The Barossa Regional Gallery, with the support of the Barossa Council has launched the 2024 round of the Barossa Women’s Artist Residency Program.

This initiative, in three rounds across 2023, 2024 and 2025, is an annual international artist residency program specifically targeting mid-career and established female artists of any discipline. The program is generously funded by community donations and supported by The Barossa Council.

It was developed early last year and successfully hosted Melbourne landscape artist Belinda Wilson across 5 weeks in November and December is the inaugural resident. During her time in the region, Belinda delivered four public engagement outcomes, free to the community, including an Art History lecture, an En Plein Air art session at the Barossa Bushgardens, a Live Art Demonstration and an Artist Talk, reflecting on the Residency.

“As I reflect on my time in the Barossa Valley, I am overwhelmed by the warmth and hospitality of this community. The support and encouragement from fellow artists, residents, the donors, and the residency program organisers have created an environment conducive to creative exploration.”

The final outcome of Belinda’s Residency will be displayed locally in Wonderground Barossa’s upcoming exhibition entitled ‘Witching Hour’ opening on 5th April, alongside local artists Nina Rupena, Kirsty Kingsley and Renee de Saxe as well as South Australian based artists Jim Thalassoudis, Shazia Shehzad, Juliane Brandt and Tanya Wales.

“We are delighted with this outcome for our community,” reflected Rowena Sloane Team Leader Gallery and Creative Industries, The Barossa Council, “It demonstrates that through the Residency Belinda was able to form meaningful connections with our local artists and community, delivering in so many ways on our Residency objectives.”

Mrs Sloane shared, “Last year we received applications from over 40 artists from a range of mediums – musicians, ceramicists, painters, digital artists and more applied. The majority of applicants were Australian, however our reach attracted applicants from United States, Switzerland, South Africa and Spain. Their project ideas were absolutely enticing and exciting. We are hopeful many will apply again for the next round. There are some incredible women out there creating powerful work which we’d love to support and share with our community.”

The Residency provides artists with an opportunity to experiment and grow their practice in a focused way within the environs of the Barossa region, creating work that is created in the context of and will potentially respond to “place”.

The project aims also to raise the profile of female artists and increase the likelihood of them developing long and sustained careers.

“The Barossa Women’s Artist Residency program stands as a model for successful arts initiatives,” reflected Ms. Wilson, “demonstrating the positive impact that focused, collaborative, and community-driven efforts can have on both artists and the regions they inhabit. By continuing to build on these successes the program is poised to sustain its positive influence, fostering a vibrant and enduring legacy in the Barossa arts and culture scene.”

For more information and expressions of interest click here, extended to close on 17th May with the 2024 Residency expected to be announced in July.