We’re inviting Australian visual artists from across the country at any stage in their career to apply to become our Australian Parliament House Artist-in-Residence. The residency offers artists unique access to the national heart of democracy where politics, history, architecture and art meet.
There is more to Parliament House than you might think! Be inspired and go behind-the-scenes in this busy working building. There are 23 hectares of gardens, 8 beehives, more than 6,000 artworks, around 2,600 clocks, terabytes of photographs and broadcasting archives, Hansard records from 1901, and 125 years of federal parliamentary history.
In 1986, Parliament House’s architects Mitchell/Giurgola & Thorp described the integral place of art in the building as:
... a subtle ‘speaking out’ by works of art representing a tremendous variety of ways of seeing and understanding. By this means, the Art/Craft Program will constitute a direct reminder of the meaning and strength of democracy as a forging of consensus from differing points of view for all who visit and work in the building.1
Art enlivens the working environment and reflects the diversity of Australia’s identity, culture, character and landscape. This program offers an opportunity to continue this legacy
The successful artist or group will receive a range of benefits including:
• recognition as Australian Parliament House Artist-in-Residence for the 48th Parliament
• an artist fee for the research phase of $10,000
• an additional commission fee for new work of up to $30,000
• up to 12 months’ access to Parliament House including the Parliamentary Library and Parliament House Art Collections
• travel and accommodation financial assistance.
This is a rare opportunity to spend time behind-the-scenes at Australian Parliament House developing your practice and creating artwork that presents a fresh perspective on the architecture, landscape, role and history of Parliament House.
The Parliament House Artist-in-Residence program is expected to run once every 3 years, coinciding with each Parliamentary term.
Applications are open from Tuesday 5 May 2026 until Tuesday 16 June 2026 11am AEST.
Apply now using the online application form.
For more information, including how to apply and the terms and conditions, please see the Statement of Requirements (Guidelines).
A virtual information session will be hosted at two different times on Wednesday 20 May 2026 at 12:30 pm and 5:30 pm. A recording will be available on this page.
Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and Accessibility information webpages to assist with any queries you may have.
If after reading these resources your question isn’t answered, please email art@aph.gov.au with ‘Artist-in-Residence' in the Subject heading. We will reply to you within 5 working days.
References
1. Mitchell/Giurgola & Thorp Architects, 'Art/Craft Program for New Parliament House: Update and Review', April 1986, p. 4.