?

A. Yes. The i-beam can withhold up to 200 kg. All suspended artworks will be installed in collaboration with gallery technicians, and must meet OH&S rigging requirements. Any suspended artworks that do not meet these requirements will not be installed.

Q. Can I propose a project with more than one artist?

A. Yes. You can propose a project with more than one artist. The fee for multi-artist exhibitions is based on NAVA rates.  

Q. Is additional support provided for public programs?

A. Yes. Incinerator Gallery will provide staffing, administration, ticketing, marketing support, and basic art supplies.  We encourage you to consider submitting an application for a Community Grant.