Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people are being encouraged to apply for the new CROW program.
Artists dream of time and space to focus on their work. Many look to the landscapes of inland NSW for inspiration.
A new residency program offers three regionally based NSW artists (across all artforms) $4,000 each to travel to a new part of the state for an immersive artistic residency.Arts OutWest is specifically looking for Aboriginal artists from the NSW Central West to apply.
CROW stands for Creative Residencies Out West, a collaboration between regional arts development organisations (RADOs) Arts OutWest, Outback Arts and West Darling Arts.
“An artistic residency is an artist staying and creating work in an inspiring place, away from their usual daily life and environment,“ said Arts OutWest executive director Kylie Shead.
The opportunity is open to artists at all stages of their career, in all artforms including visual arts, music, theatre, dance and performance, writing, film, new media.
Artists will design their own residency experience, choosing a location and community outside of their own region.
Central West artists can choose from the Outback Arts area – north and west from Coonamble to Lightening Ridge, Bourke, Cobar, Walgett; or to the wide landscapes of the West Darling area – Broken Hill, Menindee, Wentworth and the far west of the state from the Queensland to the Victorian border.
“The artist might choose from an established artist residency program – and there some who have already offered their spaces – or, there might a town or place that really excites the artist creatively. This funding allows them to find the accommodation, studio space and location that’s best for them and their art making,” Ms Shead explains.
Residencies must be for a minimum of two weeks, anytime May to December 2026. The $4,000 needs to cover accommodation, travel, materials and living expenses.
As Arts OutWest is supporting the first year of CROW with funding from the Australian Government’s IVAIS (Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support), so applicants from the NSW Central West must be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people.
Applications close 30 March 2026. For details go to https://artsoutwest.org.au/pf/crow-creative-residencies-out-west. Or contact Arts OutWest on 02 6338 4657 or artsoutwest@csu.edu.au