Curator-in-residence program
MADA Gallery 2027 Curator-in-Residence: Applications now open
MADA Gallery is a contemporary art space located at Monash University, Caulfield Campus, in the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture. In addition to examination exhibitions by PhD candidates, MADA Gallery hosts a programme of exhibitions by artists, curators, designers, architects, and other creative practitioners.
Applications are now open for a year-long curator-in-residence programme in which you will have the opportunity to deliver two curated exhibitions. The application process is open to anyone. The gallery welcomes applications from Australian and international practitioners, including those from Monash academic and professional staff, current students, and alumni.
As a gallery space located within a tertiary school, MADA Gallery welcomes proposals that are speculative, propositional, and experimental. We are especially interested in proposals that engage students, connect to the most urgent issues and ideas of our time, or think provocatively and critically about the relationship between exhibition-making, teaching, and research. Proposals should consider how the programme might connect to the departments within our faculty (art, design and architecture). We will also look favourably on proposals that connect with the key priorities of the University, including Climate Change, Geopolitical Security, and Wellness; and/or the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture research areas.
As the successful applicant will be invited to facilitate two exhibition outcomes across the year, proposals should address the individual elements of each proposed exhibit and how the two exhibitions combine to build upon one another to form a cohesive exhibition program. Please note, that while the program is structured as two curated exhibitions, there is scope for alternative proposals, subject to resourcing and scheduling.
Exhibition program
The successful applicant will be granted two exhibitions during the year. While dates can be negotiated, some requirements will be to coincide with key campus activities, such as Open Day in August. The duration of each exhibition is a minimum of three weeks. Please note: while the program is structured as two curated exhibitions, there is scope for alternative proposals, subject to resourcing and scheduling.
The total annual exhibition budget is $18,000, plus a curator fee of $6,000 (plus superannuation). Applicants have discretion on how to divide these resources across the program. We encourage applicants to consider additional funding through grant applications or other fundraising, and support can be provided with this process.
The applicant has the option to request the loan of works from the Monash University Collection of Art (managed by MUMA).
The Budget must cover the following expenses:
- Artist fees
- Artwork loan fees
- Transport of artwork
- Any publication costs or specific signage for the exhibition (posters/lettering, etc.)
- Contingency
MADA Gallery will provide:
- Installation support (1-2 days per exhibition plus advice and consultation from the Gallery Manager in the lead-up to the exhibitions)
- Equipment including projectors, speakers, media players, screens
- Gallery Assistants who can provide administrative assistance
- Digital invitations and social media
- Line listings in Art Almanac and Art Gallery Guide
- Professional documentation of the exhibition
- Event opening costs, including catering and wait staff
MADA Gallery facilities
- Dimensions are 9 x 14 m (download a copy of the plans here)
- Track and spotlights available
- AV equipment is available including TVs, projectors, media players, sound systems
- Invigilation is provided on Friday and Saturday by the Gallery Assistant and by student volunteers during the week
- Gallery Hours are Wednesday - Friday 10 - 5 and Saturday 12 - 5
How to submit a proposal
Please provide up to 3 x A4 pages of text that include:
- Project Summary - a detailed description of your proposed program, including a rationale for each of the exhibitions and a brief explanation of how the two exhibitions will relate to one another.
- A brief CV of the person/s applying for the residency
- For each exhibition, a list of artists or practitioners and proposed work to be included
- A description of how works will be installed and displayed
- An explanation of how the exhibition engages MADA audiences and relates to a tertiary education context and strategic goals, including any proposed public programs
In addition to the above please provide:
- up to 10 captioned images or video / audio / weblink relevant to the exhibition
- a draft budget listing income and expenditure and any additional funding you might bring to the project
Please collate all of the above into a single PDF document and submit it to: mada.gallery@monash.edu
Proposals are due by 20 August 2026
Applicants notified of the decision in October 2026
Additional Support
MADA Gallery wishes to support all applicants. To enable this Monash guidelines are in place including the Disability Action Plan. For Gallery specific accessibility guidelines please see here. If any candidates require additional assistance or this application format is inaccessible for your requirements, please do not hesitate to discuss this with the gallery staff.
All enquiries to mada.gallery@monash.edu or 03 9903 4034
If you require an alternative format for applying please contact us to discuss this option.