Creative Residency

We are proud to announce that applications are now open for the University of Newcastle Library’s Creative Residency program.

We invite creative practitioners from all artistic disciplines to apply for a Creative Residency at the Auchmuty Library, Callaghan Campus.

Our libraries are spaces for learning, conversation, discovery, and the ongoing exchange of knowledge. At different times, they can be places of quiet reflection and focused study, or vibrant (sometimes rowdy!) hubs of discussion and collaboration.

Rich and diverse collections sit alongside dynamic public spaces, creating opportunities for inspiration, exploration, and creative enquiry. We invite creatives to engage with our spaces, our collections, and our staff as part of a residency experience.

The residency period is 3 months depending on the scope of your project and will take place during Semester 1 Feb-June 2027.

The Creative in Residence programme provides a $10,000 stipend with an additional budget up to $5,000 provided for materials. Read below for further details on how to apply.

Have a creative project idea?

Apply now

About the Creative Residency program

We encourage applicants to imagine how their practice might unfold within a library setting. This could involve a visual artist establishing a temporary studio, a writer or poet drawing inspiration from our collections, or a musician, composer, or performer developing new work in response to the library environment.

We are deliberately open in our approach. We welcome creative projects that engage meaningfully with students, staff, collections, spaces, and the broader university community, whatever form the process or outcome may take.

How to Apply

Please submit your EOI by 5pm Friday 6 November 2026.

Application link requires:

  • CV (2 page max).
  • Short Biography (300 words). Tell us about yourself, your experience and recent achievements.
  • A PDF (can include digital links) with examples of your work or projects – maximum 8 pages
  • Project description: Tell us what you would do as a creative in residence at the Auchmuty Library Newcastle. This should be no more than one A4 page or a three-minute video.
  • This expression of interest process is open to all (unless you are an employee of the University Library). Applicants do not have to be affiliated with the University to apply for this residency. Applicants must have current rights to work in Australia. The Library reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.
Criteria

Applications will be assessed against the following criteria:

Creative Proposal and Alignment with the Residency
Creative has a fully formed approach to their output, with an idea of what their output will be and what collection(s) they will be utilising.

Artistic and Creative Merit
The demonstrated quality, innovation and achievement of creative practice and previous work.

Audience Engagement and Community Connection
The capacity to engage students, researchers, staff and visitors through participatory, public or collaborative approaches.

Feasibility and Capacity to Deliver
The viability of the proposal, including your capacity to successfully deliver the project within the residency timeframe and budget.

Questions?

Have a question? Email: gerry.bobsien@newcastle.edu.au