Artists-in-Residence

The Dark Matter residency aims to provide a supported opportunity for artists whose practice incorporates darkroom-based or other alternative processes. The residency aims particularly to foster the creation of innovative image-based works that involve artistic experimentation, critically engage with contemporary darkroom-based practice as well as exploring social, political, environmental and aesthetic questions of contemporary relevance. Over a 10 month period, residents work on a body of work to feature in the annual exhibition program. Submissions open in August each year. Sign up to the newsletter for reminders.

Presented in collaboration with the Australian National University’s School of Art and Design, photo access’ Emerging Artist Support Scheme (EASS) program mentors recently graduated photo-media artists to transition from study to professional practice. One recipient is selected each year from the ANUSOAD Grad Show.

Each year photo access awards a residency to a graduate from the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) Photography and Photo Imaging course to foster their creative and artistic development.

In 2026, photo access awarded its inaugural graduate residency to a student from the National Art School to support an emerging photo-media artist from Sydney each year while forging new connections between our creative ecosystems.