The Warehouse Residency is Arts House’s main commissioning pathway for Deaf and Disability led projects developed at North Melbourne Town Hall.
Expressions of Interest (EOIs) submissions for residencies taking place between June 2024 – June 2025 are open until Tuesday 23 January 2024.
The Warehouse Residency centres and celebrates the development of new creative work led by Deaf and Disabled artists.
Now in its third year, we are excited to partner with Arts Centre Melbourne through Alter State to commission two projects for development at Arts House in a supported residency model between 2024 – 2025.
We are looking for a wide range of ideas and projects from Victorian-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 and Arts Centre Melbourne 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 $30,000 residency fees, $10,000 producing fees, $5,000 access budget and $2,000 towards artistic peer support. Arts House and Arts Centre Melbourne also offer a range of bespoke professional and career development opportunities to selected artists to develop their practice whilst in residence.
Outcomes of the residency include a work in progress showing during the residency period and participation in public artist talks during Alter State, 2 – 13 October 2024.
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.
Learn more about Alter State co-founded and co-presented by Arts Centre Melbourne and Arts Access Victoria.
Key Dates
- EOI’s open: Thursday 16 November 2023, 9am
- Online information session: Thursday 30 November 2023, 5.30pm
- Venue tour and morning tea: Thursday 7 December 2023, 11am
- EOI’s close: Tuesday 23 January 2024, 3pm
- Selection meetings with short-listed artists: Monday 18 & Tuesday 19 March 2024
- Notifications: Friday 22 March 2024
All dates and times are AEDT.
Information sessions and EOI support
Arts House EOI Info Session – on Zoom
Thursday 30 November, 5.30pm – 6.30pm AEDT
Morning Tea and Venue Tour – in person at Arts House
Thursday 7 December, 11am – 1pm AEDT
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 from 16 – 23 January 2024. Contact Phil Noack PNoack@artsaccess.com.au or phone 03 8640 6027 (voice only) to arrange a time to meet and discuss your EOI.
Key Downloads
- Frequently Asked Questions in PDF | in Word
- Easy English Program Guide
- Download budget template in Excel
- Creative Venue Information in PDF | in Word
- Audio about The Warehouse Residency
Each project receives up to:
- $30,000 residency fee
- $10,000 producer fee
- $5,000 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
- Post-residency reflection and discussion of the works’ future
- Opportunity to participate in Arts House and Alter State marketing and promotions
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
Clikc here to apply 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
The selection panel comprises of Deaf and Disabled independent artists:
- Elvin Lam
- Daley Rangi
- Sarah Houbolt
- Renay Barker-Mulholland
The panel will shortlist projects in consultation with the creative team at Arts House and Arts Centre Melbourne, Alter State. They will recommend projects that respond strongly to the selection criteria:
- Artistic concept
- Deaf or Disability led
- Embraces experimentation and growth
- Viability
Shortlisted artists will be provided with $350 + 11% superannuation to meet with Arts House’s Creative Producer and Production Coordinator and Alter State’s Creative Lead to discuss their projects in more detail prior to selection.
Meetings will be held on Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 March 2024.
Read about the artists and projects across The Warehouse Residency in 2022-23 and 2023-24.
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 here.
There are two date options for when the residency takes place. You can select one or both options.
Option 1) Mon 19 August – Sun 6 October 2024, with showing/s during Alter State, Mon 7 – Sun 13 October
Option 2) Mon 24 February – Sun 13 April 2025, with showing/s during the week of Mon 14 – Sun 20 April outside of Alter State
These dates can be negotiated if your EOI is successful. Both artists will have the opportunity to participate in public artist talks during Alter State 2 -13 October 2024.
The Warehouse Residency is a five-year commitment from Arts House. Two projects will be supported each year, until 2027. For 2024, Arts Centre Melbourne has joined as a development partner through Alter State.
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.
If you have read our documents and attended the Info Session but still have questions, please contact:
Sarah Rowbottam
Creative Producer
sarah.rowbottam@melbourne.vic.gov.au
0447 570 178 (text only) 03 9322 3720 (voice only) during business hours Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm AEST.
Please note Arts House will be closed from Friday 22 December until 2 January 2024.
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
Image Credit: I Am (Not) This Body by Leisa Prowd, Commissioned by Arts House through The Warehouse Residency and Co-Presented by Melbourne Fringe 2023, Image credit: Tom Noble
Image Description: Leisa, a white woman of short stature stands in a beige leotard with her hand on her hip. She looks out toward the audience with a strong gaze. To her left is a nude white sculpture that mirrors her pose. Behind Leisa more white sculptures and mannequins fill the set. The image is cropped and positioned inside a bold red rectangle.
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