We’re turning 40!
Vitalstatistix acknowledges that we, and our home Waterside Workers Hall, are on Kaurna Yerta, Yartapuulti, Port Adelaide, its sovereignty never ceded. We acknowledge Kaurna people as the continuing custodians of the Adelaide Plains and their spiritual relationship with this land. We respect their cultural authority. We pay our respect to Kaurna Elders, past and present, and through them to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Adhocracy is Vitalstatistix’s renowned national annual arts hothouse, supporting the development of new art and performance. Sixteen experimental and multidisciplinary arts projects being made by artists from around Australia are participating this year.
Join us, to experience work-in-progress showings, artist talks, workshops and parties, from 3pm til late over the weekend of 6-8 September 2024.
Adhocracy is a unique offering to artists and audiences alike – as a creative development opportunity for artists and as an insight into artistic process for lovers of art. It’s a festival of ideas meets intense art camp meets house party. Entry is by donation, there’s a bar, there’s food, and there’s dolphins nearby.
Happy 15th Anniversary, Adhocracy.
It’s time to break out the bubbles!
I have had the unique and privileged opportunity to be part of every Adhocracy, with this year being the first time that I step out from behind the camera, having documented the event since its inception with my creative comrade, Heath Britton.
Adhocracy’s first year had a chaotic beginning forged by unlikely collaborations. The following year, the event’s theme, Try Not to Hurt Yourself, was a direct response to the chainsaw surprise the year before. Subsequent Adhocracies were equally eventful albeit less terrifying, perhaps until a pair of spiked mountaineering shoes made a threatening appearance in close proximity to a loin area last year.
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Participating artists:Alejandro Rolandi, Alexis West, Ashley Scott, Astrid Pill, Brian Fuata, Caleena Sansbury, Cat Jones, Donovan Miller, Ellen Steele, Emily Tulloch, Emma Beech, Emma McManus, Gina Rings, Grace Marlow, Harriet Gillies, Heath Britton, Hen Vaughan, Ian Sinclair, Jarrad Payne, Jaru West, Jesse Boylan, Jingwei Bu, Julie Vulcan, Kidaan Zelleke, Kim Munro, Latai Taumoepeau, Lauren Abineri, Lee Wilson, Loren Kronemyer, Marcus McKenzie, Margie Lewis, Marko West, Maria White, Mirabelle Wouters, Phil Downing, Rory Walker, Ruby Donohoe, Saraz Harati, Solomon Frank, Stephen Sheehan, Taylor Nobes, V. Barratt
Co-curators: Jennifer Greer Holmes and Jason Sweeney
Curator Mentorship Recipients: Alyssa Powell-Ascura and Erin Davidson
Vitalstatistix team: Jennifer Greer Holmes (Artistic Director/co-CEO); Cassie Magin (Executive Director/co-CEO); Maggie Oster (Production and Venue Manager); Patrick Lang (Program and Communications Coordinator); Tamara Phoenix (Administration and Venue Coordinator); and Isobel Marmion (Assistant Producer)
MCs: Emma Beech (Friday), Thomas E. S. Kelly (Saturday), Jo Zealand (Sunday)
EEA Gathering Facilitators: Eliki Reade, Jeremy Smith, Annabel Matheson
Facilitator Support: Angahard Wynne-Jones and Lana Nguyen
Fireside Yarn hosts: Adrianne Semmens, Alexis West, Caleena Sansbury
Special Envoys: Cat Jones, Jodee Mundy, Kelli McCluskey, Yasemin Sabunco, Raymond Zada, Helen Cole (InBetween Time, UK), Daniel Brine (Norfolk and Norwich Festival, UK), Amaya Jeyarajah (LIFT, UK), Pelin Basaran (Battersea Arts Centre, UK)
Crew: Tim Dodd, Sean Ormsby, Amanda Moroney, Christian Tadoyo
Hospitality: Liliana Baker
Documentation: Heath Britton, Thomas Gloyn & Ben Searcy
contemporary art and community life
Vitalstatistix champions contemporary arts practice, public dialogue, and progressive change.
We are based on Kaurna Country, Yartapuulti, Port Adelaide, South Australia. Our home is the Waterside Workers Hall, a heritage-listed union building on the Port River. It’s here that we provide a space for creative incubation, community gathering, and compelling contemporary arts experiences.
We were founded in 1984 by Margie Fischer, Ollie Black and Roxxy Bent three women determined to make a difference to the opportunities for and workplace experiences of women artists in Australia. This foundational radical determination and progressive ambition still lie at the heart of Vitals.
Vitalstatistix’s initiatives support and advocate for expansive artistic and community practices that feature experimentation, marginalized voices, social engagement and change. We deliver these through performances, residencies, laboratories, events, partnerships, collaborations, and professional development opportunities:
Residencies: supporting research and development
Adhocracy: connecting artists and audiences in the early stages of creative development.
Contemporary Communities: multi-year projects around contemporary issues, experimentation, and social engagement.
Commissions: partnerships with collaborators and organisations.
Presentation programs: premiering contemporary performance and art.
Leadership: advocacy, change making, instigation and sector development.
Thank youse, from Jenn
To Jason Sweeney, for returning, and for the great conversations, wisdom, text support and clarity.
To Cassie Magin for the trust and flexibility.
To the Vitals team Patrick, Tam and Isobel for sitting at computers tippy tapping in the lead up then running around like headless chooks for a week then going back to tippy tapping, deceptively leaving no trace.
To every artist for your positive responses, support, nimbleness, vulnerability, joy and willingness.
To our volunteers, for giving the most valuable thing of all – your time.
To our crew led by the formidable Maggie Oster, who make the impossible possible, with grace and fortitude.
To Jane Fuller and Emma Webb, whose visions ensured Adhocracy’s impact and longevity.
To Paul Gazolla for his co-curation between 2013 and 2023.
Past participants:
Adam Buncher, Ade Suharto, Adila Yarmuhamad, Ahmarnya Price, Ailsa Dunlop, Alan Grace, Alex Gibson, Alex Kelly, Alexis West, Alice Dixon, Alinta Krauth, Alisdair Macindoe, Alison Currie, Alysha Hermann, Amala Groom, amira.h, Amrita Hepi, Amy Zhang, Andrew Barnes, Andrew Russ, Andrew Wilson, Angela Goh, Annabel Matheson, Annemaree Dalziel, Anthony Nocera, Arran Beattie, Ashley Scott, Ashton Malcolm, Astrid Pill, Belinda Gehlert, Beljana Dally, Bella Hone-Saunders, Ben Brooker, Ben Flett, Ben Tamba, Ben-Hur Winter, Bianka Kennedy, Boris Morris Bagattini, Brad Williams, Brian Fuata, Brian Ritchie, Bridget Mackey, Brigid Noone, Britt Plummer, Bron Batten, Bryan Mason, Caitlin Comerford, Caitlin Ellen Moore, Caitlin McCreanor, Caleena Sansbury, Carlie Angel, Carly Sheppard, Caroline Meaden, Casey Jenkins, Cat Jones, Catherine Ryan, Cayleigh Davies, Celeste Martin, Che Biggs, Chelsea Evans, Chelsea Farquhar, Cher Tan, Chris Petridis, Cinzia Schincariol, Claire Glenn, Clara Solly-Slade, Connor Gibson, Constantine Costi, Cynthia Schwertsik, Daisy Brown, Daisy Sanders, Daley Rangi, Dan Koerner, Dan Koop, Dan Thorpe, Daniel Jaber, Daniel Kok, Daniel Thorpe, David Williams, Deborah Kelly, Deborah Pollard, Dee Easton, Delia Olam, Diana Smith, Dianne Reid, DJ TR!P, Duane Morrison, eDuard Helmbold, Eliza Lovell, Elizabeth Hay, Ella James, Ellen Steele, Elliot Howard, Em Konig, Emele Ugavule, Emily Johnson, Emily O’Connor, Emily Parsons-Lord, Emily Steel, Emily Stuart, Emma Beech, Emma Hall, Emma McManus, Emma Valente, Emosi Ugavule, Erin Fowler, Erin Milne, Erwin Maas, Essie Kruckemeyer, Eugenia Lim, Evan J Lawson, Fee Plumley, Felicity Boyd, Felix Cross, Fleur Green, Fleur Kilpatrick, Flora Suen, Forest Vicky Kapo, Frances Barrett, Gabrielle Nankivell, Gary Abrahams, Geoff Cobham, George Wohlfiel, Georgi Paech, Gillian Schwab, Grace Marlow, Gwen Holmberg-Gilchrist, Halcyon Macleod, Harriet Gillies, Hayley Forward, Heath Britton, Heidi Angove, Henry Wolff, Hew Parham, Hilary Kleinig, Hoda Afshar, Holly Childs, Ian Sinclair, Indira Storm, Ingrid Voorendt, Ingrid Vranken, Ingrid Weisfelt, Isaac Drandic, Isobel Marmion, Jackson Garcia, Jacob Boehme, Jake Pember, James Brennan, James Brown, James Dodd, James Nguyen, James Smith, James Umpherston, Jamie Lewis, Jamila Main, Jane Howard, Jaru West, Jason Sweeney, Jawad Yaqoubi, Jay Gardener, Jean Low, Jeff Khan, Jeff McCann, Jennifer Eadie, Jennifer Greer Holmes, Jennifer Mills, Jermaine Hampton, Jess Fairfax, Jess Oliveri, Jesse Budel, Jessica Alice, Jessica Bellamy, Jessica Martin, Jessie McKinlay, Jingwei Bu, Jo Lloyd, Jo Stone, Joe Tan, Joel Bray, Jonno Revanche, Josephine Were, Joshua Pether, Jude Adams, Jude Henshall, Julia Drouhin, Julie Vulcan, Justine Shih Pearson, Kaz Therese, Kate Blackmore, Kate Britton, Kate McDonald Baggerson, Kate Power, Kathryn Adams, Katia Molino, Katie Sfetkidis, Katy B Plummer, Keith Deverell, Kelli McCluskey, Kelly Doley, Kelly Moritz, Kialea-Nadine Williams, Kim Jaeger, Kirsty Martinsen, Kuba Dorabialski, Lachlan Vercoe, Lara Thoms, Lara Torr, Lauchlan Tetlow-Stuart, Laura Wills, Lauren Abineri, Lawrence English, Leah Shelton, Lee Wilson, Leisa Shelton, Lewis Rankin, Lillian Colgan, Liesel Zink, Lily Potger, Lisa Fa’alafi, Liv Satchell, Liz Dunn, Loren Kronemyer, Lori Farmer, Louisa Mignone, Louise Flaherty, Lucy Haas-Hennessy, Lucy Slattery, Lucy Thurley, Luke George, Luke Smiles, Lz Dunn, Madeleine Flynn, Mahdi Mohammadi, Maia Thomas, Maja Kuzmanovic, Malcolm Whittaker, Manul Younus, Marco Cher-Gibard, Marcus Louend, Marcus McKenzie, Maria White, Mark Rogers, Martin Coutts, Mary Angley, Mat Morison, Matt Daniels, Matt Shilcock, Matthew Adey, Matthew Cormack, Matthew Thomas, Matthew Timmis, Max Brading, Meg Wilson, Melissa Hunt, Meri Leeworthy, Michael Fikaris, Michele Lee, Michelle Maddog Delaney, Michelle Saint-Yves, Ming Zhu Hii, Mirabelle Wouters, Mish Grigor, Monte Masi, Motus Collective, Nadia Rossi, Naomi Keyte, Natalie Randall, Nathan Harrison, Nelya Valamanesh, Nescha Jelk, Nguyen Cong Ai, Nick Bennett, Nick James, Nicola Gunn, Nik Gaffney, Niki Johnson, Nikki Kennedy, Ninian Donald, Nithya Nagarajan, Paea Leach, Paul Dwyer, Paul Gazzola, Paulo Castro, Peter Beaglehole, Phillip Kavanagh, Phillipa Stafford, Pier Carthew, Pony Horseman, Rachael Guinness, Rachel Heller-Wagner, Raghav Handa, Ray Harris, Raymond Zada, Rebecca Jensen, Rebecca Mayo, Rebecca Meston, Rebecca Riggs-Bennett, Renae Coles, Rhys Rogers, Roman Berry, Rosie Dennis, Roslyn Helper, Roslyn Oades, Ross Ganf, Russell Goldsmith, Ryan Sims, Sally Sussman, Sam Haren, Sam James, Sam Roberts, Sam Watson Wood, Sara Scarlet Strachan, Sarah Aiken, Sarah Brokensha, Sarah Neville, Sarah Peters, Sarah Rodigari, Sarah-Jayde Tracey, Sascha Budimski, Sasha Grbich, Sean Bacon, Shan Turner-Carroll, Shashi Handa, Shian Law, Sinsa Mansell, SJ Norman, Skye Gellman, Solomon Frank, Solomon Thomas, Sophie Hyde, Stephanie Daughtry, Stephanie Lyall, Steve Bull, Steve Glass, Steve Mayhew, Steve Noonan, Susan Bruce, Suzannah Kennett Lister, Talya Rubin, Tamara Lee, Teddy Dunn, Teri Hoskin, Tessa Leong, Thea Baumann, Thom Smyth, Thomas Capogreco, Tilly Cobham-Hervey, Tim Humphrey, Tiyan Baker, Tristan Louth-Robins, Tristan Meecham, Troy Reid, Valerie Berry, Victoria Hunt, Vincent Crowley, V. Barratt, Will Spartalis, William McBride, Willoh S. Weiland, Zainab Syed, Zoë Barry, Zoe Gay, Zoe Scoglio
Previous Emerging Curators: Cy Martin, Eleanor Scicchitano, Felicity Boyd, Frankie Snowdon, Fruzsi Kenez, Jamila Main, Hen Vaughan, Rhen Soggee, Steph Cibich
Previous Adhocracy Crew & Staff: Amber Patrick, Becci Love, Cassie Magin, Emma Bedford, Emma O’Neill, Emma Webb, Gemma Beale, Helen Sheldon, Ianto Ware, Isobel Marmion, Jason Sweeney, Jennifer Greer Holmes, Justin Pennington, Kate Power, Lara Torr, Maggie Oster, Michaela Banks, Olivia Power, Patrick Lang, Sophie Byrne, Steve Mayhew, Teddy Dunn, Toby Nevill, Trevor Griffin
Adhocracy hosts the ground-breaking Special Envoy pilot—a bold reimagining of international cultural exchange. Created by In Between Time’s Helen Cole (UK) and pvi collective’s Kelli McCluskey (Boorloo/Perth), Special Envoy challenges the carbon-emitting tradition of international global collaboration, advocating for ‘staying, not going.’ Nine visionary artists and presenters from the UK and Australia will collaborate across continents, blending physical and virtual presence to forge deep connections and harness local expertise.
Supported by Creative Australia, Arts Council England, APAM and Vitalstatistix, this initiative sets a new standard for sustainable, equitable artistic exchange. Join us to witness the future of cultural collaboration unfold.
Scribe: Hen Vaughn
