Remnants Collection by Marlo Lyda, 2022. Photograph by Zan Wimberley.
This is a fellowship residency program in partnership with Create NSW and Powerhouse Museum to support professional development across the design industry in NSW.
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: $25,000 in support. Studio space and mentorship during 6 month residency at Powerhouse Museum (Ultimo), professional connections with the sector
- Application opened: 13 February 2023
- Application closed: 13 March 2023, 5:00 pm
Program objective
The NSW Design Residency program delivered in partnership with the Powerhouse Museum supports three early career designers or makers to carry out six months of professional development during the period 1 July 2023 to 31 December 2024.
The program will connect designers or makers with mentors including workshop technicians and curators during their six-month residency (designer/maker-led and developed in partnership with Powerhouse) with the intention of transferring skills that may be otherwise difficult to attain.
Powerhouse will support the three residents by enabling them to undertake research, work alongside museum staff and use the onsite facilities including the workshop.
The three successful designers or makers will be provided with the following support:
- $25,000 in financial support
- Mentorship by an established designer or maker relevant to the field of each resident
- Studio space at Powerhouse Ultimo including workshop facilities and bench, along with access to the Powerhouse collection
- Practical connections with the sector to develop the skills to be entrepreneurs and have autonomy within the industry
All recipients will be invited to participate in Sydney Design Week in 2023.
The Powerhouse Design Residency will ensure the vitality of the NSW design industry is supported and preserved by fostering tomorrow’s talents today.
The Powerhouse Design Residency program will build on the museum’s ongoing support in fostering the careers of emerging Australian designers and makers.
About Powerhouse Museum
The Powerhouse sits at the intersection of the arts, design, science and technology and plays a critical role in engaging communities with contemporary ideas and issues. Established in 1879, the Museum is custodian to over half a million objects of national and international significance and is considered one of the finest and most diverse collections in Australia.
Design and fashion are key collecting areas for the Powerhouse. The Powerhouse collection includes leading examples of furniture, jewellery, ceramics and textiles designed and made in Australia by local practitioners.
Furthermore, this program supports the ambitions of the Powerhouse Sustainability Action Plan to embed sustainability in programs, exhibitions and education, and ensure the Powerhouse collection represents local innovation.
Image: Remnants Collection by Marlo Lyda, 2022. Photograph by Zan Wimberley
This program is funded and administered by Create NSW.
Eligibility
You must be
- over 18 years of age
- an Australian citizen or
- an Australian permanent resident, and
- an individual/group based in NSW.
Who can apply
NSW based early career designers and makers are encouraged to apply.
You must demonstrate your history of practice in an area of design. This can include but not limited to
- industrial design
- jewellery design
- product design
- furniture Design
- ceramic design.
Who can’t apply
You are ineligible to apply for the Powerhouse Design Residency funding if
- you are applying on behalf of an organisation
- you have received funding from Create NSW for the same fellowship/activities
- funds are being used for filmmaking, screen production, mainstream animation, or film festivals (for more information go to screen.nsw.gov.au)
- you are a current employee of Create NSW (note in addition, Create NSW employees cannot benefit from this funding round)
- you have been employed by Create NSW within the last 6 months.
Applicant Type
You must self-identify as an early career designer or maker. An early career designer or maker is someone who is at the beginning of their career, has created a modest independent body of work but hasn’t yet established a solid reputation as designer or maker within the industry.
What can’t you apply for
You cannot apply for the following items:
- TAFE or University fees and/or related research and development or other formal qualifications.
- Recovering costs of items and materials already purchased.
- Purchasing musical instruments, artworks, equipment or vehicles.
- Capital works.
- Fundraising, Awards or Competitions and/or prize money.
- Repayment of loans.
- Filmmaking, screen production, mainstream animation or film festivals.
Most recent recipients
The inaugural recipients of the NSW Design Early Career Fellowship - Powerhouse Residency are:
- Ben Styles
- Marlo Lyda
- Joel Sherwood-Spring
See NSW Design Powerhouse Residency media release.
What your application needs to include
You can download the full guidelines:
Prepare your application with this checklist
What do you need to tell us?
You will need to tell us about your Design Fellowship program in an EOI proposal.
- Your EOI should include the rationale of why you want to undertake this Design Fellowship.
- EOI proposals can be provided as a written pitch or a short video.
- Please note that this EOI should discuss the self-directed Design Fellowship program you wish to develop.
The residency activities will be determined by the shortlist in consultation with Powerhouse Museum.
This EOI is to be uploaded via SmartyGrants.
Address the eligibility criteria
Applicant Type
NSW based early career designers and makers are encouraged to apply.
An early career designer or maker is someone who is at the beginning of their career, has created a modest independent body of work but hasn’t yet established a solid reputation as designer or maker within the industry.
See above the full eligibility criteria.
Address the assessment criteria
Your EOI will be assessed against the criteria below:
Fellowship information (Merit)
- What is your design residency vision and design rationale?
- What are the key outcomes of your design residency and how do they demonstrate excellence?
- The residents will produce a work of design during their 6-month residency at the Powerhouse. This could take the form of a product or prototype, a research project, a speculative design proposition, or other agreed-upon outcome relevant to the residents practice.
- Who are the key design residency personnel and partners (if applicable)?
- you will need to include their CVs or biographies.
- Quality and reputation of previous works.
- You will need to provide portfolio of work confirmation letters and/or letters of support
Why is this Design Fellowship important? (Impact)
- Benefit to you at this stage of your career and/or benefit to design sector
- Effective planning and use of resources in proposed design residency program
Start the application
Applications for this grant are available via the Grants portal, Smartygrants.
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Minister for the Arts
Assessment Stage 1
Your EOI will be assessed by a sub-Committee made up of members of the Create NSW Visual Arts Board plus representatives from Powerhouse against the published assessment. The Create NSW Artform Boards consist of representatives from leading NSW arts and cultural organisations, independent organisations and individuals.
If your application includes leadership, engagement and/or outcomes involving Aboriginal artists, arts/cultural workers and/or communities then your application can be reviewed by the Create NSW Aboriginal Arts and Culture Board.
Assessment Stage 2
The assessors meet to determine their final recommendation. They will consider the assessment criteria, the demographics, distribution, range and scale of the initial recommendations. This may include prioritising NSW individuals and activities with outcomes that address Priority Areas, to ensure equity across the State and the best outcomes for NSW Government investment.
Consultations
There may also be cross-Board consultation on applications. Create NSW may also request further advice and/ or clarification from applicants during the assessment process.
Support and contact
We have a range of resources to assist you with your funding application. After reviewing these, you may contact a staff member if you need advice regarding these guidelines between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.
- Ph: 02 9228 4578
- Email: arts.funding@create.nsw.gov.au
- Schedule an online meeting to speak to Create staff through the external scheduling service Picktime
Accessibility, inclusion and support
If you need this information in an accessible format or in another language, contact us on (02) 9228 4574 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.
The National Relay Service numbers are:
- TTY users: Phone 133 677 then ask for (02) 9228 4575.
- Speak and Listen users: Phone 1300 555 727 then ask for (02) 9228 4575.
Language Interpreting Service
If English is your second/third language and you would like to speak to Create NSW staff about the guidelines or application form, we can arrange an Interpreting Service to support this communication.
Please contact us between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday: