Play in Residence: Artist Wellbeing & Professional Growth

Yarra City Council in Melbourne, Australia is running Play in Residence: Artist Wellbeing Professional Development, a six-week, fully subsidised opportunity for early and midcareer artists. The program is open to artists working across all disciplines, including visual arts, performance, music, writing, and interdisciplinary practices.

The program is oriented toward professional development with an explicit focus on artist wellbeing, recognizing that sustainable practice depends on personal and creative resilience alongside professional skill-building. Full subsidy removes cost as a barrier for participation, making it especially valuable for artists who have struggled to access structured development opportunities.

Applications are submitted as an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the City of Yarra Grants portal under Play in Residence: Artist Wellbeing Professional Development EOI. The EOI asks applicants to outline why they want to participate, what is important to them, and to briefly describe some recent projects that are either realized or in progress.

Applications close at midnight on May 12, 2026. For questions, applicants may contact Celina Lei, Arts Officer at the City of Yarra.

This is a well-positioned opportunity for emerging and midcareer artists who are thinking carefully about the sustainability of their creative practice. Because it accepts all disciplines, it suits individuals looking for cross-disciplinary conversation and peer learning. Applicants should use the short EOI format to articulate a specific wellbeing challenge or question driving their practice, rather than a generic statement of interest.