Writer in Residence

Our Writer in Residence program, in partnership with CityMag, supports South Australian writers from a variety of disciplines. This program develops writers in the skill of arts writing through mentorship and publication opportunities, enabling them to profile local artists and passion projects

One 12-month residency in our CBD studios is offered per year, culminating in four pieces of commissioned writing by the recipient and support from CityMag and The Mill.

The program also includes a $1,500 fee plus 11.5% super for a personal project, managed by our team, and aims to assist writers in developing connections and exploring opportunities to collaborate with our community.

Work funded under this program may include, but is not limited to, creative essays, creative nonfiction and storytelling, artist profiles and response to art and exhibitions.

The residency for 2025 will run from April, 2025, to April, 2026.

Take a look at current recipient Marina Deller and previous recipients Aushaf Widisto, Piri Eddy, Renee Miller, Tanner Muller and James Murphy.

The successful applicant will receive:

• A $1,500 project fee plus 11.5% super contribution

• Four pieces of commissioned writing, managed by CityMag, a total of $1,200 plus 11.5% super contribution

Key dates:

Applications open: Monday, January 27, 2025

Applications close: February 24, 2025, 9am

Recipients notified: February 28, 2025

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2025 Recipient

Past Recipients

Artist Spotlights

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This program has support from

Scotch College Residency

In partnership with Scotch College, we offer a five-week annual Writer in Residence program within the Scotch College English Faculty. Our Writer in Residence undertakes a paid residency funded by Scotch College with the aim to help further develop students’ writing/communication skills via written/verbal/multi-modal responses to creative themes.

The pieces created by the students are collated into an anthology by the Writer in Residence and used within the English Faculty or further afield. This opportunity gives writers paid employment and builds a relationship with an educational facility that may lead to future employment.

The recipient for this residency is chosen from the Writer in Residence program.

2025 Recipient

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Read about the previous recipients

Photographer in Residence

We are excited to open the call out for the second year of our Photographer in Residence program, presented in partnership with the Ana and Christopher Koch Foundation. One South Australian-based photographer will be given the opportunity to join The Mill community, receiving a 12-month studio space in 2025-26 and an exhibition outcome as part of The Mill’s Visual Arts program in 2026. The photographer will be selected through an open call-out.

Thanks to the Ana and Christopher Koch Foundation, the selected photographer will join our community of studio artists with their own private workspace at 154 Angas St, allowing them to develop their practice within a professional environment. Working at The Mill positions artists alongside other professional and emerging artists, providing encouragement, and inspiration and facilitating networking and collaboration.

The successful recipient will also receive printing sponsorship from Black and White Photographics.

Selection criteria:

This opportunity is specifically being made available to photographers who are:

• Emerging, mid-career or established

• Committed to their practice and have their own equipment

• Seeking space and time to develop a concept/body of work for exhibition

• Looking to connect with a community of professional practitioners

• Based in South Australia

Who is not eligible:

• Photographers who are current students or who work full-time in another field.
  Note: if you work full-time as a photographer and want to make this your main studio this is encouraged.

Key dates:

Applications open: Monday, January 27, 2025

Applications close: Monday, February 17, 9am, 2025

Recipients notified by: Friday, February 28, 2025

Studio residency timeframe: From March 25, 2025 - March 18, 2026

Exhibition: January 2026

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2025 Recipient

Past Recipients & Outcomes

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This program has support from

Centre Stage Residency

The Centre Stage Residencies are presented in collaboration with Adelaide Fringe as part of their Arts Industry Collaborations program.

This unique incubator program is for South Australian artists to progress a new performance work in its second or third stage of development to the next level, culminating in a season at The Mill as part of the 2026 Adelaide Fringe Festival.

We are offering 2 x 4-week Centre Stage Residencies this year.

Residencies are split into 2 x 2-week blocks. The first 2-week block will occur in 2025 followed by a work-in-progress showing at The Mill - to test ideas with audiences and develop an audience following.

The second 2-week block will occur in 2026 - to prepare the work for presentation in the 2026 Adelaide Fringe Season at The Mill.

We are most interested in theatre, comedy, physical theatre and cabaret - suitable for our small black box theatre in its 50 seat small stage set up.

Support

Between The Mill and Adelaide Fringe, the successful recipients will receive:

• Artist honorarium $6,000 + 12% superannuation ($720) will be provided, to be used for artist/s wages and development costs

• 4 weeks venue hire (2 x 2-week blocks in The Breakout at The Mill)

• A work-in-progress showing presented by The Mill at the conclusion of the first 2-week block

• Production of a professional-quality showreel/video promotional material, created from footage of the first showing and one additional filming session provided by The Mill

• Professional photography at the conclusion of the first development

• A 10-show season at The Mill during Adelaide Fringe 2026

• FOH, venue and technical staff for Adelaide Fringe 2026

• 100% box office from Adelaide Fringe 2026 season at The Mill to the artist

• Production, admin and marketing support for the residency and Fringe season from The Mill

• Contribution towards documentation or design for Adelaide Fringe season promotion/posters/flyers with support from The Mill’s Marketing and Development Manager

• Promotion of the Arts Industry Collaborations program through the Adelaide Fringe website and social media channels

• Inclusion on the Adelaide Fringe website's Arts Industry Collaborations page and associated shows listed amongst their 2026 Grant Recipients

• Direct contact with the Artist and Venue team to facilitate show registration  

• Engagement in the Honey Pot Arts Industry Marketplace Program

• Engagement in the Adelaide Fringe Professional Development series

• Provision of the 2026 Adelaide Fringe Fund Branding Pack

• 1:1 in person, or online, meetings with the Arts Industry Collaborations Adelaide Fringe project coordinator to provide advice and support in the lead up to the 2026 Adelaide Fringe season

• Access to 1:1 meetings with Adelaide Fringe's Marketing team to provide personalised advice to Fringe participants (bookings are limited and subject to availability)
  
  Please note: 

• With this significant support and funding, artists are still responsible for self producing their work

• Fringe show registration costs will need to be paid from the artist fee. Residency recipients are required to register their show as part of the 2025 Adelaide Fringe program

• We recommend applying for a Fringe Grant to top up your artist fees and development costs

Key dates

Applications open: June 11, 2025, at 9:30am

Applications close: July 21, 2025, at 9am

Applicants to be notified of outcome: Week of July 25, 2025

Residency blocks: November 3-14 or November 17-28, 2025, January 5-16 or January 26-February 6, 2026 

Adelaide Fringe season: February 20-March 22, 2026

For any questions regarding The Mill Centre Stage Residency please contact The Mill CEO/Artistic Director or The Mill General Manager.

For questions regarding presenting in Adelaide Fringe 2026 and Fringe show registration, please contact artists@adelaidefringe.com.au

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2024 Recipients

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Past Recipients + Showings

OzAsia Festival Residency

Our OzAsia Festival Residency is an open project development and presentation platform available to an Asian Australian performing artist based in South Australia working within contemporary culture. The aim of the residency is to offer place and space as part of a vibrant arts community for artists to develop and show new or existing work.

The residency will offer two weeks rehearsal space, technical, artistic and marketing support for the artist to develop and show new or existing work. 

The artistic genre can include dance, theatre, physical theatre or interdisciplinary performing arts practice. The residency and outcome in the form of three showings will be showcased as part of the 2025 OzAsia Festival October - November 2025, presented by Adelaide Festival Centre.

The successful applicant will receive:

• A $6,000 artist honorarium plus 11.5% super contribution

• Two week’s full-time use of The Mill’s Breakout performing arts space

• Artistic, technical and marketing support from The Mill

• Three showings and Q&A hosted by The Mill

• A photographer and videographer documenting the showing

Outcome:

The successful recipient will be required to present three ‘work-in-progress’ performances including a Q&A at the conclusion of this residency at The Mill for industry, VIPs and GP guests, supported by The Mill and OzAsia Festival.

Key dates:

Applications open: Monday, December 2, 2024

Applications close: Monday, February 10, 2025, 9:30am

Recipients notified: Week beginning February 24, 2025

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2025 Recipient

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This residency has support from

First Nations Dance Residency

Our First Nations Dance Residency is an extension of our First Nations Dance Program launched in 2023. The residency is an open project development and presentation platform available to South Australian First Nations performing artists.

The aim of the residency is to offer place and space as part of a vibrant arts community for artists to develop and show new or existing work. The successful recipient will be supported by our First Nations Dance Program Coordinator Caleena Sansbury.

The successful applicant will receive:

• A $6,000 artist honorarium plus 11.5% super contribution

• Two week’s full-time use of The Mill’s Breakout performing arts space

• Artistic, technical and marketing support from The Mill

• A showing and Q&A hosted by The Mill

• A photographer and videographer documenting the showing

Outcome:

The successful applicant will be required to present a ‘work-in-progress’ performance including a Q&A at the conclusion of this residency at The Mill for industry, VIPs and GP guests, supported by The Mill.

Key dates:

Applications open: Monday, December 2, 2024

Applications close: Monday, February 10, 2025, 9:30am

Recipients notified: Week beginning February 24, 2025

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2025 Recipient

Past Recipients + Showings

Brand X Residency

In partnership with Brand X, Sydney, we present the Brand X Residency: an open project development and presentation platform available to South Australian performing artists working with contemporary culture.

The aim of this residency is to offer place and space as part of a vibrant arts community, for artists to develop and show new or existing work and then take that work interstate for further development, presentation and networking opportunities. 

The residency is intended as a second or third-stage development of a new performing arts work exploring avant-garde ideas that provoke and push creative boundaries. The Mill and Brand X select one of The Mill’s 2024 Performing Arts residency artists to undertake a one-week residency and performance season in Sydney at Brand X’s Flying Nun program, in 2024.

The successful applicant will receive:

$6,500 from The Mill allocated to:

• Return Flights to Sydney

• On the ground travel to the venue and to networking opportunities with future presenters

• Artist Fees

• Per diems

$12,830 value from Brand X including:

• Accommodation for 1.5 weeks in the Sydney CBD in a 53sqm one-bedroom apartment with separate dining and kitchen. The apartment also features a 35sqm adjoining workspace and is located on the top floor of a new 5-storey creative hub.

• 1 week rehearsal space at the East Sydney Community and Arts Centre, in Darlinghurst. View the venue specs here

• Friday and Saturday night performance season at the East Sydney Community and Arts Centre. With ticketing, front of house and marketing support. View the venue specs here

• Videography and editing package for The Flying Nun season with streaming hosted on Brand X’s OnDemand platform. The artist will have full access to final video.

• $1,300 Stipend recommended to spend on tech operators for The Flying Nun Season

• Net box office takings, typically ranging from $2,000 - $4,000 dependent on audience numbers with Covid-19 considerations. Venue capacity is 50-70 dependent on social distancing restrictions and venue configuration.

Outcome:

The successful applicant will present two to four performances across two nights as part of The Flying Nun program. Performances will be attended by industry and special guests along with general public.

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2025 Recipient

Past Recipients

Dancehouse Residency

This residency unites national dance sectors by providing development and performance opportunities for dance-makers across Australia. Presented in partnership with Dancehouse (VIC) the residency and performance outcome aims to foster national conversations in dance, through participation and exposure. A selected South Australian dance artist participating in our Performing Arts Residency program will be offered the opportunity to develop and present their work at Dancehouse in Melbourne, over 1-2 weeks in 2024.

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2024 Recipient

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STRUT Residency

This residency unites national dance sectors by providing development opportunities for dance-makers across Australia. Presented in partnership with STRUT (WA), the residency, with a showing outcome, aims to foster national conversations in dance through participation and exposure. 

A selected South Australian dance artist will be offered the opportunity to develop and present a studio showing of their work at STRUT in Perth in 2025.

The Mill will fund $6,500 to support the artist to undertake this residency. These funds may go to travel, accommodation, materials costs and artist wages. 

STRUT Dance will support this partnership with The Mill in 2025 through providing one South Australian-based artist with a residency in Boorloo that will include, pending availability and negotiation with STRUT, the opportunity of: 

• 2 weeks studio space at King Street Arts Centre

• Documentation support (video & photo documentation during time of residency)

• Basic technical support such as cameras (film and photo), lighting and projection equipment

• A hot desk in our office at King Street Arts Centre

• Sector connection through facilitating a Practice Sharing to meet and share with local arts community

• Public connection through organising a studio showing for general public

• Teaching STRUT’s public or professional classes

• Participating in community events such as Makeshift Evenings (Boorloo open platform for performance and improvisation), Production Skills Workshops and Practice Sharing’s

Eligibility

• A South Australian artist that has been based in South Australia for at least 6 of the last 12 months.
  

Any questions or queries, please contact The Mill CEO/Artistic Director Katrina Lazaroff.

Key dates

Applications open: July 1, 2025, at 9:30am

Applications close: July 23, 2025, at 9am

Applicants to be notified of outcome: Week of July 28, 2025

Residency blocks: Artists can pitch dates in August, September, October and December before December 11 (November not available).

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2025 Recipient

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Theatre Residency

Our Theatre Residency is an open project development and presentation platform available to South Australian performing artists working with contemporary culture. The aim of the residency is to offer place and space as part of a vibrant arts community for artists to develop and show new or existing work.

The genre of theatre can include physical theatre and interdisciplinary practice, where theatre is the focus of the performing arts practice.

The successful applicant will receive:

• A $6,000 artist honorarium plus 11.5% super contribution

• Two week’s full-time use of The Mill’s Breakout performing arts space

• Artistic, technical and marketing support from The Mill

• A showing and Q&A hosted by The Mill

• A photographer and videographer documenting the showing

Outcome:

The successful applicant will be required to present a ‘work-in-progress’ performance including a Q&A at the conclusion of this residency at The Mill for industry, VIPs and GP guests, supported by our team.

Key dates:

Applications open: Monday, December 2, 2024

Applications close: Monday, February 10, 2025, 9:30am

Recipients notified: Week beginning February 24, 2025

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2025 Recipient

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Past Recipients + Showings

Dance Residency

Our Dance Residency is an open project development and presentation platform available to South Australian performing artists working with contemporary culture. The aim of the residency is to offer place and space as part of a vibrant arts community for artists to develop and show new or existing work.

The genre of dance can include physical theatre and interdisciplinary practice, where movement is the focus of the performing arts practice.

The successful applicant will receive:

• A $6,000 artist honorarium plus 11.5% super contribution

• Two week’s full-time use of The Mill’s Breakout performing arts space

• Artistic, technical and marketing support from The Mill

• A showing and Q&A hosted by The Mill

• A photographer and videographer documenting the showing

Outcome:

The successful applicant will be required to present a ‘work-in-progress’ performance including a Q&A at the conclusion of this residency at The Mill for industry, VIPs and GP guests, supported by our team.

Key dates:

Applications open: Monday, December 2, 2024

Applications close: Monday, February 10, 2025, 9:30am

Recipients notified: Week beginning February 24, 2025

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2025 Recipient

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Past Recipients + Showings

Visual Arts Studio Residency

Our Visual Arts Studio Residency is supported by donors Geoff Martin and Sorayya Mahmood Martin.

One Culturally Diverse artist will be given the opportunity to join our community, receiving a 6-month studio space in 2025 and an exhibition outcome in Gallery II in 2026. The artists will be selected through an open call-out addressing criteria assessed by a panel of our staff.

Thanks to the support of Geoff and Sorayya, the selected artists will join our community of studio artists with their own private workspace at 154 Angas St, allowing them to develop their practice within a professional environment. Working at The Mill positions artists alongside other professional and emerging artists, providing encouragement, inspiration and facilitating networking and collaboration. This residency encourages collaboration between artists from diverse backgrounds, extending artists' practice and exploring new territories.

In addition, the artists will be given the opportunity to exhibit work created in the studio in Gallery II, providing a public outcome for the program and profiling the artist to a wider audience. The artists will receive $550 towards exhibition and workshop production.

Key dates

Applications open: October 30, 2024

Applications close: Monday, December 9, 2024, at 9:00am

Notified: Week beginning December 16, 2024

Visual Arts Studio residency timeframe: August 2025 - January 2026, exhibiting January 2026

• Eligibility

  This is an identified opportunity, specifically being made available to a Culturally Diverse artist who is:

  • Emerging and/or established

  • Committed to making their practice their main hustle

  • Seeking space and time to develop a concept/body of work for exhibition

  • Looking to connect with a community of professional practitioners

  • Based in South Australia

• Who is not eligible?

  • Artists who are students or who work full-time outside of the arts

  • Artists who do not identify as Culturally Diverse

  • Artists who have been part of a Mahmood Martin Foundation studio residency previously

  • Artists who are already a studio resident at The Mill

• Selection criteria

  The recipients will be selected by a panel comprising of The Mill staff based on the following criteria:

  • The artist identifies as Culturally Diverse

  • The artistic merit of artist practice and proposed body of work to be developed

  • The need for this opportunity in realising the project, enhancing practice, and/or developing a profile

  • A strong desire to connect with the community of multidisciplinary artists at The Mill

  • Availability and commitment to utilising the studio space

• What you get

  • 6 months access to a dedicated studio space at The Mill (including access to high-speed internet via Gig City, all overheads and outgoings) at no charge

  • Access to other shared areas at The Mill including the workshop, meeting space, kitchen and other public areas

  • Professional and artistic support from The Mill’s team (including professional development advice, artistic critique and more)

  • Introductions to The Mill’s studio community to aid with networking and professional development

  • An exhibition in The Mill’s Gallery II, delivered in consultation with The Mill’s Visual Arts Curator

  • Profiling via The Mill’s networks, including social media, mailing list and events

  • The opportunity to liaise directly with The Mill’s supporters and develop relationships

  • $550 towards exhibition and workshop production

Read about 2021 Sponsored Studio recipients Holly Childs and Hussain Alismail, 2022 recipients Viray Thach and Tikari Rigney, 2023 recipients Yasemin Sabuncu and Chris Siu, and our Delima Residency recipient Alyssa Powell-Ascura.

If you have any questions, or would prefer to apply via phone call or zoom, please email visualarts@themilladelaide.com

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2025 Recipients

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Past Recipients

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This Visual Arts Studio Residency is supported by donors Drs Geoff and Sorayya Mahmood Martin.

Kayangan Visual Arts Studio Residency

Our Kayangan Visual Arts Studio Residency is supported by donors Geoff Martin and Sorayya Mahmood Martin, Arts SA and OzAsia Festival. Kayangan is a Malay word meaning ‘heaven’ or ‘from the sky’. 

In 2025 an Asian Australian artist will be given the opportunity to join our community, receiving a 6-month studio space and an exhibition outcome in Gallery II, featured in OzAsia Festival. The artists will be selected through an open call-out addressing criteria assessed by a panel from The Mill and OzAsia Festival.

The selected artists will join our community of studio artists with their own private workspace at 154 Angas St, allowing them to develop their practice within a professional environment. Working at The Mill positions artists alongside other professional and emerging artists, providing encouragement, inspiration and facilitating networking and collaboration. This residency encourages collaboration between artists from diverse backgrounds, extending artists' practice and exploring new territories.

In addition, the artists will be given the opportunity to exhibit work created in the studio in Gallery II, providing a public outcome for the program and profiling the artist to a wider audience. The artists will receive an artist fee of $2000 + superannuation, as well as $550 towards exhibition and workshop production.

Key dates

Applications open: October 30, 2024

Applications close: Monday, December 9, 2024, at 9:00am

Notified: Week beginning December 16, 2024

Kayangan Studio residency timeframe: Feb - July 2025, exhibiting October 2025

• Eligibility

  This is an identified opportunity, specifically being made available to an Asian Australian artist who is:

  • Emerging and/or established

  • Committed to making their practice their main hustle

  • Seeking space and time to develop a concept/body of work for exhibition

  • Looking to connect regularly with a community of professional practitioners

  • Based in South Australia

• Who is not eligible?

  • Artists who are students or who work full-time outside of the arts

  • Artists who do not identify as Asian Australian

  • Artists who have been part of a Mahmood Martin Foundation studio residency previously

• Selection criteria

  The recipients will be selected by a panel from The Mill and OzAsia based on the following criteria:

  • The artist identifies as Asian Australian

  • The artistic merit of artist practice and proposed body of work to be developed

  • The need for this opportunity in realising the project, enhancing practice, and/or developing a profile

  • A strong desire to connect with the community of multidisciplinary artists at The Mill

  • Availability and commitment to utilising the studio space

  • The ability to work independently

• What you get

  • 6 months access to a dedicated studio space at The Mill (including access to high-speed internet via Gig City, all overheads and outgoings) at no charge

  • Access to other shared areas at The Mill including the workshop, meeting space, kitchen and other public areas

  • Professional and artistic support from The Mill’s team (including professional development advice, artistic critique and more)

  • Introductions to The Mill’s studio community to aid with networking and professional development

  • An exhibition in The Mill’s Gallery II, delivered in consultation with The Mill’s Visual Arts Curator

  • Profiling via The Mill’s networks, including social media, mailing list and events

  • The opportunity to liaise directly with The Mill’s supporters and develop relationships

  • An artist fee of $2000 + superannuation

  • $550 towards exhibition and workshop production

Read about 2021 Visual Arts Studio Residency recipients Holly Childs and Hussain Alismail, 2022 recipients Viray Thach and Tikari Rigney, 2023 recipients Yasemin Sabuncu and Chris Siu, 2024 recipient Oriana Winston, and Delima Residency recipient Alyssa Powell-Ascura.

If you have any questions, or would prefer to apply via phone call or zoom, please email visualarts@themilladelaide.com

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This residency has support from

This Visual Arts Studio Residency is supported by donors Geoff and Sorayya Mahmood Martin