Coal Loader Artist's Studio

Council aims to support artists to explore and develop their art practice by providing artists with a studio space at the Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability. Council encourages the chosen studio artist to share their creative insights with the community, raising awareness of cultural expression through sustainable means.

Artists selected for the studio must ensure that their creative practice uses materials, methods or concepts that are in keeping with the philosophy of The Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability: “To operate a high quality facility that will educate and inspire the wider community to put sustainable living ideas into practise”.

Additional criteria for this studio include:

• Relevance of artist's practice to the philosophy of The Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability

• Quality of the proposed community workshop/s and capacity of applicant to deliver the workshop/s

Applications for the October 2023- September 2024 residency are now closed.

The next application round will be opened in July 2024 for an October 2024 commencement
 

Current Artist in Residence

Kath Wallace

Kath’s artwork explores the relationship between people, built environment, sustainable development and creativity.  She is inspired by natural beauty and surroundings and is looking forward to engaging with the local redgums and meeting new friends like brush turkeys and water dragons. Recently completed a fine art diploma in Sydney specialising in portraiture, plein air landscapes and still life.   Kath is using her time in the studio to consider sustainability in art creation, complementing her design career at Arup where the artwork brings playfulness, purpose, creativity to help shape a better world.   

Recent exhibitions include the following art prizes- 2022 Hunters Hill Art Exhibition finalist 2022 Fisher’s Ghost Art Award finalist 2022 Into the light finalist 2021 Adelaide Perry finalist

About the Studio space

The Coal Loader Artist's Studio is located in an an out-building located on the grounds of the Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability at Balls Head, Waverton in Sydney. 

There is one studio space available. While the studio space is undercover it is part of a row of out-buildings that were formerly workshops and therefore retains is rustic industrial architecture and charm. Prospective applicants should consider the suitability of the space to their medium and working methods before applying. 

• The successful will have access to the 7 days a week from 8am until 6pm
• The studio space is lockable (gate and padlock)
• The walls and floor are brick/concrete
• There is one window
• Ample power points
• Limited public WiFi, although this can be unstable
• There is no ‘wash up’ space
• There is no heating or air conditioning
• The space is approximately 4 x 4 metres

A range of artistic practices will be considered including sculpture, painting, installation etc however due to the close proximity to the Cafe and nature of the site, the following are not permitted:

• materials that emit toxic fumes, require extraction fans or result in hazardous waste
• tools and equipment that emit constant loud noise (for example grinders on continuous use) (small hand tools are permitted)

Shared spaces

• A public toilet is available next to the studio and is open 8am-6pm 7 days per week
• There is one unisex accessible toilet, shower and baby change room located in the Genia McCaffery Centre open 8am-6pm 7 days per week
• A communal kitchenette is located in the Genia McCaffery Centre Monday-Friday 9am-4pm and Saturday 10am-4pm (closed public holidays)

Access and parking

• On-site parking is not permitted. Timed and patrolled on-street parking is available in the surrounding streets.
• There is one unisex accessible toilet, shower and baby change room located in the Genia McCaffery Centre
• The artist studio and Genia McCaffery Centre are on street level and fully accessible.  Refer to the Coal Loader page for general accessibility information about the site.