Description & Background
Located in Bilpin, Australia, just 1.5 hours from Sydney, BigCi is an independent, artist-run, non-profit international artist residency program founded by practicing artist Rae Bolotin and environmentalist Yuri Bolotin. Situated on the edge of the Wollemi National Park within the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Greater Blue Mountains—one of the world’s top biodiversity hotspots—BigCi serves as a unique cultural hub bridging creative practice, natural science, and land advocacy.
Organization Objectives
The initiative aims to focus on artists’ professional development and facilitate their projects by offering an immersive sanctuary for deep environmental engagement, field research, and cross-disciplinary exploration. Drawing on the location’s biodiversity and its founders’ expertise, BigCi seeks to provide a creative space for projects investigating environmental and ecological issues while serving as a catalyst for artistic innovation inspired by the wilderness. Supported by a network of volunteers and global partners, the organization strives to connect artists with local landscapes, foster cross-cultural dialogue, and promote environmental conservation and land advocacy.
Programs / Opportunities
- International Artist Residency: A structured program providing studio space, accommodation, and opportunities for deep creative focus, field research, and project execution.
- Guided Fieldwork & Bushwalks: First-hand educational walks led by experienced wilderness guide Yuri Bolotin to explore the area’s unique biodiversity and geodiversity.
- BigCi Open Days: Public presentations, exhibitions, and sharing events hosted at the end of residency stays for artists to showcase their developed work.
- Events & Workshops: Hosting external proposals for curated events, performances, installations, creative gatherings, and interdisciplinary workshops.
Target Community
- Creative Practitioners: Painters, sculptors, multimedia artists, performance artists, writers, musicians, dancers, filmmakers, and interdisciplinary creators.
- Curators & Visionaries: Curators, artistic directors, and researchers proposing exhibitions, events, and collaborative projects.
- Public & Local Ecosystem: Domestic and international creators, local Blue Mountains communities, and audiences interested in environmental art and conservation.
