Local Creative Collaborations EOI - 2026 Opportunities

LOCAL CREATIVE COLLABORATIONS

A program for the Waverley local creative community to connect and create at Bondi Pavilion

Our Local Creative Collaborations program supports local artists to create and develop work, offering  a positive contribution to the development of a vibrant artistic life at the Bondi Pavilion.

This opportunity is available to local creatives at all stages of their practice from emerging to established. We recognise locals as any Waverley Council resident or any creative with a demonstrable connection to the Waverley community.

Priority will be given to local creatives and/or projects with a strong resonance to the local community and local audiences. Priority will also be given to projects that involve the development of new artistic work(s) or creative practice.

The Bondi Pavilion is an inclusive cultural space, welcoming applications from individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds including First Nations, culturally and linguistically diverse, all sexualities, genders, neurodiversities and access artists.

2026 Opportunities

• Yalagang Room: This opportunity is open to creatives across all artforms, with priority given to the development of new artistic works. Four residencies will be available, offering up to $5,000 to support artists’ fees and direct project costs. An additional two-week residency will be offered in 2026 for a significant development project, with funding available of up to of $10,000. Subsidsed venue hire of the Yalagang Room will be offered for up to two weeks. 
• Artist Studio: The Artist Studio Residency program is for open to visual artists across all media and writers. Successful applicants may access this dedicated studio space at Bondi Pavilion for up to six weeks to immerse themselves in their practice.
• Music Studio: This opportunity is for local musicians who are interested in creating, developing or rehearsing new music at Bondi Pavilion. A limited number of two-week residencies will be available in 2026.

Timeframes

Submissions for 2026 Opportunities :

• Expresions of Interest submissions open: Wednesday 17 December 2025.
• Submissions close: Monday 16 February 2026, 5pm.

Please note: availability of Yalagang Room and Music Studios is limited, and you will be required to nominate your preferred dates from one of the available options as part of the Expression of Interest process.

Assessment

All EOIs are reviewed by an internal programming and curatorial panel, and applicants will be advised of the results of their submission within 6 weeks of the closing date of the relevant round.

Successful applicants will receive a letter of offer, an agreement outlining the details of their program and agreed public outcomes and will be required to complete a short acquittal at the conclusion of the project. 

Projects will be assessed against the following core project aims:

Artistic Merit:

• How does your experience and creative practice best position you to deliver the proposed project?
• Is the project timely and relevant to our community today?
• Will the proposed project have the potential for an audience at the conclusion of its development locally or nationally?

Value of the residency:

• How will the proposed project extend your creative practice and/or contribute to the development of new creative work?
• How will the proposed residency support the applicant’s professional and / or artistic development ?

Connection to community:

• Dose the artist have a demonstrated connection to local community?
• Will the proposed project resonate with local Bondi and Waverley audiences, connect with local community, environment and/or history?
• Are there opportunities proposed during the residency, for the artist to meaningfully engage with the local community?

 Overall quality of the application:

• Have you outlined your project proposal, project aims and creative rationale clearly and effectively?
• Have you included supporting material including examples of past works?
• Have you included a clear and well-researched budget (if required).

Enquiries

For all enquiries, please send an email to artsopportunities@waverley.nsw.gov.au including your best contact number and time and we'll get back to you.

Full Guidelines are available here.