Sturt Craft Centre invites applications from experienced craft practitioners to the Sturt Artist-in-Residence program.  Residencies occur in the disciplines of ceramics, jewellery, textiles, wood, photography and writing. Four to six residencies occur at Sturt each year.

From the second half of 2009 Sturt will widen the focus of its residency program to encourage small scale production and individually designed work which will be promoted through Sturt Gallery. 

Each year, four professional residencies will be awarded to applicants specifically to develop a body of work which can be produced and made, at Sturt, during the Residency time.

Sturt sees the residency program as an important adjunct to its overall aim of support for Australian contemporary craft and design through a program of teaching, retail, exhibition and residencies. The emphasis of the residency program will be to support craftspeople and designer-makers who are sympathetic to this philosophy.

Three categories of residency are available:

• Professional Residency

• Self Directed Residency

• Graduate Residency

1.      Professional Residency

This category is aimed at high profile applicants, who welcome the opportunity to develop new work within the multi-disciplined craft environment of Sturt. Each applicant must have considerable experience as a maker and/or exhibitor to be considered for this program. Four Professional Residency applications will be considered annually. Applications are accepted at all times until 30th November for positions in the following year.

Residents in this category are required to:

• Develop and make a body of work for promotion and sale at Sturt Gallery
• Be resident at Sturt for between three to six months
• Pay for own materials and firings

Residents in this category will receive:

• A stipend of AUD$2000 plus material expenses
• Studio space in the relevant studio including equipment pertinent to that studio
• Accommodation provided to  be allocated one room and may share the kitchen and living room with another Resident
• Promotional assistance and opportunities for retail exposure at Sturt Gallery

2.      Self Directed Residency

This category is aimed at experienced applicants, who welcome the opportunity to develop work within the multi-disciplined craft environment of Sturt.  Each applicant must have experience as a maker (able to work within their chosen discipline safely and independently) to be considered for this program. This category of Residency does not attract a stipend. Applications are accepted at all times until 30th November for positions in the following year.

Residents in this category are required to be resident at Sturt for at least two months and must pay for all their material use.

Residents in this category will receive:

• Studio space in the relevant studio including equipment pertinent to that studio
• Access to accommodation which will incur a rental costs
• Promotional assistance and opportunities for retail exposure at Sturt Shop and/or Gallery
• Opportunity to teach workshops to generate income. Teaching may take the form of a five-day workshop, or several one-day or weekend courses

3.       Graduate Residency

This category is restricted to recent graduates from NSW and the ACT and is available only in the studios of ceramics, textiles or jewellery. The Graduate Residency is available for six weeks at the commencement of each year. (February to mid-March).  Applicants for this category must show the ability to work safely and independently (a letter signed by their tutor to confirm this) and must pay for all their material use.

Residents in this category will receive:

• Studio space in the relevant studio including equipment belonging to that studio
• Accommodation provided - to be allocated one room and may share the kitchen and living room with another Resident.
• Promotional assistance and possibility for retail exposure at Sturt Shop and/or Gallery

All Residency Programs are assisted financially from Friends of Sturt, a volunteer support group which meets regularly to help with events at Sturt, produces a newsletter and raises money through its membership fees.

Application procedure

For the first two Categories, applicants should fill out the Application form and include:

• A short written proposal, briefly describing type of work to be carried out
• Current C.V.
• Images of work relating to your proposal (digital, prints or slides)
• Any other relevant promotional material

Applications for the first two categories close on the 30th November for positions in the following year. Successful applicants will be notified in mid December for positions to take place in the following year.

Applicants for the Graduate Residency position must fill out the Graduate Residency form which is sent to tertiary colleges in NSW and ACT in the middle of each year.  See your Head of Workshop/Studio. Applications for the Graduate Residency close on 30th October each year.

Artist-in-Residents - General Information

The Residency program provides time, space and facilities for artists to focus on making and developing new work. There are no formal activities and residents are required to structure their time to best suit their practice. The Sturt Residency program suits those with a high level of initiative, and those who are able to work independently. It is expected that Residents will remain at Sturt for the Residency period. One of the unique aspects of Sturt is the opportunity to have interaction with makers working in other disciplines and to benefit from the active promotional program which Sturt generates at all times.

Aim of the Program

• Provide a model of successful craft practice
• Broaden Sturt’s profile by inviting high profile practitioners to Sturt
• Increase numbers of students, clients and the general public to Sturt
• Bring expertise to Sturt with a specialised area of craft practice
• Invigorate contemporary craft practices by giving artists quality time and facilities to develop new work

Past Residencies

• 2009	Monique van Nieuwland, Canberra – weaving
  2009	Kay Faulkner, Queensland – weaving
  2009	Kate Heaslip, West Australia – photography
  2009	Philip Jarvis and Madeleine Child, New Zealand – ceramics
  2009	Danielle Butters, Graduate residency, Sydney - jewellery
  2009	Sina Emrich, Germany - jewellery
  2008	Monique van Nieuwland, Canberra – weaving
  2008	Annie Trevillian, Canberra – printed textiles
  2008	Graduate Residents – Kimberley Williams and Rhonda Dwyer – jewellery
  2007	Koie Ryoji, Japan – ceramics
  2007	Howard Archbold, Scone NSW – wood
  2007	Bede Clarke, Missouri USA – ceramics
  2006	Keith Rice-Jones, Canada – ceramics
  2006	Hilary Green, Victoria – tapestry
  2005	Nick Statham, Canowindra NSW – wood
  2005	Virginia Kaiser, Southern Highlands NSW – basketry
  2005	Patty Wouters, Belgium – ceramics
  2004	Svend Bayer, Devon UK – ceramics anagama firing
  2004	Victor Greenaway, Victoria – ceramics
  2004	Melanie Olde, Canberra ACT – textiles
  2004	Yasuhisa Kohyama, Japan – ceramics
  2003	Vanessa Samuels, Sydney NSW – contemporary jewellery
  2003	Virginia Kaiser, Kangaroo Valley NSW – contemporary basketry
  2003	Julie Ryder, Canberra ACT – textiles - exploring imagery
  2002	Lissa Ward, Southern Highlands NSW – designer
  2002	Sondi Studio, Blue Mountains NSW – jewellery
  2001	Svend Bayer, Devon UK – ceramics - large pots, anagama firings
  2001	Roger Gifkins, Kempsey NSW – wood - jigs for small production
  2001	Sue and Nigel Atkins, France – salt-glazed ceramics
  2000	Ian Jones, Gundaroo NSW – ceramics - anagama firings
  1999	Erika Semler, Blue Mountains NSW – textiles - dyed wool woven

Contact details:
Megan Patey Head of Sturt
PO Box 34 Mittagong 2575 NSW Australia
mpatey@sturt.nsw.edu.au
Ph +61 2 4860 2080   Fax +61 2 4860 2081  www.sturt.nsw.edu.au