Gertrude is now accepting applications for the Gertrude Studio Program 2025 intake. In 2025, we will be celebrating forty years of Gertrude.
Respected nationally and internationally, Gertrude’s unique studio-exhibition model supports outstanding artists at pivotal moments in their careers. The two-year Gertrude Studio Program has been at the core of the organisation since its founding four decades ago.
Gertrude has sixteen highly-subsidised artist studios located at Gertrude Contemporary, 21-31 High Street, Preston South. Designed by Collingwood-based architectural practice Edition Office, Gertrude Contemporary houses two exhibition spaces, sixteen studios, shared communal spaces, workshop facilities and the organisation’s offices. Please note that the studios are non-residential.
Gertrude invites applications from artists of any generation and working in any medium to express their interest in the two-year program:
— The program is intended for professional artists working within the breadth of contemporary practice. This includes, but is not limited to, installation, video, painting, sculpture, photography, performance and dance.
— Each year eight artists are invited into the program, including a designated First Nations subsidised studio, with new artists moving in at progressively across the year.
— Applications are considered by an advisory committee composed of Gertrude staff, a current Gertrude Studio Artist, a former Gertrude Studio Artist and an external curator or arts professional.
A recent initiative, Gertrude offers a fully-subsidised studio for a First Nations artist. Applications for this fully-subsidised studio will be assessed by a panel led by First Nations artists and arts industry peers.
Gertrude invites applications from artists of any generation and working in any medium to express their interest in the two-year program, and encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ people, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Applications are due by 11:59pm, Monday 21 October 2024.
Please contact Gertrude in advance of the application deadline, no later than 4pm on Friday 18 October, to discuss any individual access or alternative submission requirements.
Program Details
Studios, access, and fees
The sixteen studios are all approximately 32 square metres in size, individually lockable, stud-walled, and have open ceilings. The grid ceiling can be easily reconfigured for mounting, suspending and power utility. Artists in the program also have access to power tools and an expansive communal workshop located underneath and at the rear of the building. Gertrude has internet access, air conditioning and heating throughout. Access to the studios is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
While highly-subsidised, there is a monthly fee of $280 (inc GST) for each studio as well as a refundable bond of $280. Gertrude offers a fully subsidised studio for a First Nations artist (see Eligibility, Selection and Cultural Safety below).
Studios become available on a rolling schedule through the calendar year. Intake timing will be discussed with successful applicants.
Exhibition outcomes
As part of the Studio Program, artists are offered a month-long solo exhibition at our Collingwood satellite space, Gertrude Glasshouse, designed by architectural practice Sibling. Gertrude provides artist fees and a production budget for these solo exhibitions.
Studio Artists also present work within the annual Gertrude Studios exhibitions, a highly anticipated group exhibition presenting new and recent works by all artists in the program. During their residency, artists will contribute to two Gertrude Studios exhibitions. Artists receive artist fees for their participation in the Gertrude Studios exhibitions.
All exhibitions at Gertrude Contemporary and Gertrude Glasshouse are provided with curatorial and installation support, marketing and professional exhibition documentation.
Professional development opportunities
The Gertrude Studio Program incorporates professional development opportunities through facilitated studio visits by Australian and international curators and museum directors, and introductions to gallerists, collectors and visiting artists.
Artists in the program are encouraged to participate in the activities of the organisation, which may involve studio visits, public programs and educational programs. Participation in public and education programs is remunerated.
Application details
Submissions
Application forms are completed via the Google Forms link below. A fully completed application consists of:
(1) Completed Google Forms application
(2) Uploaded Support Materials (within the Google Forms application) consisting of:
— Artist CV (2 pages max), and
— Support Materials (Artist CV + Visual Support Material + Links if relevant)
Google Forms may require applicants to sign into a Google Account to fill out the application form. Applicants are strongly encouraged to utilise Google Forms to submit their applications. However, if you do not have a Google Account and do not wish to create an account, please contact us for alternative application formats.
Upon submission of their application, applicants will receive a Google Forms notification email acknowledging their submission and a copy of their application for reference. If you have not received a notification, please check Spam or review your submission to ensure you have submitted it correctly.
Applicants are also strongly encouraged to check the application copy they receive to confirm their Support Materials have been properly uploaded. Responsibility lies with applicants to ensure correct submission procedures are followed.
Support Materials
Support materials are utilised by the selection committee to review your practice in more detail. Support materials should include an Artist CV and recent examples of artworks or creative outcomes. Material in excess of the limits below will not be viewed by the committee.
**Each uploaded file must include your last name in the file name.**
Your support materials should consist of:
(1) Artist CV (2 pages maximum, accepted file formats: PDF/DOC/DOCX)
(2) Visual Support Material
— 1 document/presentation, 10 pages max, 1 image per page
— Each image accompanied by a caption noting: work title, medium, year, dimensions
— 10mb file size max
— Accepted file formats: PDF/DOC/DOCX/PPT/PPTX
AND/OR
(3) Video/Audio Links (if relevant)
— Include up to three URLs, each video/audio 3 minutes max in length
— URLs for YouTube, SoundCloud, Vimeo or similar media hosting platforms
— Include relevant passwords
— Ensure sharing permissions are set to public and that URLs are correct and functioning
Application accessibility
Please contact Gertrude via apply@gertrude.org.au to discuss alternative application formats.
Eligibility, Selection, and Cultural Safety
Artists who have previously participated in the Gertrude Studio Program or artists intending to study during the residency period are ineligible to apply. Successful applicants are selected on the basis of quality of work, artistic commitment and benefit to the development of their practice.
Gertrude encourages applications from First Peoples, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ people, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Gertrude encourages applications from artists in all stages of their careers and supports an intergenerational mix of participants in the program.
Each year Gertrude offers a fully-subsidised studio for a First Nations artist. The fully-subsidised studio opportunity is open to First Nations peoples of Australia, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Applicants for the fully-subsidised studio will be assessed and determined by a panel of First Nations representatives.
Gertrude is strongly committed to cultural diversity and cultural safety in all aspects of our program and operations. For applicants who wish to read more about how we are demonstrating this, please read our Commitment to Cultural Diversity and Cultural Safety.
Gertrude encourages collegiate participation in the community the organisation fosters and discourages anti-social behaviours. Bullying and harassment of staff or artists is not tolerated at Gertrude.
Apply
Draft and complete your application via this Google Form.
Decisions
Applications are considered by an advisory committee composed of Gertrude staff, a current Gertrude Studio Artist, a former Gertrude Studio Artist and an external curator or arts professional.
Applicants will be informed of the outcome of the selection process in writing in mid/late November 2024. Panel decisions are final and cannot be negotiated.
To provide transparency for applicants regarding the duration of Gertrude's assessment and decision making process, key dates are provided below.
Applications open: Monday 16 September 2024
Applications close: 11:59pm, Monday 21 October 2024
Internal application processing and formal assessment: Early to mid-November 2024
Successful and unsuccessful applicants notified: Late November 2024
Public announcement of successful studio applicants: Early December 2024
Enquiries
Please address all enquiries to apply@gertrude.org.au. Enquiries must be discussed with Gertrude before 4pm, Friday 18 October 2024.