EOI: Venetian Kind Mentorship 2026
PAC is delighted to partner once again with Wyndham City Arts & Culture to offer a Wyndham-based emerging artist the opportunity to work on the international stage in Venice, and to develop their practice alongside researchers from across the disciplinary spectrum at Deakin University.
PAC is delighted to partner once again with Wyndham City Arts & Culture to offer a Wyndham-based emerging artist the opportunity to participate in an international creative research project presented in Venice with the European Cultural Centre, a host organisation for the 2026 Venice Biennale.
Curated by Cameron Bishop and David Cross, Venetian Kind is an ambitious practice-led research project presented with the European Cultural Centre. Building on the success of the 2024 Venetian Bind project, Venetian Kind brings together artists and researchers from Deakin University (Australia), Auckland University of Technology (New Zealand), LASALLE College of the Arts (Singapore) and IUAV University of Venice (Italy) to explore new forms of international collaboration, experimental curation and place-responsive artistic practice.
The Wyndham mentorship has been established to foster the creative development of an emerging local practitioner while strengthening Wyndham's international cultural connections. The successful artist will work alongside researchers and practitioners from filmmaking, visual arts, photography, design, creative writing and performance, contributing to an evolving collaborative project that examines how artistic knowledge can be generated through shared making, exchange and site-responsive research.
The Venice Mentorship Opportunity
Taking place in Venice from 19–24 October 2026, the mentorship offers an intensive five-day creative research experience unlike a conventional artist residency. Rather than producing work independently, participants contribute to an innovative curatorial methodology responding to prompt, provocation, technical instruction and encounter - becoming a part of an evolving archive of artistic exchange across institutions, cultures and disciplines.
Working within this framework, the Wyndham artist will develop new work in direct response to Venice, collaborating with an interdisciplinary group of artists and researchers while contributing to a larger investigation into the nature of collaboration, creative experimentation and contemporary art practice. The experience encourages participants to embrace uncertainty, work across disciplinary boundaries and expand their creative practice within an international research environment.
Beyond the work produced in Venice, the mentorship provides valuable experience in collaborative research, critical reflection and international cultural exchange - capabilities that are increasingly central to contemporary artistic practice.
Mentors and collaborators
The successful artist will work alongside artists and researchers from Deakin University, Auckland University of Technology, LASALLE College of the Arts and IUAV University of Venice, supported by project lead curators David Cross and Cameron Bishop, together with an interdisciplinary cohort of practitioners working across filmmaking, design, visual arts, photography, creative writing and performance.
Applicants are encouraged to read the Expression of Interest information, timeline and Terms & Conditions before submitting an application.
Key dates
EOIs open: Monday 31 August, 12.00pm
EOIs close: Tuesday 15 September, 5.00pm
EOI Panel Assessment: Wednesday 16 September
Artist Engaged by: Thursday 17 September
Program in Venice: 19–24 October 2026
Funding
Participation Fee: $1,500
Travel support: $8,500 (airfares, accommodation, ground transport and per diem)
Production costs for work developed in Venice will be covered as part of the project. Personal expenses beyond the funded travel allocation remain the responsibility of the participating artist.
