Police Point Artist in Residence Program
Expressions of interest open 15 July and close 13 September.
Emerging and established artists, writers, musicians and creatives are invited to apply for a Police Point Artist in Residency (AiR).
Both supported and fee paying residencies are available, ranging from a minimum of two weeks to a maximum of six weeks.
In a supported residency the cottage is occupied without charge to the artist but there is a requirement to participate in agreed public programs that contribute to the cultural life of the Mornington Peninsula. Fee paying residencies are $300 per week (+GST).
The AiR is in the historic Gatekeeper’s Cottage (c.1888) at Police Point Shire Park, Portsea. The cottage was initially built for the quarantine boatmen. In 1901 it became accommodation for the Gatekeeper who oversaw movement in and out of the Quarantine Station that was opened in 1852 to control and prevent the spread of diseases from immigrants arriving by sea.
Minor changes have been made to the building over time and an extension now forms the studio space. The entire cottage was renovated to heritage standards in recent years.
The Gatekeepers Cottage is a two-bedroom residence with reading room, studio, kitchen and dining room, bathroom, vegetable boxes and back verandah with spectacular views of Port Phillip Bay.
Artists can be inspired by this nationally significant cultural heritage site located in the traditional lands of the Burin’yong-bulluk, one of at least six clans of the Bunurong who were part of the Kulin Nation of Central Victoria.
The Police Point AiR program is coordinated by the Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Arts & Culture team who work closely with key stakeholders and the community.
Read the Police Point Artist Brief.
Download the Expression of Interest Form(PDF, 2MB).
Top image: Siobhan Kelley, 2017 Artist in Residence