what is mapbm

Modern Art Projects Blue Mountains (MAPBM) is a membership-based and incorporated contemporary arts association based in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney. MAPBM aims to:

• Support, advocate for, develop, and produce exhibitions of contemporary, multi-form art in the Blue Mountains and elsewhere.
• Foster an independent environment that supports the professional development and practice of contemporary artists, curators and arts writers in the Blue Mountains.
• Engage with the wider Blue Mountains community in developing a new critical agenda for contemporary art in the WesternSydney/Central West regions of NSW.

MAPBM received its first grant from the Blue Mountains City of the Arts Trust in 2013, along with additional Arts Trust funding in 2014 and 2015. These initial grants helped to establish a small-scale events-based exhibition program. Since then MAPBM has evolved to become a significant contemporary arts organisation in the region, with growing networks and partnerships, a successful exhibition program and increasing membership.

MAPBM received major grants from Create NSW for the Explorers: narratives of site exhibition in 2016 and the Kiosk 3x6 project in 2017. These enabled the production of larger, collaborative exhibitions that provided more paid opportunities for established and emerging artists to exhibit their work, develop skills in a supportive environment and improve their practice through the critical guidance of professional artists and curators. In 2018 MAPBM held its first members' show, Imperceptible Resistances, followed by MAPPING in 2019. In 2020 MAPBM received Arts Trust funding for the SEWNUP exhibition (Lyttleton Stores) and also developed two other major exhibitions, BLUE (Blue Mountains Cultural Centre) and Fabrik (Penrith Regional Gallery).

Despite the impact of COVID, MAPBM has maintained a strong exhibition program and continues to support member artists and curators and to help connect them with broader, more diverse audiences. We provide a regular members’ newsletter, and 'show and tell' sessions in which artists discuss their practice with their peers in a supportive environment. We attracted significant financial support for two successful major projects in 2022, Lumière - Mount Victoria's Festival of the Moving Image and Carnivale Catastrophe which featured in Cementa 22 at Kandos. MAPBM continues to explore exhibition and online opportunities and to provide further opportunities for arts professional development for our members.

Read more about MAPBM's history here.

MAPBM people

MAPBM’s membership comprises practising contemporary artists, curators, arts writers, arts workers, supporters and others involved in the contemporary arts sector who are residents of the Blue Mountains or neighbouring communities or whose practice is located in or strongly related to the Blue Mountains.

As an Incorporated Association, MAPBM is managed by a committee. The current (2023/24) members are:

• Chair

  Miriam Williamson

• Vice-Chair

  Bec Waterstone

• Treasurer

• Secretary
  

  Alex Gooding

Committee members

Fiona Davies
Chia Moan
Ro Murray

MAPBM Partners and supporters

MAPBM greatly appreciates the assistance it has received from funding and project partners over the years. These include Blue Mountains City of the Arts Trust, Blue Mountains City Council, Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, Create NSW, Everglades Gallery, Festivals Australia, Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal (FRRR), Lyttleton Stores, Penrith Regional Gallery, Toolo – the Blue Mountains Tool Library, Wayout Artspace Kandos and Woodford Academy as well as the owners and managers of the other galleries, homes and other buildings we have exhibited in. MAPBM also gratefully acknowledges the support it has received from its members, artists and volunteers, the wider Blue Mountains cultural community and, above all, the many visitors to our exhibitions.