Artist Felicity Nicol was named an Accessible Arts and Bundanon Trust Artist-in-Residence. She’s spending a week at the Bundanon property (27 August to 3 September) working to advance her arts practice.

We asked her a few questions leading up to her week in the country.

Accessible Arts: What is the focus of your arts practice?

Felicity Nicol: I am a queer performance artist who experiments with form and contemporary content. My mission as an artist is to interrupt people’s assumptions about the world and the people we share it with in order to bring these into question. By focusing on those traditionally left out of mainstream narratives, I attempt to redistribute cultural attention towards those who need it most.

I do this through humour, debate, gaming dramaturgy and play. These take their forms through a combination of social media, projection, drag (dress-ups), physical theatre and dialogue. My favourite career highlights include directing at the Sydney Opera House, creating a one-on-one performance for audiences in a moving car, and directing a non-verbal performative memorial via clowning, beer and a slide-show.

AA: Why did you apply for an artist-in-residence?

FN: I have been dreaming of a project that requires a lot of research, planning and plotting for months. Political Animals is a play/performance that will look at the fight for queer rights over the past 40 years in Australia and how this is intermingled with protest, party and politics.

In order to do this work justice, I need a solid block of time to research and outline the project which, I believe, will take 12 – 18 months to complete. This residency means I’ll be able to kick myself into gear and create a solid framework for the whole thing.

AA: How do you plan to spend your time at Bundanon?

FN: Lots of research, some writing, some plotting of the piece, a line-up of people to interview, a list of other residencies and workshops to plan, a timeline to achieve all of the above, and, of course, some delicious creative daydreaming. All of this amongst nature? I can’t wait!

AA: At the end of the residency, what do you hope to have achieved?

FN: I hope to have achieved a VERY rough draft of the piece, along with an outline of residencies and workshops to work through the drafting stages. I also hope to have a strong basis of research, a way to dramatically link the events and a list of people to interview.

What is the Accessible Arts and Bundanon Trust Artist-in-Residence program?

This program involves spending a week at Bundanon Trust and was opened to emerging and mid-career professional writers (all media), visual artists and musicians. Each recipient had to be living and/or working in New South Wales and identify as being Deaf or as a person with disability. Applications for this program closed on 13 June.

Wanting more?

To see the entire list of recipients, visit here. To learn about Bundanon Trust, you can visit their website right here.

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Feature image: Felicity Nicol and friend by Livonne Larkins, 2018

This page was first published on 29 August 2018.