First Nations Art Residency EOI: Werribee Open Range Zoo

About the Residency

Wyndham Arts and Culture invites applications from mid-career First Nations artists (or collectives) to undertake a site-informed residency at Werribee Open Range Zoo.

This residency offers the opportunity to develop new work informed by a distinctive landscape and place, spanning Bunurong and Wadawurrung Country and the Werribee Yalok (Werribee River). The artist in residence will have free access to all public areas of the zoo, with the opportunity to explore additional areas in conversation with Zoos Victoria staff.

The residency runs from early May to July 2026, with some flexibility on timing. The artist fee is $5,000 paid in two instalments: $3,000 on commencement and $2,000 on submission of a concept development report. A public presentation of the work is required as part of the residency - this could take many forms.

This residency stream is open to mid-career First Nations artists based anywhere in Victoria. See assessment criteria below.

Assessment Criteria

Applications will be assessed on:

  • Demonstrated quality and depth of artistic practice
  • Evidence of site-responsive practice
  • Clarity of the intended approach to the residency
  • Capacity to deliver public outcome and artist talks
  • Connection to Wyndham region and/or Kulin Nation (where applicable)

Please note: the successful artist will be expected to:

  • Participate in 3 work-in-progress artist talks as part of the First Nations Art Tour at Werribee Open Range Zoo on May 27, 28 and 29 2026, open to the general public
  • Provide a concept development report (1-2 pages) mid-residency
  • Deliver a public presentation of the work - format negotiated with Council and, if applicable, Werribee Open Range Zoo

Privacy Collection Statement

Your personal information is being collected by Wyndham City Council for the purpose of administering your expression of interest (‘EOI’) to participate in the First Nations Art Residency at Werribee Open Range Zoo. Any information you submit as part of your EOI will be processed by Council in accordance with the project Terms and Conditions.  Your personal information will be stored in Council’s Customer Database and used to identify you when communicating with Council and for the delivery of services and information.  You can access or amend your personal information at any time by writing to mail@wyndham.vic.gov.au. Your personal information will be handled in accordance with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic). For further information on how your personal information is handled, visit Council’s Privacy Policy.

Applicant Details
Eligibility

To be eligible for this residency, you must answer Yes to all questions below.

Note: answering No to the Public Liability Insurance question does not exclude you from the process.
Are you 18+ years of age? (required)

You are unable to proceed with the EOI.

Do you live and/or work in Victoria? (required)

You are unable to proceed with the EOI.

Do you hold Public Liability Insurance? (required)
Please note that by answering no does not exclude you from the EOI process.
One file only.
10 MB limit.
Allowed types: txt rtf pdf doc docx odt ppt pptx odp xls xlsx ods.
Are you willing to obtain PLI for the duration of the residency?

You are unable to proceed with the EOI.

If successful, will you undergo a police check at your own cost? (required)
Aboriginality Declaration (required)
This residency is open to First Nations artists only.

You are unable to proceed with the EOI.

About You
Do you identify with any of the following?
How would you describe your gender?
What is your age range?
Which of the following best describes where you live?
Application (required)

Your application should be submitted as a single PDF document (maximum 10MB). The panel will use this document alongside your form responses to assess your expression of interest.

Applications close 22 April 2026, with applicants notified by 30 April 2026. The residency commences in early May 2026.

If you haven't written an artist biography before, that's fine - a brief bio is all you need.

NAVA (the National Association for the Visual Arts) has a free fact sheet to help.

An artist CV is a summary of your creative background—it can include your artistic training (formal or informal), exhibitions or projects you’ve been part of, any awards or residencies, and relevant community or cultural work.

An artist biography is a short written overview of who you are and what you do as an artist. Either format is fine.

Your PDF should include the following sections:

1. About You
Your name and an artist CV or biography (1–2 pages). This can include your artistic background, training, exhibitions, projects, or community engagement.

2. Residency Proposal
Describe how you would approach the residency with respect to the site in its current form and deeper history, how this relates to your practice, and what draws you to this opportunity (1–2 pages).

3. Examples of Your Practice
Share examples of your work. This could include links to an online portfolio, website, or social media, and/or images and documentation within your PDF.

4. Connection Statement (optional)
A reflection on your connection to the Wyndham region and/or Kulin Nation.

Please collate all of the above into a single PDF file (maximum 10MB) before uploading.
Unlimited number of files can be uploaded to this field.
10 MB limit.
Allowed types: pdf .
Declaration

By submitting an expression of interest (‘EOI’) to participate in the First Nations Art Residency program (‘program’) run by Zoos Victoria, you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions.

These terms and conditions should be read in conjunction with other documents and information relating to the program, including your EOI form and the information made available on Council’s website.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligible applicants must:

  • Identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
  • Be a mid-career practitioner with a minimum of 5 years of active creative practice
  • Live and/or work in Victoria (not restricted to Wyndham LGA)
  • 18 years of age or over
  • Must not be an employee of Wyndham City Council or Zoos Victoria.

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

2.1EOIs must be submitted between between 9:00am on 1 April 2026 and 11:59pm on 22 April 2026 via Council’s website. EOIs which are incomplete or received outside of this period will not be accepted.

2.2 You agree to immediately notify Council of any changes to your EOI, including the request to withdraw your EOI by emailing arts@wyndham.vic.gov.au. 

ASSESSMENT OF EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

3.1 EOIs will be assessed by a selection panel consisting of Council officers and representatives from the residency hosting organisation on 30 April 2026. One applicant will be selected.

3.2 All applicants will be contacted no later than 5:00pm on 30 April 2026 and advised of the outcome of their EOI.

SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS

4.1To accept the invitation to become the artist in residence and participate in the program, the successful applicants will be required to enter into a further agreement(s) with Council and will be required to provide evidence of their:

a) public liability insurance in a minimum sum of $20 million per single event;
b) National Police Check and
c) being over the age of 18 and that they live, work or socialise in the Wyndham municipality. 

NO RELATIONSHIP

Nothing in these terms and conditions or in the conduct of Council and you creates a relationship of agency, partnership, employer and employee or joint venture between you and Council. 

GENERAL

6.1 Council reserves the right to change or modify these terms and conditions at any time and without notice to you.

6.2 Council’s decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.

The following information is collected by Council as part of its reporting data. Information will be deidentified for the selection process and will be deleted after data is collated. Please select ‘Prefer not to say’ if you would prefer not to provide the information. 

More Information

Steven Rhall (First Nations Creative Arts Officer)

steven.rhall@wyndham.vic.gov.au or 03 8353 4048

 

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