Frequently asked questions
Q What do you mean by post-marked by this date (18 October) to be accepted?
A. No one needs to hand-deliver their application on 18 October – just make sure you get to a post office by 5 pm as applications need to be date stamped on or prior to 18 October to be accepted.
This is also to provide some parity for regional students as they are not in a position to bring in their application in person. Thus to be fair applications postmarked 18 October will be accepted. Posted articles may take a few days to get to the VCAA so we check all envelopes to make sure they were posted by or on the 18 October.
Q. What if I do want to hand deliver my Top Arts application on October 18?
A. Information staff at NGV Australia at Federation Square will accept applications only on 18 October between 10 am – 4:30 pm.
They will not accept applications before or after Tuesday 18 October.
NB: Posting applications is preferred.
Staff at NGV International, 180 St Kilda Road cannot accept applications as this gallery is closed on Tuesdays.
Q. Why do I need to include a stamped self-addressed envelope?
A. This is optional. Many students ring asking if their application has been received. If a stamped envelope with the students’ name and address is included (not the schools) we will send confirmation by the mid-November advising that the application was received. Unstamped envelopes or envelopes addressed to schools cannot be utilised.
Q. How will I know if I have been short-listed for the exhibition?
A. All short-listed students will be contacted by 1 December. (This is why it is important to list students’ contact details rather than the schools). Students who have not been short-listed will not be advised. All successful exhibitors will be listed on the VCAA VCE Season of Excellence web pages in January.
Q. Why can’t I use my school email?
A. All short-listed students will be contacted by 1 December – often if a student has left a school after the VCE exams their school email is discontinued. Email will be the major way of contacting exhibitors during exhibition preparation so we need a “home” email that will continue well into 2011.
Q. Why are you so strict about this deadline when it is such a busy time of year for students and schools?
A. Hundreds of applications are received and it takes over a week to process these and prepare them for the selection panel to view. The panel start meeting a few days after the deadline. Top Arts opens on 22 March 2012. In the months between receiving the applications and installing the exhibition myriad tasks are completed including convening panels to short-list works, contacting students to bring in short-listed works; re-convening of panels for final selection; processing, storing, and dispersal of artworks, verifying works after the VCE marks are out; checking folios are robust enough for display; catalogue photography and printing; working on associated education programs; installing the exhibition, coordinating media launches and openings.
Q. Who selects the work for Top Arts and what are the selection criteria?
A. The panel comprises the State Reviewer for Art, the State Reviewer for Studio Arts, a regional representative teacher, two representatives from the National Gallery of Victoria from the Education and Public Programs department, and the curator.
Works are selected on the following criteria:
- achieve an A+ or A
- fulfill the assessment criteria for VCE Arts or Studio Arts
- demonstrate strong conceptual development
- display imaginative and individual qualities
- demonstrate technical excellence
- demonstrate an awareness of aesthetic considerations
- demonstrate an awareness of past and contemporary art practices
- have copyright clearance on all non-original material used in screen-based or other works
- provide a range of media, themes and approaches
- are suitable for public exhibition and will fit exhibition constraints including space and safe weight restrictions.
- are suitable for display purposes in regards to fragility and power needs, are stable enough to be shown for duration of exhibition, for example works on paper are suitable for mounting, framing or pinning.
