Artist residencies in Australia 2027

A residency gives you time, space and sometimes money to make work away from everything else. Some are a studio in the city for two years. Some are a cottage by the sea for a fortnight. Some pay you, some charge you, and a few fly you to Paris.

The catch is timing. Most residencies pick their artists a year ahead, so by now most 2027 places are gone. This guide covers what's still open, which ones take applications all year, and when the big ones open again. Rhys Viorr spent a summer at a residency in Portugal and hung the work in a ruin: read his story.

Quick answers

• Still open for 2027: Canberra Glassworks' New Graduates round (November to December 2026), and the Ian Potter Cultural Trust's emerging artist grants, which can fund a residency (open 24 November 2026).
• Apply any time: Strathnairn Arts in Canberra, the Broken Hill Art Exchange, Riverbank Studio in Townsville and The Lock-Up in Newcastle.
• Opening in 2027: Bundanon's 2028 round (early 2027), Artspace's studio program in Sydney, the City of Casey Emerging Artist Hub and PICA's Quick Response residencies for the second half of 2027.
• Free studio in Melbourne: West Space at Collingwood Yards, Kingston Arts in Moorabbin and the Casey Emerging Artist Hub.
• Paid residencies: Fairfield City Museum & Gallery ($3,000 to $6,000), Umbrella Studio in Townsville ($4,923), Megalo in Canberra ($2,000) and Creative Australia's overseas studios ($15,000 to $35,000).
• For glass: Canberra Glassworks, the JamFactory Associate Program and ANU's Procter Fellowship.
• For printmakers: Megalo, the Baldessin Studio in St Andrews and the Australian Print Workshop.
• For textiles: the Australian Tapestry Workshop.
• For First Nations artists: Gertrude's First Nations Studio, the Australian Tapestry Workshop's First Peoples' residency and a reserved place at Megalo.

Still open

Canberra Glassworks, Canberra

Canberra Glassworks runs residencies for glass and non-glass artists at any stage, in a working hot shop. There are several ways in:

• New Graduates round: November to December 2026
• Year-round proposals: March to August, for self-funded or externally funded artists
• Open round: September to October 2026 (closed or closing now)

Ian Potter Cultural Trust Emerging Artist Grants

Not a residency, but the Ian Potter Cultural Trust's grants help emerging artists pay for professional development, including residencies here and overseas. Round 1 for 2027 opens 24 November 2026 and closes 19 January 2027. Round 2 runs 22 April to 17 June 2027.

Apply any time

Strathnairn Arts, Canberra

Strathnairn in Holt offers residencies of one to 12 months with a studio, kilns and a foundry, and accommodation on request. Good for ceramicists and sculptors. Apply by email.

Broken Hill Art Exchange, Broken Hill

The Broken Hill Art Exchange runs self-funded residencies at The Grand, an old hotel in Broken Hill, with rooms and studio access. You need to be a member.

Riverbank Studio, Townsville

Umbrella Studio's Riverbank Studio is for North Queensland artists: a studio and living space for one to three months, for a weekly fee.

The Lock-Up, Newcastle

The Lock-Up, a former police station turned art space, has an apartment for residencies of one to six weeks. Apply by enquiry.

Victoria

Gertrude Studio Program, Preston

Gertrude Contemporary's two-year studio program is one of the most respected in the country. It takes eight new artists a year.

• Who: professional contemporary artists in any medium, based in Melbourne during the residency. No current students.
• What you get: a studio of about 32 square metres with 24/7 access, a solo show with an artist fee and production budget, a group show and curator visits
• Cost: $300 a month, plus a $300 bond
• Next round: not announced yet. Last round ran 17 September to 20 October 2025.

Gertrude also runs a First Nations Studio, fully subsidised, for First Nations artists from anywhere in Australia. Last round closed 27 October 2025.

West Space Studio Residency, Collingwood

West Space gives a free studio at Collingwood Yards for six months, with mentoring.

• Who: artists, writers and curators living in Victoria. Priority to First Nations, culturally diverse and disabled applicants.
• Next round: the 2027 round has closed, and applicants hear back in November 2026.

Australian Tapestry Workshop, South Melbourne

The Australian Tapestry Workshop runs four-week residencies for mid-career artists in its weaving studio, with yarn and specialist support. The First Peoples' and Regional residencies include a $2,500 stipend, and the Hancock residency (for artists based overseas) covers flights and accommodation. The 2027 round closed 12 October 2026.

Abbotsford Convent, Abbotsford

The Abbotsford Convent has two three-month studio residencies a year for visual and performance artists, and the six-month Maggie Maguire Residency for artists with less than five years of practice. Last round closed 15 March 2026.

Kingston Arts Magnify, Moorabbin

Kingston Arts offers rent-free three-month residencies in a shared 80 square metre studio, with up to $1,500. Open to anyone 18 and over working mainly in visual art. Last round's applications ran 16 March to 12 April 2026.

City of Casey Emerging Artist Hub, Narre Warren

The Casey Emerging Artist Hub gives emerging artists with a south-east Melbourne connection a free studio for 12 months. It reopens in 2027. Last round ran 8 May to 30 June 2026.

City of Monash Artist in Residence, Glen Waverley

Monash's residency runs for about three months with a $1,500 stipend and a studio, with priority for First Nations, migrant, disabled and LGBTIQA+ artists. Last round ran 22 December 2025 to 28 January 2026.

Printmaking residencies

• Baldessin Studio, St Andrews: Nillumbik Council's printmaking residency gives 24 days in the studio with a stipend. The 2026-27 round has closed.
• State Library Victoria: the Rick Amor Residency and Tate Adams Memorial Residency pay $5,000, plus time at the Baldessin studio and about a month in the Library, for printmakers and artists who make books.
• Australian Print Workshop, Fitzroy: the Australian Print Workshop runs occasional residencies with a rent-free studio and apartment.

Regional Victoria

• The F Project, Warrnambool: the FJ's Artist Residency is four weeks in October 2027, with a house, studio and a small living allowance. Application dates to come.
• Police Point, Portsea: the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery has residencies of two to six weeks in heritage cottages beside Point Nepean National Park.

New South Wales

Bundanon, Shoalhaven

Bundanon, the property Arthur Boyd gave to the nation, hosts more than 250 artists a year, in all disciplines and at any stage, alone or in groups of up to 10.

• What you get: accommodation and a studio
• Cost: a $250 refundable bond. No stipend: you pay for travel, food and materials.
• Next round: the 2027 round closed 9 June 2026. The 2028 round opens early in 2027.

Artspace Studio Program, Woolloomooloo

Artspace has 10 rent-free studios of about 45 square metres at The Gunnery, for two years, with curatorial support. Open to artists at all stages. The next national open call is in 2027.

Fairfield City Museum & Gallery, Smithfield

Fairfield pays well: a rent-free studio for three to 12 months, a $3,000 to $6,000 fee, up to $2,500 for materials and a solo show. Last round ran 12 February to 26 March 2026.

Parramatta Artists' Studios

Parramatta Artists' Studios has subsidised one-year studios in Granville for artists at any stage, two-year studios in Rydalmere for mid-career and established artists, and a studio with accommodation for visiting artists.

More in NSW

• Tweed Regional Gallery, Murwillumbah: the Nancy Fairfax studio can be booked for two to four weeks at up to $400 a week.
• Mosman Art Gallery: a free studio residency. Last round closed 13 April 2026.
• Georges River: a free live-in studio at Carss Park Cottage for up to three months.
• Broken Hill: the Broken Hill City Art Gallery's Open Cut Commission pays $6,000 and a show, for projects connected to the outback. The 2027 round closed 16 October 2026.

Canberra

• Megalo Print Studio: Megalo runs four-week residencies with free accommodation, a $2,000 stipend and $300 for materials. One place is reserved for a First Nations artist. The 2027 round closed 11 October 2026.
• ANU Procter Fellowship: the Christine and Stephen Procter Fellowship for glass artists covers $6,000 of travel plus accommodation and a studio, for four to eight weeks. Last round closed 31 March 2026.

South Australia

JamFactory Associate Program, Adelaide

The JamFactory Associate Program is a two-year training residency for emerging makers in glass, ceramics, furniture, and jewellery and metal. Unlike most residencies, you pay: in 2027, the program page lists $2,650 a year for ceramics and jewellery, $3,250 for furniture and $4,250 for glass. Confirm the fees with JamFactory. Applications close each September; the 2027 round closed 30 September 2026.

JamFactory also runs the Martin Ceramics Fellowship for mid-career ceramicists, and the FUSE Glass Artist Residency in 2027.

More in South Australia

• Nexus Arts, Adelaide: free three-month CBD studios for emerging SA artists from culturally diverse or First Nations backgrounds. The 2027 round closed 28 August 2026.
• The Mill, Adelaide: a 12-month Photographer in Residence for SA photographers, and a Disability Access Studio.

Western Australia

• Fremantle Arts Centre: nine studios for one to six months, with no rent. The 2027 round closed 23 August 2026.
• PICA, Perth: free Quick Response residencies of one to four weeks for WA artists. The call for July to December 2027 opens early in 2027.

Tasmania

• Salamanca Arts Centre, Hobart: the Artists' Cottage in Battery Point is self-funded, at $131 a night or $917 a week in 2027. It's fully booked for 2027.
• Contemporary Art Tasmania: studios for Tasmania-based artists, for one or two years.

Queensland and the Northern Territory

• Umbrella Studio, Townsville: Creative Research Residencies pay $4,923 for a month, plus travel and accommodation for the out-of-town artist.
• Metro Arts, Brisbane: residencies of six or 12 months, with stipends.
• Watch This Space, Alice Springs: the Stardust Residency pays $2,000 for up to eight weeks in August and September, open to Australian and New Zealand artists.

Overseas residencies for Australian artists

Creative Australia

Creative Australia runs studios overseas for Australian citizens and permanent residents. The 2027 places are all chosen, so these are ones to plan for in 2028.

• Cité internationale des arts, Paris: three months in a live and work studio, with $15,000. Last round closed 2 June 2026.
• Acme, London: six months in a live and work unit, with $30,000, for visual artists. Last round closed 15 September 2026.
• ISCP, New York: four months in a studio, with $35,000, for visual artists. No accommodation. Last round closed 15 September 2026.
• HIAP, Helsinki: three months in an atelier apartment, with $15,000. Last round closed 15 September 2026.

Paris studios through the Art Gallery of NSW

The Art Gallery of NSW has studios at the Cité in Paris for three-month stays, with some places funded by scholarships of $25,000 to $30,000. The 2027 round closed 26 June 2026.

The gallery's Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship, for painters aged 20 to 30, pays $50,000 plus three months at the Cité.

Power Institute Curtis Fellowships, Paris

The University of Sydney's Power Institute gives four artists a year three rent-free months at the Cité, with $13,000. The 2027 round closed 30 June 2026.

Before you apply

Residencies change their rules, money and dates from year to year, so check the organiser's page before you apply. Most want a short proposal, a CV and images of recent work, and the ones that are free or paid are competitive. We'll add 2028 dates here as they're announced.

Looking for prizes instead? See Art prizes in Australia 2027.