Annual Studio Program

We look for artists who will benefit from the opportunity at this moment in the development of their career, and artists whose practices align with our vision and mission. To identify how your work might fit into our program, we encourage you to have a look at ACE’s previous exhibitions and live programs, and to consider how strongly you can articulate your proposed plan to experiment, explore and expand your practice in this opportunity.

ACE identifies that this opportunity is beneficial no matter what your age, or how long you have been a practising artist. However, to be eligible, you must be 18 years old or over.

Artists who work across all contemporary art forms are eligible to apply. While you do not need to possess formal qualifications, those that can demonstrate a developed visual arts practice will make strong candidates. 

If you face barriers in completing application forms, we welcome you to reach out to find a suitable way to apply, and to discuss what capacities ACE has to support you should you be selected. Please be aware that the application form provides you with the option to submit your application by answering questions in video or audio format. You can also view more information about ACE’s accessibility.

Regionally-based artists should consider if they can meet the following requirements:

• Minimum allocation of 20 hours per week (on average) to work in their studio.

• Attendance at key after-hours events that support the delivery of the Studio Program.

To be eligible, applicants must have been residents of South Australia for a minimum of twelve months by May 2025.

ACE supports participating artists to travel for short-term residencies, work opportunities and personal reasons. However, if you are planning on travelling for a continuous period longer than 4 weeks, you must provide ACE with details at the time of applying as this may limit your ability to meet the requirements of the Program.

Guildhouse and NAVA provide relevant information and tips for preparing and writing proposals that we encourage you to access. Our assessment panel will be considering the strength of existing practice and also the conceptual development/ ideas, artistic research, and new directions you aim to pursue. We recommend a clear and rigorous focus on your ideas. Additionally, high-quality documentation is highly regarded.

Yes, you can apply for both opportunities, but you can only be awarded one. Applying for both will not affect your eligibility.

We encourage applicants to carefully consider which opportunity best aligns with their artistic practice and goals, as each has a distinct focus and outcome. The ACE Annual Studio Program supports long-term artistic development, while the ACE x firstdraft Short-term Residency is project-based and leads to an interstate exhibition.

Applications are considered by an advisory committee composed of ACE staff and external industry professionals. Applications are assessed against the quality of the artist’s existing work and their proposal to experiment, explore and expand their practice, the artist’s exhibition experience and ways their practice has been evidently developed, the artist’s demonstrated long-term commitment to their practice, and demonstration of the Program’s benefit to artist’s professional development. In selecting the overall makeup of the cohort, ACE also considers the representation of a diverse range of artistic mediums, approaches and voices.

Please contact danni@ace.gallery before the 21st March if you wish to arrange a 15 minute viewing of the studios. Viewing times are available between the hours of 10am–4pm, Tuesday to Friday.

Feel free to get in touch by calling the ACE office 08 8211 7505 or emailing Dr. Danni Zuvela, ACE Artistic Director, danni@ace.gallery.