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. Each Residency includes studio use and provision of accommodation.

Three categories of residency are available:

• Professional Residency
• Self Directed Residency
• Graduate Residency

1.     Professional Residency

This category is aimed at high profile National and International 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.

Residents in this category are required to:

• Teach thirty hours. Teaching may take the form of a five-day workshop, or several one-day or weekend courses
• Donate a finished piece to the Sturt Permanent Collection
• Speak to the public with a presentation of slides or digital images
• Display finished work at Sturt Gallery or Sturt Shop, depending on Exhibition programming and availability. An exhibition at Sturt Gallery is available in some instances. Where the Gallery is not available, a special display of the Resident’s work is shown in Sturt Shop, and this is an excellent way to promote the artist’s work
• Be resident at Sturt for between two to three months

Residents in this category will receive:

• A stipend of AUD$2000 plus AUD$500 material expenses
• Studio space in the relevant studio including equipment pertinent to that studio
• Accommodation provided at Ainsworth, a self contained two bedroom unit. Each bedroom has a double and single bed and ensuite bathroom, adjacent to a self-catering kitchen/living room facility. All linen and kitchen requirements are provided.  You will be allocated one room and may share the kitchen and living room with another Resident
• Promotional assistance and opportunities for retail exposure at Sturt Shop and/or Gallery

2.     Self Directed Residency

This category is aimed at experienced applicants, who welcome the opportunity to develop new 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.

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
• Accommodation provided at Ainsworth, a self contained two bedroom unit. Each bedroom has a double and single bed and ensuite bathroom, adjacent to a self-catering kitchen/living room facility. All linen and kitchen requirements are provided.  You will be allocated one room and may share the kitchen and living room with another Resident
• 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 at Ainsworth, a self contained two bedroom unit. Each bedroom has a double and single bed and ensuite bathroom, adjacent to a self-catering kitchen/living room facility. All linen and kitchen requirements are provided.  You will 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 (click here) 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 September 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. However, 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.