Organizer Information
The Australian Tapestry Workshop (ATW) is a Melbourne-based contemporary textile arts organisation with a long history of supporting artists through residencies, exhibitions, education, and collaborative practice. For more than 20 years, ATW has hosted artists who work alongside its tapestry weavers and dye technicians, providing opportunities for knowledge exchange, experimentation, and professional development.
The Hancock Fellowship is supported by the Tapestry Foundation of Australia and accommodation partner David Wallage.
Title & Description
ATW Hancock Fellowship 2027
The ATW 2027 Hancock Fellowship is a four-week funded residency for established or mid-career international artists and designers working with textiles or textile techniques. The program is intended for artists who are current innovators in their field and/or have an established international practice.
The fellowship combines a studio residency with a funded solo exhibition at the ATW Main Gallery. Artists can use the residency as a period for research, experimentation, or developing work while engaging with ATW's specialist facilities and staff.
The exhibition is an important component of the fellowship and is intended primarily to present and contextualise the artist's existing practice rather than require the creation of an entirely new body of work specifically for ATW.
Categories
- Textile Art
- Fibre Art
- Tapestry
- Weaving
- Contemporary Craft
- Design
- Installation Art
- Mixed Media
Eligibility
The fellowship is open to mid-career international textile artists living and working outside Australia. Applicants should demonstrate a strong artistic practice, professional development potential, and the capacity to benefit from the residency.
ATW welcomes applications from First Peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse artists, and people with disabilities. Applicants of all ages, genders, abilities, and backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Artists who are temporary residents of Australia are not eligible for this particular fellowship.
Program Benefits & Awards
The four-week fellowship includes:
- International return flights to Melbourne.
- Four weeks' accommodation in South Melbourne.
- Dedicated studio space available six days per week.
- Access to looms, weaving equipment, sewing and knitting equipment, and specialist tools.
- Up to $100 of new ATW yarn.
- Up to 10 hours of specialist studio support from a weaver or dye-lab specialist.
- Access to ATW's online tapestry-weaving course.
- A ten-week solo exhibition from 23 August–29 October 2027.
- $1,000 artist fee for the exhibition.
- Freight, curatorial, installation, invigilation, marketing, and opening-event support.
- A paid, livestreamed artist lecture/in-conversation with Australian curators and industry partners.
- A paid opportunity to deliver a public creative workshop.
- Potential travel to one interstate Australian destination for two nights as part of broader engagement.
Additional specialist equipment or materials may be sourced on request, but associated acquisition costs are passed on to the artist.
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 12 October 2026
- Outcome notification: Mid-November 2026
- Fellowship/residency: 16 August–11 September 2027
- Solo exhibition: 23 August–29 October 2027
Location
Australian Tapestry Workshop (ATW), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Additional Details
Applicants do not have to make tapestry during the residency. However, artists interested in learning tapestry weaving can receive training from ATW's weavers and access its equipment and online tutorials.
The residency studio provides access to several types of looms, including floor looms, rigid heddle looms, and tapestry looms, as well as a sewing machine, knitting machine, winders, and specialist weaving tools. Dye-lab support is also available within the allocated specialist-support hours.
The exhibition should primarily showcase a strong body of existing work and contextualise the artist's practice for an Australian contemporary arts audience. Artists may also sell work through the exhibition.
Applications are assessed on artistic merit, viability, and engagement, including the potential to introduce ATW to new artistic ideas, audiences, and public-program outcomes.
Applicants requiring accessibility support may contact ATW to discuss alternative application methods, including possible video submission.