The Residency Program

Applications must be submitted as an attached PDF or MS Word document and emailed to [email protected] by 5pm Monday 11 December 2023.

Your application must include:

• CV (1 page max)
  This document should clearly demonstrate 15+ years of practice and must include 1-3 hyperlinks to relevant past work.
• About your project (1 page max)
  This document should outline the project that you wish to develop during your Residency. Please read the FAQs carefully including information about the success criteria.
• A project plan of how you will utilise the Residency (1 page max)
  This document should outline how you intend to work and spend your time during the Residency. This can include both creative and practical information.

Important application information

• We only accept applications as a single collated document attached as a PDF or Microsoft Word format.
• The selection panel will not assess applications longer than 3 pages. If an application exceeds 3 pages, only the first 3 pages will be assessed.
• Hyperlinked relevant past works must not exceed a 5-minute duration each. If the material is longer than 5 minutes, please indicate a timestamped excerpt.
• Any Australian artist who meets the eligibility criteria may apply.
• All Key Dates are detailed in Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST, UTC/GMT+10).

Pre-Residency
A conversation with relevant staff to understand the breadth and scope of the project, eg. it may be relevant to have a conversation with The Australian Ballet's Artistic Director about the aims of the project or you may wish to arrange for the stipend to be paid through an auspice body.

During Residency
A ‘sharing’ of the work created during the Residency. This can take any form and can be 5 - 25mins duration as a guide.

Post Residency
A debrief conversation with relevant staff and written reflection report (1 - 2 pages max) on your Residency to convey feedback about the program and the impact the Residency has had on your work. Be available for visual documentation opportunities and be open to potential publicity and media.

What is included in this Residency?

The Residency will take place on Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung Country at the Primrose Potter Australian Ballet Centre, Melbourne, Victoria between 8 April – 17 May 2024. The successful applicant will be provided the following over the course of this Residency period:

• 161 sqm studio space, including: sprung floor, ballet barres across 3 sides of the studio, a mirrored wall along 1 side, sound system and piano. The double height studios have windows on the Western façade, skylights, overhead working lights and air conditioning/heating. Change room facilities are available.
• A stipend of $18,000 AUD to support you during the Residency.

Can I have access to company dancers of The Australian Ballet during the Residency?
No, the company dancers will be occupied delivering the Sydney seasons during the Residency period.

Is there an opportunity to access other departments or personnel within The Australian Ballet during the Residency?
Potentially, subject to availability. For the purposes of your application, it’s advised that you demonstrate how your Residency will work independently and if you are successful, we can have a conversation about the availability of support staff eg. Production, Artistic or Producers on staff.

How do you define a mid-career or established independent artist?
We’re looking for artists with a minimum of 15 years’ experience creating, performing, showing, researching, independently producing or collaborating in dance, choreography, or body-based practice and creating full length works for the ‘stage'.

If you are applying as an ensemble/collective, the required minimum of 15 years of experience should be based on the collaborative work of the ensemble/collective as a whole, rather than being a sum of the individual members' years of experience.

We are an ensemble/collective, how do we apply?
Please appoint one member of the group as the key contact applying on behalf of the group. If successful, it is a requirement that all members of the ensemble/collective are paid award rates during the Residency.

We are applying as an ensemble/collective but not every member of the group meets the eligibility criteria. Can we still apply?
Yes, if the key contact of the group meets the eligibility criteria and if all members of the group are available for the Residency period between 8 April – 17 May 2024.

I meet the eligibility criteria but I live overseas, can I apply?
Yes, you can apply but you will need to be in Melbourne during the Residency period between 8 April – 17 May 2024. These dates are non-negotiable.

I am an artist with a disability or a neurodivergent artist, what support can you offer through the application process?
Please email [email protected] before Friday 1 December 2023 and we can discuss your requirements and ways to support your application.

Can I apply multiple times for different projects in the same Residency period?
No, we will only accept one submission per applicant.

Will I receive confirmation that you have received my submission?
When you email your application, you should receive an automated receipt.

Who will be assessing applications and by what success criteria will they be assessed?
The selection panel will consist of David Hallberg, Bebe Miller, Stephanie Lake and Josh Wright who each have an established studio practice and/or extensive experience producing full scale works for the stage. The successful applicant will have clearly addressed the impact the Residency opportunity will have on the development of their practice.

The selection panel will prioritize key criteria, including but not limited to:

• Choreographic development: How well does the applicant address how the Residency will allow them to develop movement language, concepts, methodologies or structures?
• Concept realisation: Does the applicant have demonstrated experience fully executing a concept to the level of a full-scale work (even if the Residency is not focused on this outcome)?
• Audience: How well does the applicant relate the relevance of their work to an audience (even if the Residency is not focused on this outcome)?
• Contextual: Where does the applicants’ concept sit in the cultural landscape and how does their exploration progress languages, systems, process or traditions?

What is the process for reviewing applications?
If there's a large volume of applications received, The Australian Ballet Artistic Staff will review applications to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria and shortlist according to the selection criteria. David Hallberg, Bebe Miller, Stephanie Lake and Josh Wright will review the shortlisted applications and strive to achieve a consensus outcome.

What happens if my application is unsuccessful?

Applicants will receive notification of unsuccessful submissions via email. Unfortunately, we cannot provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants.

What happens if my application is successful?
You will receive notification via email in January 2024.

What outcomes are expected of the successful applicant?

• A showing of the work developed towards the completion of the Residency. This can take any form and can be 5 - 25mins duration as a guide.
• A debrief conversation with relevant staff and written reflection report (1 - 2 pages max) on your Residency to convey feedback about the program and the impact the Residency has had on your work.

Is there additional scope for funding to cover travel, accommodation, per diems or an ensemble/collective application?
No, the $18k stipend is intended to cover all your expenses during the Residency period. It is a requirement that all creatives involved in the proposed work are paid award rates during the Residency period.

Do I have to submit a budget as part of my application?
No, but it’s expected that the stipend will support all your expenses for the duration of the Residency.

Do I have to use all the time on offer from 8 April – 17 May 2024?
No, however the successful applicant will need to be able to demonstrate how the extended studio time will benefit the rigour of their practice in their application.

What if I have further questions about my application not covered in the above?
Please contact [email protected] if your question has not already been covered in the information provided.