Summer Artist Incubator

Summer Artist Incubator Program

About the program

The Carlisle St. Art Space will be partitioned into 3-5 temporary artist studios for a 12-week residency period. The galleries existing moveable walls will divide the space into areas with the smallest space at 2x2m and the larger spaces at 3x5m.

Artists can apply as an individual, or as a small group of 2 or 3. Each artist/artist group will be designated a space for the duration of the Incubator Program. As the spaces are within a gallery setting, the walls can be utilised for hanging work or display and some gallery equipment is available (plinths, display cabinets etc). Artists will also be supported to access artworks and items in the extensive Port Phillip City Collection for research purposes. City of Port Phillip will not supply materials, artists must utilise their own materials.

The gallery will continue to be open to the public, and as such, visitors will be able to see the artists while working or works in progress when artists are not present.

The close proximity to the ASSIST desk and the multipurpose nature of the building will enable high visibility of the artist’s work.

The resident artists will be expected to commit to spending a minimum of 2 days per week in the studio (during opening hours on Mon-Fri, 8:30am-5pm), with the exception of the public holiday weeks. Information about the nature of the space will be available for visitors to encourage appropriate communication with artists while they are working.

Artists are asked to facilitate a public program, such as a workshop, artist talk, or other creative offering. There may also be scope to for supported involvement in creative industry events in the gallery to compliment the program during this time.

**There is no specified theme that the residents need to respond to in the public programs, however the selected programming will endeavour to engage with diverse audiences through type of program offered, target audience, and mode of delivery.

Eligibility and assessment criteria

Artists will be selected for this program based on the following eligibility:

• Can demonstrate a commitment to an active, professional art practice (*see professional artist definition below).
• Have a strong connection to the City of Port Phillip with preference given to artists who reside in the City of Port Phillip.
• Can indicate a commitment to utilise the studio space a minimum of 2 working days each week.
• Are able to indicate their capacity and experience working in a shared space in a collaborative manner.  
• Demonstrate a clear project goal for the duration of the program.
• Demonstrate capacity and interest in contributing to the cultural life of the City of Port Phillip. 
• The artist is working in a medium/s that are suitable for the space (there are no facilities for wet materials such as clay, aerosols, or power tools).
• A proposed public program (**see note on public programs below).

*A professional artist is a person who:

• Has cumulative experience or a higher qualification in visual arts or related discipline.
• Has specialist training and/or experience within their field and are involved in the creation of art as their profession.
• Has conceptualising and creative skills that result in the creation of artwork.
• Has demonstrated professional standing through exhibitions and commissions.

Key dates

• EOI closes: Sunday 7 September 2025
• Artists notified: By Friday 19 September 2025
• Residency commences: 17 November 2025
  *An induction into the Space will occur in the first week for all artists.
• Residency concludes: 6 February 2026 (week following to ‘bump out’)