The Warehouse Residency at Arts House

The Warehouse Residency is Arts House’s main commissioning pathway for Deaf and Disability led projects developed at North Melbourne Town Hall.

Expression of Interests (EOIs) for projects taking place between July 2026 – June 2027 open Thursday 3 July and close Thursday 7 August 2025.

The Warehouse Residency centres and celebrates the development of new creative work led by Deaf and Disabled artists from across Australia.

Now in its fifth year, this program empowers Deaf and Disabled artists to thrive, tell stories in self-determined ways and explore new modes of access-led experimentation.

Two projects will be commissioned for development at Arts House in a supported residency model between 2026 – 2027.

We are looking for a wide range of ideas and projects from Australian-based performers and artists of any genre, curators, collectives and their collaborators that show an inclusive and experimental approach to performance and art making.

Arts House support the intersectionality of lived experiences and strongly encourage Deaf and Disabled people who belong to additional marginalised communities such as First Nations, Black, People of Colour, and LGBTQIA+ to apply.

The commission includes up to $48,000, itemised into the following: $30,000 residency and creative fees, $10,000 producing and production fees, $6,000 access budget and $2,000 towards artistic peer support. We also offer bespoke professional development sessions to consider embedding creative access and build digital capacity.

Outcomes of the residency include a work in progress showing at the end of the residency period.

To learn more about what drives Arts House programming and curatorial decisions, read about our commitments to inclusion via our Disability Inclusion Action Plan and Equity—Builder.

Key Dates

EOIs open: Thursday 3 July, 9am
Online information session: Wednesday 16 July, 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Venue tour and morning tea: Friday 18 July, 11am – 12.30pm
EOIs closed: Thursday 7 August, 3pm
Selection meetings with short-listed artists: Thursday 25 and Friday 26 September
Notifications: Friday 3 October

All dates and times are AEST.

Information sessions and EOI support

Arts House EOI Info Session – on Zoom
Held on Wednesday 16 July, 5:30pm – 6:30pm AEST

Morning Tea and Venue Tour – in person at Arts House
Held on Friday 18 July, 11am – 12.30pm AEST

Click here for more information and to register.

EOI Support with Arts Access Victoria
Arts Access Victoria is available to provide EOI support to Deaf and Disabled artists during the call out period until Wednesday 23 October. Contact Sarah Fiddaman (Monday – Thursday) sfiddaman@artsaccess.com.au or phone 03 8640 6007 (voice only) to arrange.

Key Downloads

Frequently Asked Questions in PDF | in Word
Easy English Program Guide
Download budget template in Excel
View venue information and accessibility – PDF | Word
Audio about The Warehouse Residency

Project support

Each project receives up to $48,000:

$30,000 residency and creative fees
$10,000 producing and production fees
$6,000 access budget
$2,000 artistic peer support

The Warehouse Residency provides:

Up to 8 weeks of dedicated studio space in a supported residency
Production and creative producing expertise
Professional and career development sessions
Access to technical equipment
Access provision for audiences attending showings and talks
Contact with Arts House Access Advisor Artemis Muñoz
Digital capacity building and consultation sessions with developer Daniel Reid
Creative access consultation sessions with Access Lab & Library (Fayen d’Evie, Lloyd Mst and Jon Tjhia)
Post-residency reflection and discussion of the works’ future

How to apply

We want you to apply in the format that is easiest for you. You can submit these formats through the SmartyGrants EOI system:

Written
Video
Auslan (we can arrange interpretation of your video if needed)
Audio

Submit your EOI through SmartyGrants

Please contact us prior to the closing date if you need an extension, to submit your EOI outside of the SmartyGrants system or via a recorded Zoom for access reasons.

Selection criteria and shortlisting process

The advisory panel comprises of Deaf and Disabled independent artists:

Amy Claire Mills (NSW)
Irene Holub (VIC)
Hannah Morphy-Walsh (VIC)
Bruno Booth (WA)
Jonathan Craig (VIC)

The panel will advise on shortlist projects in consultation with the creative team at Arts House. They will recommend projects that respond strongly to the selection criteria:

Artistic concept
Deaf and/or Disability led
Embraces experimentation and growth
Viability

Shortlisted artists will be provided with $350 + superannuation to meet with members of Arts House’s Creative Team to discuss their projects in more detail prior to selection.

Meetings will be held on Thursday 25 and Friday 26 September

Read about the artists and projects across The Warehouse Residency in 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26.

2026 – 2027 residency dates and space

Selected participants have access to a dedicated studio space in North Melbourne called The Warehouse for up to 8 weeks.

View information about The Warehouse venue space – PDF | Word

There are two date options for when the residency takes place. You can select one or both options.

Option 1) Mon 7 September – Sun 1 November, with showing/s during the week of Mon 26 – Sun 1 November 2026

Option 2) Mon 15 February – Sun 11April, with showing/s during the week of Mon 5 – Sun 11 April 2027

These dates can be negotiated if your EOI is successful.

About The Warehouse Residency program

This is a national program for Australian performers and artists of any genre, curators, collectives and their collaborators to create new experimental projects within a supported residency model.

The Warehouse Residency is a five-year commitment from Arts House. With the support of Creative Australia, this program has now been extended until 2028.

The Warehouse Residency was co-devised in 2021 by six independent Deaf, Disabled and neurodiverse artists – Luke King, Hannah Morphy-Walsh, Pauline Vetuna, Jonathan Craig, Kath Duncan and Eva Sifis, alongside Arts Access Victoria and Arts House. The group collectively decided on the following guiding principles:

Respect the wisdom that lived experiences brings
Be artist-led and self-determined
Support multiple-marginalised Deaf and Disabled people
Embrace flexibility and choice, and be responsive to the individual
Create an environment of safety and care
Support risk-taking and experimentation

Arts House strives to fulfil these principles and vision, and we extend this invitation to artists and partners participating in the program.

Got a question?

If you have read our documents and attended the Info Session but still have questions, please contact:
Louana Sainsbury
Creative Producer
louana.sainsbury@melbourne.vic.gov.au
03 9322 3720 (voice only) during business hours Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm AEST.

National Relay Service (NRS)
TTY users: phone 13 36 77 – then ask for – 03 9322 3720
Speak and Listen users: phone 1300 555 727 – then ask for – 03 9322 3720
Internet relay users: connect to the NRS (www.internet-relay.nrscall.gov.au) – then type in – 03 9322 3720

The Warehouse Residency is supported by City of Melbourne through Arts House, and has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.

Image Credit: Manifesto of Silences Development Showing, 2025 pictured Walter Kadiki. Photographed by Wild Hardt.

Image Description: Profile of the face and torso of a black man standing in front of projected imagery of ocean waves. His hands are raised and clasped in front of his chest.