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Photo by: Anna Kučera

British Council Australia is thrilled that Katie Dyer, Senior Curator at  Artspace,  will be one of seven delegates taking part in the Momentum Visual Arts Delegation in Edinburgh this August. 

Momentum is a delegate programme based in Edinburgh aiming to build international relationships with the Scottish arts sector and cultivate collaborative opportunities, running throughout the month of August. Momentum is delivered in partnership between British Council Scotland, Creative Scotland and Festivals Edinburgh. 

This programme brings together cultural leaders from around the world to foster international connections, share knowledge, and explore collaborative opportunities across borders. Through structured networking events, sector meetings, and cultural exchanges, Momentum creates meaningful pathways for ongoing partnerships between artists, curators, and cultural institutions. 

This year, Momentum will host delegations from Poland, Viet Nam, South Korea, the Nordics, Türkiye, and the MENA region (Middle East & North Africa) - as well as two artform-focused delegations, Literature and Visual Arts. Katie's participation will strengthen connections between Australian contemporary art and the Scottish arts sector, opening pathways for future collaborations that will benefit artists, institutions, and audiences across the region. 

About the Visual Arts Delegation (14-17 August) 

Hosted in partnership with Edinburgh Art Festival. 

The Visual Arts delegation brings together a global perspective, with delegates joining from op.cit. Foundation (Mexico), Samdani Art Foundation (Bangladesh), Artspace (Australia), ARD Art Institution (Egypt), Palestinian Art Court (Palestine), Beirut Art Center (Lebanon), and Pinacoteca São Paulo (Brazil). 

This diverse group of cultural leaders will connect with the Scottish arts sector as well as with each other, exploring opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing across different cultural contexts and practices. 

Meet Australia's Delegate 

Katie Dyer (she/her) - Artspace (Australia) 

"Artspace, Sydney, is a leading institution for the production and presentation of contemporary art in the Asia Pacific, and it is a place where artists of all generations test new ideas and shape public conversation. We are committed to commissioning new art work with international partners, expanding our Artist Studio Program exchanges, and collaborating with colleagues around the world. I am really delighted to be participating in the 2025 Momentum program as it is an incredible opportunity to learn more about Scotland’s vibrant cultural communities and to meet with so many talented, knowledgeable peers from around the world who are dedicated to championing artists and cultural expression in an era that is fraught with misunderstandings and misrepresentations. Listening and sharing ideas across borders and boundaries is a such significant way to expand understanding around artistic practices and the politics of aesthetics, in order to connect our diverse communities and audiences with these modes of cultural expression." 

"Some of my aims for this program are to explore international co-commissioning partnerships, along with learning more about art practices that relate to our mission, particularly artists that are at a pivotal moment in their career and who would benefit from producing ambitious, groundbreaking projects that could not otherwise be realised. I hope to develop networks in relation to our Artist Studio program as we are looking to expand the international participation and exchange in this area. And I am looking to gain a deeper insight into experimental and risk-taking Scottish contemporary art practices and share information about compelling and pioneering Australian artists with my peers while I am in Edinburgh."  - Katie Dyer

Programme Partners 

British Council Scotland is committed to maintaining and growing Scotland's international connections and contribution across the arts, education and society sectors, creating friendly knowledge and understanding between the people of the UK and other countries. 

Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland, enabling people and organisations to develop great ideas and bring them to life. 

Festivals Edinburgh is a strategic umbrella organisation focused on maintaining and developing the Festival City's leading position locally and globally through collaborative projects and strategic initiatives. 

Katie Dyer is Senior Curator at Artspace where she leads the development and management of Artspace’s artistic program including exhibitions, new work commissions, studio residencies, national touring and public engagement initiatives. Prior to this she was Senior Curator Contemporary at the Powerhouse Museum where she helped lead the transformation of the museum through the development of artistic programming anchored in research, collections and contemporary critical practice. Her work there won national awards and she was Lead Curator on an Australian Research Council Linkage grant with the University of New South Wales. Katie was the founding Curator and Gallery Manager/Director at the National Art School, Sydney. She has worked at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney and at the Museum of Modern Art and The Drawing Center in New York. Her research focuses on transhistorical, interdisciplinary and collaborative cultures and creative practice. She has sat on national and international cultural advisory boards and has published widely on contemporary art and curatorial practice including with MIT Press and Routledge. Katie lectures on art practice and theory in Sydney and in 2023-24 she was Researcher at the Warburg Institute, University of London, UK.

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