General questions

How many residences are on offer?

One.

Who is eligible to apply?

Visual artists who are Australian citizens over the age of 18.

Can a group apply?

Yes, groups may apply. You will need to provide one contact person for the group. You should also note that the fees and allowances associated with the residency are for the whole group and not per person.

Can permanent residents apply?

As outlined in the Statement of Requirements (Guidelines), only Australian citizens are eligible to participate in the program.

Is there a fee to apply?

No. It is free to apply.

How much is the artist fee?

There is a research fee of $10,000 and a commission fee for new artwork of up to $30,000.

Am I required to create a body of work?

Yes. This is an agreed requirement in accordance with the Statement of Requirements (Guidelines).

What visual art mediums are eligible for the residency?

The new artwork created during the residency must be in a visual art medium suitable for display in a working building with natural light, including but not limited to:

• Painting
• Drawing
• Printmaking
• Sculpture
• Glass
• Ceramics
• Textiles
• Photography.

The new artwork may not be:

• audiovisual
• ephemeral
• site-specific
• a physically complex installation.

Do I get a studio?

A studio is not provided as part of this Residency. However, you will have access to a shared workspace within the Parliamentary Library for your research; and we can recommend local membership-based, community-access art workshops in Canberra if required.

Does the residency include an exhibition or display in the public areas of Parliament House?

This will be negotiated as part of your commission agreement.

Is travel assistance provided for interstate artists or groups?

Yes. Interstate artists or groups will be supported with a travel allowance, to be negotiated based on demonstrated need, and according to the agreed budget in the Statement of Requirements (Guidelines).

Is accommodation provided for interstate artists or groups?

No. However, if you live interstate, you will be supported with an accommodation allowance according to the agreed budget in the Statement of Requirements (Guidelines).

I am an interstate artist; can I bring my partner and/or children?

Yes. However, interstate artists must note that travel and accommodation support is capped at $15,000.

Are meals provided?

No. However, Parliament House has several dining options onsite that cater to various dietary requirements and budgets.

Application process

How many stages are there for the application process?

There are 2 stages.

Stage 1 is the submission of:

• Your personal particulars
• A 300-word (maximum), or 3-minute (maximum) audio or video file proposal in response to the question 'Please outline what you would do as an Artist-in-Residence at Parliament House'
• Curriculum vitae (CV) of no more than 2 pages
• 5 relevant examples of creative work completed in the last 5-10 years.

From this, 5 artists or groups will be invited to participate in Stage 2 to:

• Submit a full proposal including a plan for the research phase
• Offer a detailed description of their proposed objectives
• Provide 2 written references
• Undertake a virtual or phone interview.

An $800 fee will be paid to artists for their submissions in Stage 2. If it is a group application, this fee is for the whole group and not per person.

When do Stage 1 applications open and close?

Stage 1 applications open on Tuesday 5 May 2026 and close on Tuesday 16 June 2026 at 11am AEST.

What do I put in my residency proposal?

Stage 1 proposals have a 300-word limit or 3-minute video/audio file duration to answer: Please outline what you would do as an Artist-in-Residence at Parliament House. 

Focus on three things:

• Your practice’s themes and medium,
• the area or aspect of Parliament House or parliamentary history you want to explore, and
• the concepts or work you aim to create.

We recommend asking a peer or mentor to review your proposal before you submit it. Please consider the selection criteria listed in the Statement of Requirements (Guidelines) of which will be used to assess applications.

How long should my CV be, and how should I name it?

Your CV must be no more than two pages, saved as LastnameFirstname_CV.pdf

If you are applying as a group, please provide either a two-page CV for the group’s exhibition history OR one-page CVs for each person in the group collated into one PDF. Save this as GroupName_CV.pdf

What should I include as my supporting documentation, and how should I name it?

Your supporting documentation must include five images of works completed in the last 5-10 years collated into one PDF (5MB max) with artwork captions included as: First name Last name, Artwork title, year made, medium, size in cm (H, W, D), image credit.

Save this as LastnameFirstname_supporting documentation.pdf OR GroupName_supporting documentation.pdf

Can I use AI to create my proposal?

Yes. However, make sure the final version of your proposal is clear and that your unique voice is apparent.

Can I submit my application proposal in an alternative format?

Yes. You have the option to provide your proposal in text, video or audio format.

Can I email my application?

No. All applications must be submitted online using the application portal.

Can I change something in my application after I’ve submitted it?

No. Once your application has been submitted, you will not be able to change it.

Please contact us at art@aph.gov.au with ‘Artist-in-Residence’ in the Subject heading if you have encountered a technical problem and we will reply within 5 working days.

How are applications assessed?

All eligible applications will be assessed by a selection panel with diverse expertise. They will be using the selection criteria listed in the Statement of Requirements (Guidelines) to ensure applications are assessed by consistent measures. They will then meet to discuss their shortlists and decide who will progress to Stage 2. Please note that ‘technical capability’ mentioned in criteria 4 refers to mastery of your chosen medium.

When will I be notified if I am successful in progressing to Stage 2?

In the coming months, you will be contacted to let you know if you have been successful in progressing to Stage 2. You will then have 6 weeks to submit a detailed proposal.

Can I get feedback on my application?

For Stage 1: Due to the high volume of applications, we will not be able to provide feedback on individual applications.
For Stage 2: Unsuccessful applicants from Stage 2 will be offered feedback on their applications.

When will I be notified of the outcome of Stage 2?

Stage 2 applicants will be notified of the outcome by October 2026.

Can I contact you if I have any questions?

Yes. Please read through the Statement of Requirements (Guidelines) and the rest of these FAQs to check if your query is answered. If not, please email art@aph.gov.au with ‘Artist-in-Residence’ in the Subject heading and we will reply to you within 5 working days.

Security questions

Do I have to have a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check? If so, do I pay for this?

If you progress to Stage 2 and are successful, you will need to undergo a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check. The residency is conditional on a satisfactory result. You will not be required to pay for the check.

Will I be provided with access to the non-public areas of Parliament House?

Yes. You will receive a sponsored pass to access Parliament House.

Can I bring my partner and/or children into the non-public areas of Parliament House?

Yes. As a sponsored pass holder, you will be able to sign visitors in to accompany you to non-public areas of Parliament House. They must be escorted at all times.

Can I film or photograph in non-public areas of Parliament House?

Not without specific permissions outlined in the Statement of Requirements (Guidelines).

Accessibility questions

Can I bring a support worker or carer to the residency?

Yes. We have additional funding available for this. This will need to be included in your detailed budget at Stage 2 of the application process.

Can I bring an assistance animal to the residency?

Yes. Assistance animals accompanied by their handler are welcome.

Is Parliament House accessible?

Parliament House has various accessibility measures. Please refer to the Accessibility information webpage for more information.

Can I get assistance with my application?

Applicants have the option to provide their proposal in text, video or audio format.

There is an Accessibility information webpage with additional information related to the Artist-in-Residence program.

If you need extra assistance with your application, please email art@aph.gov.au with ‘Artist-in-Residence’ in the Subject heading and we will reply to you within 5 working days.

Is the Statement of Requirements (Guidelines) available in alternative formats?

If you need the Statement of Requirements (Guidelines) in an alternative format, please email art@aph.gov.au with ‘Artist-in-Residence’ in the Subject heading and we will reply to you within 5 working days.

For the successful artist or group

Will I need to sign a contract?

Yes. If you are successful in reaching Stage 2 of the application phase, you will be provided with a draft contract, so you know what you will be asked to sign if you are selected as the Artist-in-Residence. You will enter into one contract for the research phase and another contract for the commission phase.

How often do I need to be at Parliament House?

This will be negotiated as part of the artist contract and based upon your agreed project and availability.

How will I receive travel and accommodation assistance?

This will be negotiated with the successful artist or group.

What activities will I need to participate in as part of the residency? And will I be paid for these?

As part of the residency, you will need to give an artist talk, participate in media activities, and other public program activities as negotiated. Payment for these activities forms part of the residency fees.

In what ways does the commissioned artwork have to be ‘appropriate for general public viewing, including children’?

Parliament House is a large building with many visitors and occupants, including school groups, international delegations and tourists. The building layout means no content warnings for specific displays can be effectively communicated. Anything on display should be suitable for all audiences and not require any restrictions or special warnings for viewing. Content depicted therefore should not be confronting, triggering or offensive to the general public.

In what ways should the commissioned artwork be of a ‘standard acceptable for acquisition by the Department of Parliamentary Services’?

The artwork should be of a medium suitable to a working building and should not noticeably degrade, fade or deteriorate over 50 years.

Can I talk about or use in my art something I’ve overheard a parliamentarian say while I’m in the building or incorporate it into my artwork?

No, not without their express permission. People working in Parliament House have standards of workplace behaviours that they must adhere to, this includes to act respectfully, professionally and with integrity. Like all workplaces, parliamentarians and other building occupants have a reasonable expectation that their private conversations will not be used publicly without their permission.