Apply Now for the Accessible Arts 2026 Bundanon Artist Residency Program
Accessible Arts, in partnership with Bundanon, delivers an annual residency program for artists with disability or who are d/Deaf.
The residencies play a vital role in supporting creative development and have become significant stepping stones in the careers of many Australian artists with disability.
The 2026 Accessible Arts and Bundanon Artist in Residence program is open to musicians, writers and visual artists with with disability or who are d/Deaf from NSW and the ACT. Up to five (5) artists will be funded to undertake a six (6) night residency at Bundanon from Monday 21 September to Sunday 27 September 2026.
Successful applicants will be accommodated in self-catering cabins incorporating an artist’s studio or musician’s cottage. The communal quadrangle is accessible and there is one apartment which is wheelchair accessible*. They will also be given a bursary to cover per diems.
For photos and detailed information about the residency spaces, visit the Bundanon website.
Eligibility
Applications are open to:
- Emerging or mid-career musicians, writers and visual artists with Disability or who are d/Deaf.
- Applicants must be living and/or working in NSW or the ACT and identify as being a person with Disability or who is d/Deaf.
Selection Criteria
Application selection criteria:
- Artistic Potential – The strength of your work and the quality of your proposal.
- Career Impact – In what ways will this residency shape your development as an artist and move your project forward?
Access
The residency will take place within the Artists in Residence complex, which offers a range of accommodation options, including single and shared apartments, as well as self-contained cottages. Selected artists will be provided with a private bedroom, a dedicated studio space, and access to shared kitchen facilities.
* The Fern apartment is wheelchair accessible, with a doorway width of 850mm. For full specifications, please see the Floorplan.
Applicants are required to outline any access support they might have within their application. For example: Wheelchair accessible accommodation, extra accommodation for a support worker, etc.
Please note that there is no additional funding available to cover artists for access costs. Successful applicants will be encouraged to use NDIS funding towards access costs if they are a NDIS participant. If you require a support worker to accompany you during the residency, accommodation can be arranged.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss your access requirements, please contact the Accessible Arts team via email at info@aarts.net.au or phone (02) 9251 6499. We are available between 9am and 5pm from Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.
Online Information Session
As part of our free Advance Your Career series, we hosted an Online Information Session to provide potential applicants with detailed information about the Bundanon Artist Residency program and the application process.
Accessible Arts’ Arts Development Manager Amy Claire Mills will led the session, joined by Jane Pollard, Artist Residency Program Officer at Bundanon, along with previous Artist in Residence Negin Chahoud.
Apply Now
Please read the below Application Guidelines prior to submitting your application.
Application Guidelines: Word | PDF
Applications close at 11.30pm on Sunday 7 June 2026
Alternatively you can complete the Application Form via: Word | PDF
Please note that applications can be submitted in alternative formats that is accessible to you, including Auslan video. Please reach out to Accessible Arts before submitting the application in an alternative format to ensure your application is received.
Application Assessment
Applications will be reviewed by a panel of peers and Accessible Arts staff, which includes people with Disability. You will receive notification of the outcome within a couple of weeks after the application closing date. Please refer to the selection criteria to understand how your application will be assessed.
Testimonials
Taking 5 In Bundanon – Video Testimonial
This video showcases the experience of our 2020 program participants. The five selected artists – Bernadette Smith, Liz Cooper, Eugenie Lee, Rhiannon Pegler and Michelle Teear – each undertook a one-week residency. Watch the video.
ENDS
Image description: A photo of the landscape at Bundanon depicts a thick, misty forest of dark trees under a vast and cloudy sky. Photo by John Janson-Moore.
