The ATW offers artists and craftspeople working with textiles the chance to broaden their practice in our world-renowned residency program. Each year, Artists in Residence immerse themselves in our vibrant studio – exchanging knowledge and skills with our tapestry weavers and engaging with local communities through the exhibition of their works, artist talks and workshops.

There are 5 places available in 2025 to participate in this unique opportunity. Within these 5 places, applications are available across these categories: International Artist Residency (Hancock Fellowship) (1 place), Regional Artist Residency (1 place), First People’s Artist Residency (1 place) and Open Call Residency for all artists (2 places).

The residency can be used as an experimental or research period, or for the creation of a body of work. Each artist can work at the ATW for up to ten weeks and will exhibit their works in the ATW Project Space Gallery alongside their residency.

ARTISTS WILL RECEIVE:

1. A dedicated working space in the ATW weaving studio.
2. Weaving equipment available for use includes: Various sized looms for cloth weaving including a 4 shaft, 6 treadle Leclerc floor loom and a 50cm wide Ashford rigid heddle loom, A 60cm 2 shaft table loom for cloth and tapestry weaving, large Shannock tapestry looms and tapestry weaving equipment
3. Up to $100 worth of ATW yarn.
4. Up to 7 hours of training with an ATW weaver or dyer (natural dyes) which can be used over several sessions.
5. Access to ATW’s online tapestry weaving course
6. Attendance to any weaving workshops that take place during their residency.
7. Opportunity to show and sell their work in our ATW Project Space Gallery.

RESIDENCY TYPES:

International Artist Residency – Hancock Fellowship (1 place)
Residency dates: 20 August - 10 September 2025
Supported by the Tapestry Foundation of Australia, the Hancock Fellowship was established to bring international artists in tapestry, textile and design to visit the ATW and share their expertise through an exhibition and lecture whilst promoting contemporary art and creative industries in Australia. The Hancock Fellowship will be offered to an international artist living and working outside Australia. The recipient of this residency will receive international flights, three weeks accommodation in Melbourne and interstate travel. The artist will present a 14 week solo exhibition from 4 September to 28 November 2025, deliver a public lecture and has the option to present workshops.

Open Call Residency (2 places)
Residency must take place during 10 Feb – 17 April 2025 or 28 April – 5 July 2025
The recipients of this residency will receive an artist fee of $500 each. They will also receive an exhibition in the ATW Project Space Gallery from 13 February to 17 April 2025 or 1 May to 4 July 2025 and present a floor talk during their residency. Artists must attend for a minimum of three weeks but can attend for a maximum of ten weeks.

Irene Davies Residency Scholarships: The Regional Artist Residency and the First People’s Artist Residency are generously supported by Alayne Davies in memory of her mother Irene Davies and support artists to attend the ATW residencies through assistance with travel and accommodation.

Regional Artist Residency (1 place)
Residency must take place during 28 April – 5 July 2025
The Regional Artist Residency will be offered to an artist currently living in regional Australia.* The recipient of this residency will receive $2,000 towards accommodation, travel and stipend costs. They will also receive an exhibition in the ATW Project Space Gallery from 1 May to 4 July 2025 and present a floor talk during their residency. Artists must attend for a minimum of three weeks but can attend for a maximum of ten weeks.

First People’s Artist Residency (1 place)
Residency must take place during 14 July – 20 September 2025
The First People’s Residency will be offered to an artist identifying as First Peoples (Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander). The recipient of this residency will receive $2,000 towards accommodation, travel and stipend costs. They will also receive an exhibition in the ATW Project Space Gallery from 17 July to 19 September 2025 and present a floor talk during their residency. Artists must attend for a minimum of three weeks but can attend for a maximum of ten weeks. First People's Residencies will be assessed by Emmy Webbers (Gunaikurnai).

Download Information Pack including Gallery Plans here

SPECIFICATIONS:

1. In 2025 the ATW will be offering 5 residency places to artists
2. Selected artist must be working with textiles as a medium, or employing textile techniques including but not limited to tapestry, weaving, sewing, knitting, embroidery and dyeing. Textiles do not have to be the only medium of the artists practice and can be used in conjunction with other mediums.
3. Applications will be assessed using the following criteria: 1. Artistic Merit: Strength of the artists practice and potential for artistic growth and professional development during the residency. 2. Proposal: Viability of the proposed work to be undertaken and the artist’s capacity to achieve these outcomes. 3. Engagement: The artist creates opportunities to introduce the ATW to new artistic ideas, audiences and education or public program outcomes.
4. Artists can apply for more than one category of residency.
5. Artists must commit to attending the residency for a minimum of 3 weeks but can attend for up to 10 weeks. Artists undertaking a longer residency can attend in more of part time capacity, artists coming for a shorter period should commit to attend full time. This will be negotiated individually with selected artists.
6. ATW is accessible Monday to Saturday 9 am – 5pm. Artists undertaking their residency will only be able to access the studio during these times.
7. Artists will be expected to deliver a public floor talk in their exhibition during their residency.
8. Opportunity to show and sell their work in the ATW Project Space Gallery (9.5m of hanging space, plinths available, celling suspension possible). Artists will be supported with curatorial advice, installation assistance, signage and media and marketing. Artists will need to transport their work to and from ATW. *Please note: ATW takes a 30% commission on sales.
9. There will be an option to deliver workshops in a paid capacity.
10. Residencies must take place during specified dates. Dates are non-negotiable.
11. The AIR space is in the ATW Production Studio. This is a open space visible to visiting public during opening hours from Thursday to Saturday 10am to 5pm.
12. *The ATW uses the Modified Monash Model to determine the remoteness classification and eligibility of applicants applying for the Regional Artist Residency. To check if you are based in an eligible location, visit the Health Workforce Locator and select the 2019 Modified Monash Model Classification Filter. Applications need to be outside a 'Metropolitan Area MM1'. Check the Health Workforce Locator here.
13. Artists should be available by phone, email or online interview to provide further details about their application if required.
14. Please contact Adriane Hayward, Public Programs and Exhibitions Coordinator if more information or assistance is required to complete your application – ahayward@austapestry.com.au

HANCOCK FELLOWSHIP SPECIFICATIONS:

1. The international artist must attend ATW from 20 August to 10 September 2025 but are welcome to extend their residency to 8 weeks with their own funding. Dates are non-negotiable.
2. The 14 week exhibition will run from 4 September to 28 November 2025.
3. The artist must be available for the opening event on 3 September 2025 and public lecture on 6 September 2025.
4. ATW is able to assist with any applications artists make for further external funding to support and extend residencies.
5. ATW will fund a solo exhibition in the ATW Gallery (17m hanging space, plinths available, celling suspension possible) including incoming and outgoing freight, as well as installation assistance, curatorial advice, invigilation, signage, sales, media/marketing and opening event.
6. Artists whose artworks that are more easily transportable and require limited installation costs will be prioritized for selection.

We welcome and support applications from artists who identify as First Peoples, those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, individuals living in regional and remote areas, and/or people with a disability. The ATW is committed to creating a fair, equitable and inclusive environment for artists. We value diversity in the artistic community and support the rights of all people regardless of age, gender, ability or background. If you have specific access requirements to complete the application, please contact us so we can assist you.

In an ongoing partnership with Arts Project Australia (APA) the ATW will offer a residency to an artist selected by APA in 2025. This place will be additional to the 5 places for artists in 2025. It is not open to applications.

Please note: Incomplete applications will not be considered. This includes files that are not submitted in the correct formats and sizes, so please take care to adhere to the requirements. Please ensure you are aware of the time zone if entering from interstate or overseas. Any applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

Applications close on Sunday 20 October 2024 at 5pm AEDT. Successful applicants will be notified by mid November 2024.

FAQ's

Do I need to make tapestry during this residency?
This is not a requirement, however if artists want to learn tapestry weaving the will be supported to do so. However please keep in mind that a substantial time is required to comprehensively learn tapestry weaving so the artist would need to commit adequate time to this. We suggest that more than three weeks would be required for an artist to develop a full appreciation of tapestry.

If I have never done tapestry before, will there be an opportunity to learn?
Yes, you can undertake 7 hours of training from our weavers to get you started and you can continue to learn with our online tutorials, making use of our tapestry materials and equipment. Artists need to commit significant time to learn how to weave.

Will there be any technical support from weavers?
Artists can receive up to 7 hours of training with an ATW weaver or dyer which can be used over several sessions.

If I want to use materials from the ATW will I have to pay?
You can use $100 of new ATW wool, and you will have access to any post production waste such as bobbin ends during your residency.

I am a temporary resident in Australia, can I still apply for the International Artist Residency?
No. The Hancock Fellowship is intended for an artist living and working outside to Australia.

If successful, how and when will the funds be paid?
The funds will be paid through individual consultation with the artist when required for booking travel and accommodation.

What if I don’t want to or am unable to do an artist talk or workshop?
If you are unable to deliver a talk the ATW can work with you to develop a public outcome that is more suited to you.

TO APPLY

Please complete the online application form below or via this link:

Please complete the online application form below or via this link

We suggest drafting your application in a word document with the following information, then copying and pasting text into the form when you are ready to submit.

Required Information for this form:
• Contact information (name, address, email address, website, Instagram handle)
• Brief statement about your practice (200 words)
• Brief description of what you propose to do during the residency (200 words)
• List any public programs you have delivered in the past (e.g workshops, demonstrations or talks) or ideas for any public programs you would be interested in delivering during your residency? (150 words)
• 1 page artist CV (PDF only accepted)
• Up to 10 support images (JPEG, max 1MB) – these can be of previous work or proposed work for the residency. Please send us professional high-quality images of your strongest work.