ANAT Synapse Residency Program 2027 for Australian Artists

Overview

The ANAT Synapse residency program brings Australian artists together with Australian research organisations for a 16-week (full-time equivalent) self-guided creative research residency combining onsite and offsite work, including in-person visits, online meetings, calls, and independent studio research. The program emphasizes collaborative experimentation at the earliest stage of idea development, without the expectation of a predetermined outcome.

Eligibility

• Australian citizen or permanent resident, based in Australia at the time of residency
• Individual artist (artist groups not eligible)
• Must have already engaged with intended host research organisation prior to submitting application
• Host research organisation must be based in Australia and willing/able to host an artist-in-residence for 16 weeks full-time (or part-time equivalent)
• Not eligible: tertiary students, including PhD candidates, where residency counts toward academic qualification
• Not eligible: residency forming part of paid employment or contract work
• Not eligible: artists with predetermined outcomes already in mind (e.g. specific artwork for exhibition)
• Not eligible: previous ANAT Synapse residency recipients within past 10 years
• Not eligible: previous major ANAT program recipients within past 5 years
• Not eligible: artists submitting same project proposal for third time or more
• Host organisations may submit only one application per round

Program Benefits & Awards

• Artist fee of $19,250 (ex GST), plus 12% superannuation, paid in regular instalments across residency term
• Up to $3,500 contributed by ANAT toward other project expenses, if required
• In-kind access to host's staff expertise, space, equipment, and resources, as agreed in application budget
• Dedicated, outcome-free time to develop concepts and explore themes
• Contribution to online creative research journal, archived and shareable long-term
• Participation in "ANAT Micro Talk," reaching national and international audiences
• Inclusion in ANAT's Alumni network of artists, scientists, and technologists
• Wider exposure via ANAT's national and international networks

Key Dates

• Application Deadline: 14 October 2026
• Notification: Late November 2026
• Residency period: February–October 2027

How to Apply

Apply online via ANAT's website. ANAT recommends drafting the application in a personal working document before submitting via the online form and keeping a copy for personal records. The online application form conforms to WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards; a Word document version or other alternative formats can be requested directly from ANAT.

Application Fee

None

Assessment & Requirements

Applications are assessed by an independent panel of art, science, and technology practitioners alongside ANAT staff, against criteria including originality/innovation, artistic merit and depth of research intent, demonstrated collaborative willingness, anticipated mutual benefit, project viability within budget, and community/audience engagement potential. Successful recipients must provide images, bio, headshot, and short project description for ANAT's public announcement; attend a meet & greet, mid-residency check-in, and farewell/wrap-up meeting with ANAT; contribute regularly to the online creative research journal with accompanying social media copy; participate in the 2027 ANAT Micro Talk; and complete an end-of-residency questionnaire.

First Nations Protocols

Proposals involving First Nations knowledge systems, artists, or communities must include letters of support from those people/communities and comply with Creative Australia's protocols.