Cryptocurrency — for all its controversy and own risk — is bringing a new opportunity to artists in Fremantle to work at scale and take risks, with a record donation behind an emerging art organisation transforming an iconic heritage building.
The Naval Store, built in 1935 in Fremantle, is a heritage-listed warehouse that became a multi-purpose space in 2020.
Local artist Nina Juniper began managing the space in 2022 and was blown away by its potential. Alongside co-executive director Will Ek Uvelius, the pair have created Vessel, which is set to launch in June.
“We have an ambitious vision to build a fully-fledged independent contemporary arts centre, a unique entry statement to the creative city of Walyalup, Fremantle,” Juniper told PerthNow.
“Vessel will be commissioning new works by emerging and early career artists to work at scale and take risks.”
Vessel was made possible by a $500,000 donation from board member Adam Jorlen in what the arts organisation claims is the largest cryptocurrency donation to Australia’s arts industry.
“No single philanthropist has ever donated this much; this is the first time within the arts industry someone has donated half a million dollars. Previously the largest was $300,000,” Juniper said.
“Part of being a new organisation is wanting to be part of the future of art, so we wanted to accept donations through cryptocurrency,” Ek Uvelius said.
“When we first heard the size of Adam’s donation we fell off our chairs, I mean we had to pinch ourselves.
“It’s real money sitting in our bank and will be paying for our first exhibition and our wages.”
The organisation has been inspired by one of Australia’s most significant creative industry hubs, Carriageworks in Sydney, and the pair plan to recreate the platform in WA through Vessel.
“So many artists don’t have opportunities here and they end up moving over to the east coast,” Juniper said.
She understands this herself after graduating from Curtin University with a fine arts degree and moving to Sydney to work at the National Art School as a print-making technician.
“There is a huge export of creative talent in Sydney and Melbourne for better opportunities and we want to be a space and gallery for those artists and provide a platform for them here in WA,” she said.
“As a young adult living in Perth I was uninspired, and there was this mass exodus from my study group over to the east coast because we didn’t see much happening here and it was so much more exciting being over there, so I lived in Sydney for six years.
“Carriageworks in Sydney is a big inspiration of ours; it is a large industrial place and they similarly run markets and a number of other events like music and the Sydney Contemporary Art exhibition.
“My experience being over in Sydney helped me to see the potential this building has for a contemporary art space and I am committed to being here and seeing this through for a very long time.”
The Naval Store will continue to be a multipurpose space for the community but Vessel will have structured, seasonal exhibitions, with the first display opening in June.
“There will still be events, markets and music but we are slotting into periods of the calendar that are not used,” Juniper said.
The exhibitions will be free to attend and aimed at the general public.
“The arts community comes first but we are also targeting the general public; we want to bring different audiences together to discuss and see new and exciting things,” Ek Uvelius said.
“We want to focus on a crowd of people from the youth to 45 years old, to bring exciting experiences to people who are interested in experimental art with that wow factor.”
Ek Uvelius moved to Perth four years ago from Sweden. He founded the Current Gallery in Fremantle and has an extensive background in design and creative strategy.
The co-executive is excited to bring contemporary art to “the building people see when they enter Fremantle” from the north.
“It is not your traditional gallery; it is an industrial warehouse. There were other interesting sites around but this one has our hearts,” he said.