Wollongong Young Artist in Residency 2027: Local Digital and Moving-Image Artists Aged 18–24
Wollongong City Council is accepting applications for the 2027 Young Artist in Residency, a twelve-month development opportunity based at the Wollongong Youth Services artist studio in New South Wales. The Council expressly includes digital art, moving image, photography, painting, illustration, installation, textile and sculpture practices. This is an artist-in-development opportunity with regular community participation, not a one-time award for simply uploading a video or image.
Strict local age and affiliation requirements
Candidates must be aged 18 to 24 during 2026/27 AND live, work or attend school in the Wollongong City Council area. The council does not describe this as an Australia-wide youth residency without local ties. Applications opened on Monday 12 October and close Monday 30 November 2026. Eligible applicants are encouraged from diverse communities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, young people with disability and culturally diverse backgrounds, but those encouragements do not replace the local affiliation rule.
What the 12-month residency gives the artist
The chosen artist receives use of the in-house studio at agreed times when it is not scheduled for other youth programmes, professional development and mentoring, A$1,000 worth of art materials or equipment provided through two A$500 instalments, support to lead workshops, and promotion and an exhibition towards the end of the residency. The amount refers to supplies and equipment, not an automatic A$1,000 personal cash wage or fee. The selected applicant signs a contract with the Council.
Creative and community responsibilities
Residency responsibilities include using the studio weekly, running two workshops during school holidays, participating in the Crafts n Chat programme, mentoring young participants and collaborating on an artwork for an exhibition or public creative event. Digital video or photography applicants must be willing to work with young people and share skills as well as develop their own portfolios. A current Working With Children Check is required or must be arranged by the participant at their own cost.
How to make the application
The Council asks for a current CV, maximum 5MB, including qualifications and previous exhibitions or projects; visual artists attach a document with up to five images of their work, maximum 10MB. A current Working With Children Check can be included if already held. Applications are made through the Apply for 2027 Young Artist in Residency button on Wollongong City Council's programme page. The Council has not announced an application fee in the verified description.
Council experience and examples
Wollongong Youth Services has previously hosted local artists including Amelie Masset in this young residency and artist George Williams in the related Creative Studios Residency Programme. The Council's 12 October 2026 news release describes their work with exhibitions and young people's workshops. These public examples show the intended balance between professional art development and practical community engagement.
Official programme and independent verification
Both the Council's programme page and its dated 2026 news release give the same 30 November application deadline and 18–24 age range. Contact youthservices@wollongong.nsw.gov.au or (02) 4227 8222 to verify circumstances and accessibility. Use only the Council's application portal and check the residency contract, workshop obligations and rights to collaborative works before committing.
This article provides a summary. To avoid misunderstandings, please be sure to check the official page for full details.
Information verified: 19 October 2026.
Our competition and listing service
The Aion Digital Art Award has different rules and is not part of Wollongong Council's residency. Paid listings for art and design opportunities are available separately.