Southern Tablelands Arts Artist-in-Residence (STA AiR) 

General Guidelines  I  Past AiRs 

The STA AiR project is an ongoing commitment to offer residences for Artists to be inspired by the STA Region. Our home is full of extraordinary places, people and opportunities with unlimited potential for Artists to be inspired and get creative.

STOP PRESS – watch out for an exciting STA Air opportunity set to be announced in January 2026.

Be among the first to know when an opportunity becomes available. Sign up for STA Membership & our newsletter to get all our news of oppotunities as they happen. 

The STA AiR program  is open to all professional Artists from all disciplines, individually or in groups who live within the STA Region*. The program embraces Visual Artists, Performers, Writers, Musicians and multi-disciplinary practises and supports new work, research and collaborations inspired by the host venue and location.

*The STA region is made up of our seven contributing local government areas of; Goulburn Mulwaree, Hilltops, Queanbeyan-Palerang, Upper Lachlan Shire, Wingecarribee Shire, Wollondilly Shire and Yass Valley.

STA have compiled a list of creative residency programs and opportunities from across the state, nation and globe. Find an AiR to suit you.

STA AiR projects at partner venues
STA are proud to to have delivered the following Artist in Residence programs with our partner venues across the STA region.

Ang Hart at Robert’s Shark Tank in Young
Fri 3 – Tues 21 May 2024
Hilltops

Lisa Stevenson at the Queanbeyan Hive
9-21 January 2023
Queanbeyan-Palerang

James Voller & Joel Zika at the NSW Rail Museum 
4 – 17 Jul 2022
Thirlmere, Wollondilly

Devon Vince Leggo at Retford Park
20 Apr–  4 May 2022 
Bowral, Wingecarribee

Vonne Patiag at Southern Cross Cinema 
21 Feb – 7 Mar 2022
Young, Hilltops

Sally Kidall at Shaw Wines 
22 Nov  –  5 Dec 2021
Murrumbateman, Yass Valley

Jacqueline McBeath with Goulburn Regional Art Gallery 
9 – 22 Nov 2021
Goulburn Mulwaree & Upper Lachlan

STA AiR General Guidelines

The STA AiR program is open to all professional Artists from all disciplines, individually or in groups who are STA Members or are eligible for STA Membership – i.e. live within one of the seven contributing council areas* that make up the STA region.

The program supports new work, research and collaborations inspired by the host venue and location. We get excited to support programs that innovative and experiment.

Each STA Air is for a duration of 14 days.

Artists are asked to consider the unique qualities of the host venue and place and consider how the location supports their practice and/or project.

The program is self-directed not outcome based.  The Artists/s will have access to connect to STA staff for support as needed.

Community Engagement

  • Artists may propose an optional public program to deliver to the community during the residency. This can be in the form or a workshop, talk or

The Money Business

  • The STA AiR program is a professional opportunity. Artists are paid:
  • A fee + 12% superannuation to conduct the residence
  • A fee + 12% to conduct a public program such as a workshop, community engagement session or talk (optional)
  • An amount towards travel costs
  • An amount towards materials for prosed public programs or community engagements

Accommodation

  • Most STA Air programs include accommodation withing a reason. Some residences programs include financial assistance for the Artist/s to book their own accommodation. Each STA residences will indicate the accommodation option attached to the specific residency opportunity.
  • If Accommodation is provided up to 14 nights for the duration of the residency period starting from the evening before the residency commences.
  • Partners & children of resident artists may be able to stay at provided accommodation by negotiation.

Studio working space

  • Studio/workspace is provided at the host venue during the residency 

Travel

  • Artists will be responsible for their own travel to, during and from the residency. 
  • The residency location is in regional NSW and public transport options are limited. Transport and transfers are the responsibility of the Artist/s and as such STA recommend use of a private or hire vehicle is an important consideration.

STA strongly encourages

  • Applications from First Nations artists, artists living with disability, artists from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and members of the LGBTIQA+ community.
  • Artists whose work connects with people or groups within the community.
  • Artists whose practise is thoughtful to our environment and sustainability
  • Preference is given to applicants who have not previously completed a STA AiR program.

Good to know

  • The STA region experiences extremes in temperature. Hot in Summer and Cold in Winter. Artists are advised to pack for all weather possibilities. 

Ready to Submit

  • When you submit a completed application, the webpage will include an acknowledgement message. We will also reach back with a confirmation email.
  • If your haven’t competed one of the required fields it will be highlighted to be filled in before you try again.

Need more?

If you have specific questions or require further clarification that extend beyond the information provided, we’ll do our best to assist within the constraints of our resources by contacting STA

We acknowledge Aboriginal people as the traditional custodians of the lands where we create, live & work. 

© 2026 Southern Tablelands Arts. All Rights Reserved