Australian Parliament House is opening its doors to the country’s artistic community once again, with applications now live for its 2026 Artist-in-Residence program – a rare opportunity that places contemporary art practice inside one of Australia’s most institutionally guarded spaces.
Running once every parliamentary term – approximately every three years – the residency invites visual artists to spend up to 12 months researching and developing new work from within Parliament House itself, drawing inspiration from its architecture, archives, landscape and more than 6,000 works held within the national collection. In an era where meaningful institutional support for the arts can feel increasingly scarce, the program offers not only access, but time, funding and creative freedom.
The successful applicant will receive up to $40,000 in funding, alongside behind-the-scenes access to Parliament House and the opportunity to create a newly commissioned body of work responding to Australia’s political and cultural landscape. Open to artists at any stage of their career, the residency has quickly become one of the more compelling opportunities within the country’s contemporary arts sphere. Below, everything you need to know – including eligibility, funding, and how to apply.
What is the Australian Parliament House Artist-in-Residence program?
The Australian Parliament House Artist-in-Residence program is a creative research and commissioning initiative designed to place art and public life in direct conversation. Artists selected for the residency are given access to Parliament House, the Parliamentary Library and the Parliament House Art Collections, allowing them to immerse themselves in the cultural and historical framework of the building over the course of the program.
The residency encourages artists to create new work that offers a fresh perspective on Parliament House and the role it plays within Australian identity, politics and history. More than a traditional residency, the program invites creative minds into spaces rarely seen by the public – from archival collections to the symbolic centre of Australian democracy itself.
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Who is eligible to apply?
Applications are open to Australian visual artists at any stage of their career, as well as artist groups and collaborative practices.
Eligible mediums include:
- painting
- drawing
- printmaking
- sculpture
- ceramics
- glass
- textiles
- photography
Applicants are asked to propose a new body of work inspired by Parliament House, its collections and the broader themes surrounding the institution.
What are the funding and residency benefits?
The successful applicant will receive recognition as the official Australian Parliament House Artist-in-Residence for the 48th Parliament, alongside:
- a $10,000 research fee
- up to $30,000 in commissioning funding for new work
- travel and accommodation assistance
- up to 12 months of access to Parliament House facilities and collections.
How do you apply?
The application process takes place across two stages.
Initial applications require:
- either a 300-word proposal or a three-minute audio/video proposal
- a two-page CV
- five examples of recent work.
Five shortlisted applicants will then be invited to submit a full proposal, provide two written references, and complete a virtual interview.
When do applications close?
Applications for the 2026 Australian Parliament House Artist-in-Residence program close Tuesday 16 June at 11am AEST.
Successful applicants will be notified in October 2026, with further information and application guidelines available via the Australian Parliament House website.
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