Artist Residency Program 

Founded in 2019, Nature Foundation's Artist Residency Program offers artists with an emerging professional profile the opportunity to spend up to two weeks at either Witchelina or Hiltaba Nature Reserves.

2022 Artist In Residence - Jane Rusden

Female Variegated Fairy-Wren; Jane Rusden 2021

Jane Rusden, our Artist in Residence in May 2022 and an enthusiastic birder, spent two weeks on Witchelina Nature Reserve. An experienced and well-prepared outback traveller, she camped out for much of her residency, and says she found plenty of creative opportunity during the fortnight. Rotational Managers Phil Cole, Adam and Suzanne Matthews provided support, and showed her some of Witchelina’s sites and landscapes to inspire her work.

Selected works from this and two other 2022 residencies are still available for purchase and would make beautiful Christmas gifts. Contact Lange Powell via mobile 041 786 7299 or email [email protected].

Program aims

The Artist Residency Progam aims to:

• ​reflect Nature Foundation’s conservation vision by encouraging artists to become immersed in the natural environment, and to respond through their creative work;
• support the work of participating artists with an interest in remote natural environments, by providing them with opportunities for substantial visits to Witchelina or Hiltaba Nature Reserves, or both.

More information is available in the program flyer.
 

What the Residency provides

The Residency program invites up to three artists each year to spend up to two weeks on either Witchelina, Hiltaba, or a week on each. A living away from home allowance commensurate with the length of a Residency will be offered to participating artists.

Nature Foundation will provide participating artists with accommodation and general support, including orientation to and guidance on the Nature Reserves. We will also promote and sell works generated through artists’ visits through media and exhibition opportunities, website, newsletter, email promotion and membership events.

Who can apply

Nature Foundation invites applications from emerging professional artists. Artists may be regularly selling work and exhibiting in a commercial gallery, but this is not a prerequisite.

Aboriginal artists are strongly encouraged to apply.

Further information and how to apply

Witchelina and Hiltaba are open to visitors between 1 April and 31 October. Artist Residencies will be offered at times to be negotiated within this 7 month period.

Applications for Residency in 2023 are now open - view the program prospectus and application form.

More information is available by contacting:

Geoff Gibbons: [email protected] M: 0421 924 937; or
Lange Powell: [email protected] M: 0417 867 299

Nature Foundation gratefully acknowledges sponsorship of this program by the Helen James Endowment Fund.