THE 2024 Victorian Museums and Galleries Award for Small Project of the Year (Gallery) was recently awarded to the Bogong Centre for Sound Culture (BCSC) by a panel of industry peers, for their exhibition entitled: 'Between Two Sites'.

Last year, the Burrinja Cultural Centre in Upwey welcomed visitors to view the onsite exhibition, which ran from May 27 to July 1 and was simultaneously available online, offering an accessible virtual experience.

The BCSC is a regional arts initiative based in the Bogong Village in the Alpine Shire, which provides the community with a diverse cultural program, including artist residencies, festivals, exhibitions, publications and masterclasses, all centred on site-specific art practices.

These programs explore the connections between place, its inhabitants, geographic space and memory.

The BCSC brings together national and international artists from various disciplines, engaging a wide range of audiences and fostering meaningful artistic dialogues.

'Between Two Sites' was conceived in 2021, when co-curator and exhibiting artist Sarah Lynch, undertook a two-week residency at the BCSC.

The exhibition was inspired by environmental issues affecting the Alpine Shire and Yarra Ranges and consisted of a number of pieces by artists affiliated with the BCSC.

Madelynne Cornish's work was inspired by the plight of the Helmeted Honey eater at Yellingbo.

Sarah Edwards's work 'Ground Cover' looked at the Indigenous plants that once would have thrived in the Yarra Ranges but are now extinct or endangered.

"We were delighted to work with Vitae Veritas and consultants with lived experience from the low-vision and blind communities to co-design the exhibition's accessibility features," director of operations at the BCSC and co-curator and exhibiting artist, Madelynne Cornish said.

"By incorporating audio descriptions of the artworks, accessible via QR codes and creating an accessible website, we ensured an engaging and inclusive experience for audiences of all abilities.

"This collaboration was not only rewarding but also essential in making the exhibition truly open to everyone."

Ms Lynch thanked artists Anne McCallum, Shannon Collis, Sarah Edwards, Amias Hanley and Lesley Duxbury; Nilgun Guven from Vitae Veritas; as well as Yarra Ranges Council and Creative Victoria, for their support in making the project possible.

"This award comes at a pivotal moment for the BCSC as our underlease approaches its end," Ms Cornish said.

"We now face an uncertain future, fighting to remain in Bogong Village after AGL has indicated it no longer wishes to honour its 2012 commitment to extend our lease."

To view the 'Between Two Sites' exhibition, visit: https://bogongsound.com.au/projects/between-two-sites

For more information about the BCSC, visit: https://bogongsound.com.au