During 2022, three artists hailing from Central Queensland – Sharon Kirk, Julia Higgs and Benjamin Scott – selected artworks from RMOA’s nationally significant collection to study more closely during their four-week residencies in the Margaret Olley Art Trust Collection Study Room at Rockhampton Museum of Art. The residencies were designed to provide artists with time and space to develop new directions in their practice and build new audiences, while being paid, and with the support of a range of staff across RMOA’s teams.
Each artist participated in an artist talk, recorded a conversation for Behind the Art, RMOA’s podcast, and held weekly open studios where members of the public could meet the artist and learn more about how artists work in their studios. Two school groups were able to visit Sharon’s and Ben’s studios and hear a short artist talk, and Julia facilitated an experimental drawing workshop that local artists were able to attend.
This project was made possible by the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, provided through Regional Arts Australia, administered in Queensland by Flying Arts Alliance.