Image credit: Francois Peron National Park. Photography by CJ Maddock.

Three exciting opportunities exist for WA artists to live and work in regional WA and immerse themselves in a significant creative project.

ART ON THE MOVE welcomes a new residency partner this year, the Shire of Shark Bay. Together, we are thrilled to offer the Shark Bay Artist in Residence Program, which aims to foster connection between artists and the natural world, encouraging innovative interpretations that showcase the unique wonders of Gathaagudu/Shark Bay.

We are also pleased to once again partner with The Museum of the Great Southern and North Midlands Project to offer two Activating Collections residencies. The Activating Collections residences give artists the opportunity to work with the local collection(s) and develop creative work in response, to activate local histories and narratives of place.

All residencies are set to take place in the second half of 2024, with specific dates to be negotiated between the selected artists and host organisations.

Applications are now open, closing 5PM (AWST), Friday April 26. We encourage applications from artists of all ages and diverse backgrounds including First Nations artists and those based in regional WA. Interested artists should visit the ART ON THE MOVE website for more information.

As the only Western Australian organisation dedicated to touring visual art exhibitions throughout the regions, interstate and beyond, ART ON THE MOVE plays a critical role in connecting art, people, and place. We work towards the development of a diverse, connected, and thriving arts sector that contributes to community wellbeing and economic prosperity, by creating opportunities for education, reflection, and exchange.

The continued support of the WA Government’s Regional Exhibition Touring Boost (RETB) allows us to work towards these goals through programs including artist residencies. The development of our residency program has been guided by our 2022-26 Strategic Plan in conjunction with the 2024-28 Regional Visual Arts Touring Strategy, and its following goals and recommendations;

• First Nations culture is celebrated across the regions through exchange and capacity building
• Increased opportunities for regionally-led exhibition development and touring
• WA artists and their works are valued across WA
• WA regional communities are enriched through meaningful cultural engagement

The Strategy outlines the need for greater intraregional and interregional collaboration and exchange, and increased investment in residency facilities and programs for regional artists. As such, in 2024 we look forward to working with our residency partners to deliver a regionally-focused program, and encourage artists from across regional WA to apply.

This project has been made possible through the Regional Exhibition Touring Boost managed by the Department of Local Government Sport and Cultural Industries, supported by Royalties for Regions and delivered by ART ON THE MOVE and the Art Gallery of Western Australia.