The Mill's Writer in Residence fosters arts writing and criticism by emerging South Australian arts writers. The program provides two 6-month residencies at The Mill’s Angas Street studios, three pieces of commissioned writing per residency, for circulation via our publication partners and support from The Mill’s arts management team and partners.
The residency has two main aims - to ensure that critical writing remains a valued mode of engaging with the arts, AND to support writers in their professional development.
This is an opportunity for a writer to establish a base from which to pursue their own artistic project/s, alongside producing commissions from The Mill.
The Mill is interested in engaging with writers whose work is cross-disciplinary in nature or, in some way intersects with different creative forms.
This program aims to create a broader audience for arts writing.
Meet previous recipients of The Mill’s Writers in Residence program and read testimonials about their experiences: Aimee Knight, Eleanor Scicchitano and Ben Brooker.
The Writer in Residence is provided with:
A dedicated writers' studio for 6 months, embedded in The Mill's creative community. The artist may use this space to pursue their own projects, meet with clients and collaborators and develop new projects. The residency aims to foster growth - both creatively and professionally - with support from The Mill and our networks.
Access to The Mill as an Associate Artist, including 24-hour access to their studio, wifi via GIGCity, use of The Mill’s shared spaces (meeting area, kitchen) and public spaces (The Exhibition Space, The Breakout).
Opportunities to meet and collaborate with artists from a diverse range of disciplines and creative backgrounds, using The Mill as their permanent or casual base for operations.
Three pieces of work from the artist’s area(s) of interest, commissioned by The Mill and developed in conversation with the artist, The Mill and our publication partners.
Successful applicants will be chosen based on the following criteria;
Essential Criteria
Applicants must:
Have a demonstrated commitment their writing practice.
Show interest in arts writing, and/or in being aligned with the creative community at The Mill.
Provide details of a major creative project / work-in-progress to be developed during the residency, with support from The Mill and affiliated partners.
Propose at least one of the three commissioned pieces in their application. This work should contribute to national conversations around visual and / or performing arts - aesthetics, practice, curation, etc. For example, writers may choose to respond to / critique specific visual / performing art works or exhibitions, comment on trends developing across creative and curatorial practice, investigate innovative modes of creation, present research into an area of professional artistic practice.... etc. Work should align with the writer's interests in visual / performing arts, and give consideration to potential publication outcomes.
Commit to delivering all commissions in line with publication guidelines.
Articulate the impact this opportunity will have on their artistic and professional development.
Meet application requirements and be prepared to establish a writing studio at The Mill for the duration of the residency .
Agree to submitting an evaluation report at the conclusion of the residency.
Desirable Criteria
Preference will be given to applicants who;
Demonstrate an interest to share creatively or collaborate.
Propose artistically strong, interesting work.
Show an interest in multi-disciplinary projects.
Have undertaken tertiary-level study in a writing field.
Show interest in being part of a writing community and in developing their networks.
Online applications open: 8th July, 2019
Applications close: 31st July, 2019
Notifications: 14th August, 2019
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the value of this residency?
The Writer in Residence is provided with a private studio space at The Mill for a period 6 months (value $1430) including access to the venue’s public and shared spaces. Artists may use their studio to undertake personal projects, meet with clients or collaborators and also work on commissions from The Mill.
Each artist receives $200 for each of the three commissioned works. Artists wishing to submit longer-form pieces may negotiate redistribution of the total commissions budget.
What do you require from me?
We want you to be part of our family! It is expected that the successful applicant will inhabit their studio on a regular basis, and become part of The Mill’s artist community.
You will be required to meet regularly with The Mill and our publication partners to discuss pitches, progress and outcomes. You are required to submit three commissioned works for publication through our channels over the 6 months.
What hours do I have to be there?
We don't expect you to work 9 'til 5, Monday to Friday, as we understand you may have a job or study commitments. However, we do expect you to make use of the space each week and be an active member of The Mill community while you are in residence.
When does this residency take place?
Residencies has set dates from (R1) September 2019 - February 2020 and (R2) March 2020 - August 2020. Dates will be confirmed with The Mill when the residency is allocated. Commissioned works will be spaced throughout the 6 months and delivered in line with publication timelines.
What is the major creative project?
This residency is aimed supporting writers in their professional development. It provides an opportunity for you to delve into your own creative work and reach a new level, in a dedicated studio and surrounded by supportive artists and The Mill management.
The major creative project can be anything you're currently working on, or aspire to create. It can be creative, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, prose... tell us what excites you about writing. The strength of your proposal will inform the selection process, but is not a defining factor.
What are the commissioned works? Can I choose what to write about?
The commissioned works are a way for you to engage with the creative community (locally, nationally and beyond) and contribute to critical dialogue surrounding artistic work / practice that is of particular interest to you. You may choose to respond to visual art works, exhibitions, artists, curation, performing arts practice, trends and modes of expression, or create written work researching a particular area of interest within professional artistic practice.
These are generally short-form pieces (200-500 words) but may take other formats, by negotiation.
Who does the writing belong to at the end of the residency?
Copyright of all work produced by the Writer in Residence, commissioned by or as part of the residency, remains solely with The Mill. Any other work developed by The Artist remains solely with them.