Georges River Council has selected 12 new artists to participate in its 2021-22 Artist in Residence Program.
The artists will have the opportunity to develop their artistic skills during a residency of up to three months at Carss Park Artist's Cottage.
The council received applications from artists across Australia and the world. The successful artists represent a diverse range of artistic fields, including performance, watercolour, video, painting, installation photography, textiles, glass and fibre art, the council said.
Artists from Norway and New Zealand were chosen to join artists from Western Australia, Victora, Queensland and NSW to take part in the program.
Two artists from the 2018-2020 program, Louisa Chircop and Liz Walker, whose residencies were cut short by COVID-19, will also take part.
The artists stay at Carss Park Artist's Cottage, in the former ranger's lodgings located in the picturesque Carss Bush Park, where they can focus on their artistic passions in a dedicated studio.
During their residency, they have the opportunity to work with the council to develop cultural programs for the benefit of the community and engage residents.
Former artist in residence Emma Davidson said the program offered artists two very important things: time and space.
"Being able to work to my own rhythm, surrounded by my work, made every day of the residency an exciting experiment in living as well as artmaking," she said.
"I was able to explore new media and techniques and came up with countless ideas for new projects.
"My residency was productive but also deeply relaxing - I felt in the flow and able to explore the possibilities of my practise without deadlines, interruptions or pressure.
"It was an incredible experience [which] I'm incredibly grateful for."
Another artist in residence, Tess Mehonoshen, was also thankful for the experience.
"The residency provided critical time to work on my practice, both practically and theoretically," she said.
"It allowed installation opportunities in spaces that I would not have been able to access.
"The residency has played a major role in continuing my current body of work and has been vital in pushing the work into new, more expansive territory.
"The peaceful time to reflect, write and create in such unique natural settings cannot be understated and has been critical in developing new works post-residency."
Lauren McCartney will take up the first residency of the new program in February. The multidisciplinary artist works in performance, video and photography.
Details: For more information about the program click here.
