Studio Program

ACE is home to five fully-supported, rent-free CBD-based studios for South Australian artists.

ACE is home to five fully-supported, rent-free CBD-based studios for South Australian artists. 

The ACE Studio Program provides professional development opportunities, including studio visits with Australian and international curators; participation in public programs; mentorship by ACE staff; and prominent profiling and promotional opportunities.  

It is the only program of its kind in the state and is an invaluable pathway for artists to gain national recognition. Working as part of a cohort of fellow  artists, the Studio Program gives residents the space to experiment with their practice and grow their professional careers.

Studio artists Jonathan Kim and Sundari Carmody chat to each other across the corridor in the ACE Studios (2020).
Studio artists Jonathan Kim and Sundari Carmody chat to each other across the corridor in the ACE Studios (2020).
ACE Studios (2020). Photography by Jessica Clark.

The ACE Studio Program offers

  • 12-month rent–free studio space, from January 2023 – January 2024

  • Studios are approximately 20m2 and feature 24/7 access, plus shared kitchen and breakout facilities

  • Utilities (electricity, internet, water) included

  • Adelaide CBD location, above the Adelaide Contemporary Experimental gallery at Lion Arts Centre

  • Participation and commission fee to produce new work for ACE’s annual studio artist exhibition, Studios: 2023

  • Professional development opportunities including, but not limited to: studio visits with Australian and international curators, introductions to visiting artists, participation in public programs, and support from ACE staff

  • Profiling and promotion opportunities through ACE

  • The opportunity to be selected for a solo exhibition at Firstdraft in Sydney, supported by ACE and Firstdraft

Applications for the 2024 Studio Program are currently closed.

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Eligibility

  • Artists who work across all contemporary art forms

  • Artists at any stage of practice (i.e. from early career to established)

  • South Australian residents who have been living in the state for the last 12 months as a minimum

  • People who are 18+

  • Those who have not previously participated in ACE’s Studio Program

  • Artists who will be studying full-time in 2023 are ineligible to apply.

  • ACE strongly encourages artists who are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD), living with a disability, or part of the LGBTQI+ community to apply for this opportunity.

How do I know if I am a good fit for ACE’s program?
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We look for artists who will benefit from the opportunity at this moment in the development of their career, and artists whose practices align with our vision and mission. To identify how your work might fit into our program, we encourage you to have a look at previous Studio Program artists and at ACE’s previous exhibitions.

Is this opportunity targeted at artists in a certain age bracket?
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ACE identifies that this opportunity is beneficial no matter what your age, or how long you have been a practising artist. However, to be eligible, you must be 18 years old or over. 

I have not completed formal visual arts studies. Am I still eligible to apply?
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Artists who work across all contemporary art forms are eligible to apply. While you do not need to possess formal qualifications, those that can demonstrate a developed visual arts practice will make strong candidates.  

I am an artist living with a disability. How will I be supported if I am successful?
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If you face barriers in completing application forms, we welcome you to reach out to find a suitable way to apply, and to discuss what capacities ACE has to support you should you be selected. Please be aware that the application form provides you with the option to submit your application by answering questions in video or audio format. You can also view more information about ACE’s accessibility

What if I am based in regional South Australia?
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Regionally-based artists should consider if they can meet the following requirements:

  • Minimum allocation of 20 hours per week (on average) to work in their studio.

  • Attendance at key after-hours events that support the delivery of the Studio Program.

I plan on travelling outside of the state during the Studio Program residency period. Am I still eligible to participate in the Program?
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ACE supports participating artists to travel for short-term residencies, work opportunities and personal reasons. However, if you are planning on travelling for a continuous period longer than 4 weeks, you must provide ACE with details at the time of applying as this may limit your ability to meet the requirements of the Program.

Do you have any tips for making a strong application?
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Guildhouse and NAVA provide relevant information and tips for preparing and writing proposals that we encourage you to access.

How are applications assessed?
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Applications are considered by an advisory committee composed of ACE staff, a current ACE studio artist and 2 external industry professionals. Applications are assessed against the quality of the artist’s work, the artist’s commitment to their practice, and demonstration of the Program’s benefit to artist’s professional development. In selecting the overall makeup of the cohort, ACE also considers the representation of a diverse range of artistic mediums, as well as diversity of voices. 

Studio Artists

2023,

2022,

2021,

2019

Teresa Busuttil
Helpmann Academy Studio Residency
Georgia Button
Adelaide Central School of Art Residency
Brad Darkson
Jennifer Mathews
Truc Truong
Shaye Dương
Adelaide Central School of Art Residency
Chelsea Farquhar
Dani Reynolds
Cecilia Tizard
Helpmann Academy Studio Residency
Ash Tower
Sundari Carmody
City of Adelaide Studio Residency
Anna Gore
Jonathan Kim
Oakey
Helpmann Academy Studio Residency
Loren Orsillo
Tamara Baillie
City of Adelaide Studio Residency
Max Callaghan
Steven Cybulka
Tara Rowhani-Farid
Helpmann Academy Studio Residency
Jess Taylor

Supported by

The 2023 Studio Program is supported by partnerships with Creative Partnerships Australia Plus 1 Program, Helpmann Academy, Adelaide Central School of Art, and Firstdraft. It is also supported by the generous contributions of private donors through the Studio Donors Program.⁠

Studio Donors Program

Anonymous x 2, Anton Andreacchio, Susan Armitage, Jane Ayers, Sally Ball, Candy Bennett, Kate Bohunnis & Patrice Sharkey, Angela Carey, James Darling AM, Julia Dowling, Lesley Forwood, Rick & Jan Frolich, Stephanie Grose, Mo & Simon Hardy, Amanda Harkness & Karen Barrett, Andrew Henderson, Kate Irving, Hon Diana Laidlaw AM, James Lake, Brigitte Lane, Stephen Lane, Edwina Lehmann, Ryan McCourt, David McKee AO & Pam McKee, Jane Michell, Ministry of Clouds, Chris Penny, John Phillips, Michael Pocock, Ruth Rentschler, Aidan Rigoni, Louise Rigoni, Venetia Rigoni, Jill Russell, Paul Sutton & Tanya Soetratma, Thelma Taliangis, Tracey Whiting AM

ACE tampinthi, ngadlu Kaurna yartangka panpapanpalyarninthi (inparrinthi). Kaurna miyurna yaitya mathanya Wama Tarntanyaku. Parnaku yailtya, parnaku tapa purruna, parnaku yarta ngadlu tampnthi. Yalaka Kaurna miyurna itu yailtya, tapa purruna, yarta kuma puru martinthi, puru warri-apinthi, puru tangka martulayinthi.

ACE respectfully acknowledges the traditional Country of the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains and pays respect to Elders past and present. We recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship with the land. We acknowledge that they are of continuing importance to the Kaurna people living today.