Cumberland City Council is seeking Expressions of Interest from individuals and organisations engaged in creative, arts and cultural practice to participate in our 2026 arts and culture program. Council delivers arts and cultural programs reflective of Cumberland’s communities, cultures and identities.
These programs build connections between the places and people of Cumberland, creating vibrant local places and fostering access to arts and culture for those who live, work, play and study in Cumberland. Arts programs are delivered from Council’s key arts facilities - Granville Centre Art Gallery, and the Peacock Gallery and Auburn Arts Studio.
The annual arts and cultural program includes an Artist in Residence Program, and a range of Arts Programs which may include exhibitions and curatorial projects and public programs, dance, music, theatre and other cross-disciplinary works.
Finally, if you have an idea for a project that doesn’t fit for one of these facilities, or if you just want to get to know us, we still want to hear from you, please call the Arts Team on 8757 9029 or email granvillecentreartgallery@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Granville Centre
Programs
- Artist in Residence Program – all artforms
- Visual Arts - Exhibition and Public Programs
- Arts Programs – all artforms
Peacock Gallery
Program
- Visual Arts - Artist in Residence Program with associated Exhibition and Public Program outcomes (Artists, Groups, Curatorial Projects)
For more information and to apply to participate in 2026 arts and culture programs, read on.
If you have an idea for a project that doesn’t fit for one of these facilities, we still want to hear from you, please call the Arts Team on 8757 9029 or email granvillecentreartgallery@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
2026 Program Opportunities
Artist in Residence Program
The Artist in Residence Program offers applicants non-residential, studio spaces to use for a three-month period. There are four opportunities offered each year at The Granville Centre Artist in Residence space, and additional opportunities at The Peacock Gallery and Auburn Art Studio.
In return for rent-free use of the studio space the artists are required to engage with the community in the following ways:
- Participate in one open studio event.
- Participate in a public program. e.g. a workshop, a demonstration or an artist talk.
Cumberland Artist in Residence program aims to:
- Provide artists with free short-term access to spaces and facilities to produce, present or develop their artform. Residency period is three months subject to scope and need.
- Provide Cumberland communities with opportunities to engage with arts and culture.
To enable them to carry out their activities, Council pays each artist a $1,000 fee.
About Auburn Arts Studio
Peacock Gallery and Auburn Arts Studio
Auburn Botanic Gardens, corner Chisholm and Chiswick Roads, Auburn Botanic Gardens.
Studio 1 (43m2) and Studio 2 (65m2).
Auburn Arts Studio Artist in Residence Program is focused on providing artists and curators, groups or organisations with working space away from their usual living and working environment to focus on visual arts practice or projects. This program aims to provide opportunities for mutual exchange between artists and local community through public program and/or exhibition/showing outcomes. Successful applicants will be allocated one studio space for the agreed duration, generally three months subject to project scope and need.
About The Granville Centre
The Granville Centre – Artist in Residence
1 Memorial Drive, Granville
The Granville Centre Artist in Residence space is a 36m2 modern purpose-built space with tables, chairs, natural light, paint wash up sink, kitchenette, and storage cupboards.
The Granville Centre is Council’s key arts and cultural facility, including Granville Centre Art Gallery and a dedicated Artist in Residence space. It is a community hub facility centrally located a short walk from Granville Town Centre, close to the vibrant food destination location of South Street, and heritage item Granville Town Hall. The Granville Centre includes a range of community activated spaces including Granville Library, workshop spaces, a purpose-built music recording and rehearsal space, community halls for hire, and outdoor recreation spaces and gallery. Granville Centre Art Gallery opened in late 2020 and has presented a range of exhibitions, events, and programs.
The Granville Centre Artist in Residence Program offers the opportunity for artists in any artform to work in a space well connected to vibrant community activity. This program aims to provide opportunities for mutual exchange between artists and local community through public program and/or showing and presentation outcomes.
Artist in Residence Programs – General Information
- Artists in Residence are granted use of studios free of charge.
- Consumables of day-to-day studio practice are to be provided and paid for by the artist.
- In return for rent-free use of the studio space the Artist in Residence will facilitate opportunities for the community to engage with their practice by way an open studio, and a public program e.g. workshops, presentation/performance/showing, or other project outcome.
- Successful applicants will negotiate a program of activity/Agreement with Cumberland City Council.
Once you have read this Artist in Residency program information, complete the online application form.
Applications close Friday, 10 October 2025 at 5pm.
If you need more information or support before commencing, please contact the Arts Team on 8757 9029 or email granvillecentreartgallery@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Arts Programs – Granville Centre Art Gallery
Cumberland City Council is seeking Expressions of Interest from individual artists, collectives, and arts organisations to partner with us in delivering a vibrant 2026 arts and culture program at the Granville Centre Art Gallery.
The Granville Centre Art Gallery is a large, modern, purpose-built space (356m²) designed for creative exploration and community connection. We are inviting proposals that activate this space with bold, engaging and culturally relevant creative practice – from exhibitions and curatorial projects to public programs, performances, installations, and cross-disciplinary works. Our focus is on collaborations that offer free and accessible arts and cultural experiences for the people of Cumberland.
This program is built on a partnership approach. Council offers significant in-kind support and promotion, while artists and organisations bring their creative vision, skills, networks, and where possible, additional resources. Projects that combine Council’s contribution with other sources of funding, sponsorship, or in-kind support will be considered favourably, as this allows us to deliver a greater diversity of high-quality programs for our community.
What Council provides:
Through this EOI, Council offers successful applicants:
- Free use of the Granville Centre Art Gallery (and other relevant spaces within the Centre) for an agreed period.
- In-kind production support, including access to gallery furniture, gallery production equipment, basic AV and staging equipment, and assistance from technical team where available.
- Marketing and promotion, including listing in Council’s arts and culture promotions, website, social media, and media releases.
- Community engagement support, connecting projects with local networks and audiences.
While Council is unable to fully fund most projects, we are committed to investing in partnerships that combine our in-kind contribution with your creative vision and additional resources. This shared investment model enables us to deliver a greater variety of arts experiences and reach more of our community. The level of in-kind and/or financial assistance, and the duration of space use, will be negotiated with each successful applicant to ensure programs are cost-efficient, feasible, and of strong community benefit.
Cumberland Arts Program at Granville Centre Art Gallery aims to:
- Provide Cumberland communities with access to arts and culture.
- Grow connections and collaborations between diverse cultures, people, partners, artform and practices.
- Strengthen a sense of place, local stories and unique character within Cumberland, and Granville.
- Support creative, arts and cultural groups to scale up, promote and amplify their cultural initiatives and projects through opportunities to showcase work locally.
- Provide a secure, supportive, culturally engaging environment for the local artistic community by providing new networking opportunities which encourage the exchange of ideas, diversity in professional practice as well as intercultural dialogue.
About The Granville Centre
The Granville Centre – Granville Centre Art Gallery
1 Memorial Drive, Granville
The Granville Centre is Council’s key arts and cultural facility, including Granville Centre Art Gallery and a dedicated Artist in Residence space. It is a community hub facility centrally located a short walk from Granville Town Centre, close to the vibrant food destination location of South Street, and heritage-listed Granville Town Hall. The Granville Centre includes a range of community activated spaces including Granville Library, workshop spaces, a purpose-built music recording and rehearsal space, community halls, and outdoor recreation spaces and gallery. Since opening in late 2020, the Gallery has hosted a diverse range of exhibitions, events, and programs that reflect the richness of our community.
Once you have read the program information, complete the online application form.
Applications close Friday 10, October 2025 at 5pm.
If you need more information or support before commencing, please contact the Arts Team on 8757 9029 or email granvillecentreartgallery@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
