In 2023 the Barossa Regional Gallery, supported by the Barossa Council and funding from the Barossa community, launched the inaugural Barossa Women’s Artist Residency program, specifically inviting mid-career and established female artists to apply. Subject to funding, the Residency may be across all artforms, be open to artists from Australia and overseas and be a minimum of 4 weeks and maximum of 6 weeks in length at a maximum, depending on project funding.

One artist is selected annually to take part in the Residency program.

The 2024 Barossa Women’s Artist in Residence is Ruth Murray, figurative oil painting artist from Manchester, United Kingdom. Ruth will spend five weeks in the Barossa from Tuesday 3rd September to Monday 7th September 2024. Read more.

Background

It will come as no surprise to many that women are largely under-represented within the artistic landscape.

Only 4% of modern artists in the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection are Female, whilst female subjects making represent 72% of the nudes in the gallery!

A report undertaken by Other Words & Artnet News indicated that collections from 18 major art institutions were both 85% white and 87% male. And despite our recognition of these statistics, it doesn’t appear to be changing with just 2% of global art auction spending on work by female artists.

Whilst the Barossa Women’s Artist Residency has very little capacity to change this situation significantly, we feel that small changes can have incremental change impact that is worthwhile.

This initiative provides an opportunity rarely offered exclusively to female artists and will help them to build more sustainable careers.

It is important to note that the residency, whilst only open to women, does not have an overtly feminist focus in terms of content or engagement.

It is expected that the artists will come from all walks of life and they will be free to focus the Residency on whatever practice themes they wish.

• 2023 Barossa Women’s Artist in Residence: Belinda Wilson. Melbourne, Australia.
• 2024 Barossa Women’s Artist in Residence: Ruth Murray. Manchester, United Kingdom.

Funding

In early 2023, donations were sought from women who live or work in the Barossa as a priority but not exclusively. Donations were also welcome from men who live or work in the region who wished to contribute and reflect the relevant values in relation to gender equity.

The inaugural donors have committed to donating $500 per year for three years, ensuring that the Barossa Women’s Artist Residency program runs annually in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

The Barossa Council has committed to in-kind support of the program, valued at approximately $4000 to $5000, with the Barossa Regional Gallery managing the programming and administration of this new arts project.

Barossa Mayor Bim Lange expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support of the community to make the three-year program possible.
“The groundswell of support for this initiative once again highlights the tremendous generosity of the community we live in,” he said.
“This residency provides yet another opportunity to reflect on our rich cultural heritage and the place we call home, and we look forward to creating ongoing artistic opportunities that reinforce the Barossa as a premier arts and cultural destination.”

Donors

Hobbs of Barossa Ranges Wines
Angela Pickett
Anne Moroney
Ashton Hurn MP
Barossa Quarries Pty Ltd
Carême Pastry
Elaine Ratcliffe
Erica Brady
Felicity Cock
Flaxman Wines
Casa Carboni
Georgie Staker
Wordplay Wines
Gill Thomas
Jan Angas
Janelle Amos
Joanne Thomas
AltoPEOPLE
Kiran King
Leonie Boothby
Lesley Ann Grimoldby
Louisa Rose

Modene Pty Ltd, T/as Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop.

Maz McGann
Nicole Durdin, Seppeltsfield Road Distillers
Nicole Hodgson

Vitis V

Margie and Vic Patrick
Victoria McClurg
Wolf Blass Visitor Centre, Penali Cellar Doors Pty Ltd
Wonderground Barossa

Objectives

• To establish a much sought-after international artist residency program in the Barossa that brings exceptional artists and artmaking to the region.
• To provide established female 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”.
• Raising the profile of female artists and increasing the likelihood of them developing long and sustained careers.
• To raise the profile of the Barossa as a premiere arts and culture destination.
• To provide local artists, businesses, schools and community groups with an opportunity to engage with professional artists of national and international standing.

“From a local perspective, the residency project will enable local artists both male and female to broaden their networks and learn from artists who come from other parts of the world,” shared local donor and strong advocate for the program, Maz McGann.