Curtis Artist Fellowships

Breadcrumb Home > Programs > Paris Art Fellowships Paris Art Fellowships For over fifty years, the Power Institute has supported artists, curators and researchers to live and work in the city of Paris, France. Learn more about our artist residency and research fellowships here. The Power Institute is very proud to support artists, curators and researchers to travel to Paris: to live and work amongst other creative practitioners in one of Europe’s most important cultural centres. Our residency program began in 1967 as one of the Power Institute’s founding initiatives and has since supported more than 140 residencies. In 2026, generous support from Nicholas AM and Angela Curtis enabled an expansion of the program, increasing both the number of opportunities offered each year, and the amount of financial support available to fellows. We offer two types of opportunities: The Nicholas and Angela Curtis Cité Internationale des Arts Residency Fellowships (Curtis Artist Fellowships) 3-month residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris + $13,000AUD financial support. Four offered per year. The Virginia Spate Research Fellowship$20,000AUD financial support for a 3-month research trip to Paris. Two offered per year.These opportunities are only open to Australian citizens or Permanent Residents, and applicants may only apply for one of these Fellowships per year.Learn more about them and how to apply below. The Power Institute’s Paris Art Fellowships are made possible thanks to the generous support of Nicholas Curtis AM and Angela Curtis. Key dates for 2027Applications open: 20 May 2026.Applications close: Midnight, 30 June 2026.Applicants notified of outcome: September 2026. Curtis Artist FellowshipsFour fellowships available per year. These fellowships support a 3-month residency for artists at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris. Fellows are given free access to our living/working studio at the Cité, and financial support of $13,000AUD to cover travel and living expenses while in Paris. These fellowships are open to any artist who is an Australian citizen or Permanent Resident. Click here to read the full selection criteria and to apply. What is the Cité Internationale des Arts? The Cité Internationale des Arts is an artist residency in Paris, France, the largest of its kind in the world. Founded in 1965, the Cité contains live-in studios that house more than 300 artists at a time. Cité artists come from all over the world, and are in residence for periods of two to twelve months. In addition to providing living and working space for its artists, the Cité also provides a space for them to meet and share in others work. The Cité’s facilities include an exhibition space, an events space, and a print workshop, as well as a vibrant program of open studios, exhibitions, concerts and other programs. The Power Institute has had a studio at the Cité since 1967, and is one of its long-standing partners. There is more information about the Cité on its website. The Power Institute studio at the Cité Internationale de Paris. Photo by Jessica di Costa. The Virginia Spate Research Fellowships Two fellowships available per year.These fellowships support a 3-month visit to Paris to conduct research in the field of art and visual culture, and financial support of $20,000 to cover travel and living expenses while in Paris. Unlike the artist residencies, these fellowships are not based at the Cité Internationale des Arts. Instead, The Power Institute can provide fellows with assistance to find appropriate Paris accommodation, according to their needs.These fellowships are open to any researcher who is an Australian citizen or Permanent Resident. Click here to read the full selection criteria and to apply. Who is Virginia Spate? Virginia Spate (1937-2022) was one of Australia’s most significant art historians. Virginia undertook studies at Melbourne University, Cambridge University and Bryn Mawr College, and in 1978 was appointed Power Professor of Fine Art, and Director of the Power Institute, at the University of Sydney. Virginia’s work ranged from pioneering research on the work of Australian painters like Tom Roberts and John Olsen, to her significant art historical contributions to the fields of French Impressionism and early modernism. In 2001 Virginia was awarded a Centenary Medal for service to Australian society and the humanities in the study of art history, and in 2004 was awarded the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres. She was made a companion of the Order of Australia in 2018. Her legacy is also commemorated at The University’s Virginia Spate Reading Room, in the Power Institute’s Schaeffer Fine Art Library. Virginia Spate OAM. Photo courtesy the Pyrmont History Group. Rosie Isaac: Paris Arts Fellow 2026 Artist Rosie Isaac reports on her time as one of our 2026 Paris Arts Fellows. Catlin Langford: Paris Residency Fellow 2023 Catlin Langford, one of four 2024 Paris Residency Fellows, reports on her three months in Paris. Imogen King: Paris Residency Fellow 2023 19th century art scholar Imogen King reports on her time in Paris Catherine Rogers: Paris Residency Fellow 2023 Catherine Rogers, an artist and 2023 Paris Residency Fellow, reports on her travels and research in France. Lauren Carroll Harris: Paris Residency Fellow 2023 Lauren Carroll Harris details her winter writing and research projects in Paris. Ben Ferris: Paris Residency Fellow 2017 2017 Fellow and filmmaker Ben Ferris reports on his time in Paris. Gabriella Hirst: Paris Residency Fellow 2013 2013 Fellow Gabriella Hirst reports on her Paris experience. Events Past Celebrating our 2025 Paris Residency Fellows 18 November 2024, 6:00PM Schaeffer Library, RC Mills Building, University of Sydney This event has ended. Join us for food and drink, to congratulate our 2025 fellows! Brenda L Croft Farnaz Dadfar Rosie Isaac Kate Just Celebrating our 2026 Paris Art Residency Fellows! 26 November 2025, 5:00PM Schaeffer Fine Art Library, RC M