Old/New: The Anti-Gatekeeping Method

Abstract

The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Art will be hosted by UNSW Art & Design until 2027 under the direction of an editorial collective comprising myself, Diana Baker-Smith, Jennifer Biddle, Jaye Early, Bianca Hester, Anastasia Murney, Astrid Lorange, and Jos e Da Silva. The current issue is our first publication. We thank our colleagues at the Centre of Visual Art, University of Melbourne, particularly Jeremy Eaton, for facilitating a seamless transition. Approximately every four years, the Journal transfers to a new university so that it can distribute its financial and editorial responsibility among various academic institutions in the long term. It is customary for a new journal editor to declare a new vision over multiple pages in the first editorial. I will continue this custom, but I will keep it brief. The journal will implement an anti-gatekeeping method for scholarly publishing in the coming years. Working as a dedicated editorial collective, we are establishing a structure to expose the Journal to new voices through mentorship and collegiality. On this note, I would like to thank my colleague, Astrid Lorange, for leading a workshop in April of this year in collaboration with un Magazine focused on emerging authors and the expanded modes of writing the Journal can support (the recording is available online via the Un Projects website). As the current issue shows, we intend to support authors new to academic publishing by providing editorial feedback before peer-review, assisting authors in responding to peer-review reports, and generally demystifying scholarly publishing. By demystifying the Journal, we can also address colonial predispositions in art history. Historically, the Journal has not placed a foremost priority on Indigenous sovereignty. However, we are developing protocols for publishing Indigenous scholarship in collaboration with the Art Association of Australia and New Zealand. In December 2023 and July 2025, the Journal will publish its inaugural special issues led by Indigenous intellectuals. M aori art historian Ngarino Ellis and Inuk art historian and curator Heather Igloliorte are the editors of the December 2023 issue, bringing together border-crossing and emerging Ng a Rauru, M aori, K anaka' Oiwi, Murruwarri, Wiradjuri, Alutiiq, Sugpiaq, Tsimshian, Bundjulung and Ngapuhi Indigenous knowledge on medicine, dance, museum