Open Call for NSW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sound Artists 2025 Residency 

SOFT CENTRE is excited to announce the launch of a new residency program focused on supporting the development of new works by two emerging to mid-career Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander sound artists. This residency is designed as the first step in a long-term initiative aimed at nurturing the creative practice of early-career and mid-career sound artists based in so-called New South Wales. 

About the Residency:

This one-week residency, led by experimental producer, DJ, and sound artist Rowan Savage (salllvage), offers two Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander sound artists the opportunity to explore, experiment, and develop new work. Hosted at BrandX CoSCS studios — our venue partner — participants will have access to a dedicated studio space, as well as mentorship, technical guidance, and production support. While the focus is on sound-based practice, interdisciplinary approaches are also encouraged.

Who We’re Looking For:

We invite applications from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander sound artists who are at an emerging to mid-career stage in their practice. If you are passionate about pushing the boundaries of sound art and interdisciplinary approaches, and are looking for a dedicated space to test new ideas, we encourage you to apply.

What We are Offering: 

• A $1300 artist fee to support the residency participation

• A $500 contribution to material costs for the resident’s project

• 1 week of residency space at BrandX CoSCS studios

• Production and technical support, producing support and administrative support from SOFT CENTRE

• Creative advice and feedback from Rowan Savage, SOFT CENTRE and key industry experts 

• A facilitated feedback session or small showing during the residency

• Photographic documentation of the work-in-progress

Key Dates:

• Tuesday 15th April – Applications Open
  

• Tuesday 6th May – Applications Close
  

• Thursday 15th May – Selected artists notified
  

• Residency dates: 23 - 28 June, 2025

How to apply:

To submit your Expression of Interest (EOI), please complete the online application form below. We’re eager to hear about your creative approach to the residency and the type of new work you’d like to explore.

You can choose to respond to the key questions either in writing or via a video recording (up to five minutes in length).

Video submissions will be assessed equally to written responses. The content is what matters most — phone recordings are acceptable as long as the audio is clear.

Artistic Support Material: 

Each applicant may submit up to five individual images, along with  2- 3 audio or video files as artistic support material. This support material must be hosted online (eg. google drive or dropbox).

Eligibility:

This opportunity is specifically for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander artists based in NSW. 

We are especially eager to hear from artists with a background in sound art and related interdisciplinary practices.

​​Some advanced knowledge of ableton or laptop DAW production is useful, however not required.

For further inquiries and questions about the program or application, please contact jemma@softcentre.com.au

About Lead Artist / Facilitator:

Rowan Savage (salllvage) is a proud Kombumerri man, living on Wangal Land. He is an experimental producer, DJ and sound artist working at the intersection of connection with Country and electronic sound art. He works across gallery spaces, experimental music performance and the queer club scene. His work mutates on-Country field recordings into electronica, explores the possibilities of new technologies such as ethical AI, and inhabits and bridges the tensions between abstraction and emotion, the wild bush and the dancefloor, the personal and the social, authenticity and reconstruction. He takes a resolutely DIY approach to soundmaking, with an emphasis on authenticity rather than technicality. His work includes live or recorded pieces for the Art Gallery of NSW and Sydney Opera House, and scoring the ‘Sydney’ New Years Eve 9pm Fireworks (2023).

About SOFT CENTRE:

SOFT CENTRE is an arts organisation dedicated to supporting innovative and experimental art-making. Since its launch at Casula Powerhouse in 2017, our flagship annual festival has pushed the boundaries of electronic music, sound art, contemporary dance, performance art, light works and new media art. With a focus on cutting-edge, cross-disciplinary programming and innovative use of unconventional public spaces, SOFT CENTRE has also showcased major commissions at venues like MONA and the Sydney Opera House.

This project is funded by the NSW Government through Create NSW 

Special thanks to our venue partner City of Sydney Creative Studios (CoSCS) by Brand X.

We look forward to hearing from you!