Primrose Park Artist Studios

About the space

Primrose Park Artists Studios consists of two separate spaces located on the upper level and lower level and adjoins Primrose Park Arts & Craft Centre.

Upper level

• accommodates up to 3-4 tenants in a shared open plan space, where individual spaces are separated by fixed partitions
• each space has a trestle table, chair, small storage cabinet
• access to plenty of natural light
• tiled floors

Lower level

• lower level accommodates up to 2 tenants in shared open plan space 
• there are no space partitions
• access to storage, foldable tables, chairs
• the lower level is not wheelchair accessible

The upper and lower level studios are not connected and entry is from two distinct areas the upper level is wheelchair accessible

Shared facilities include

• small kitchenette
• gender neutral bathroom
• small lounge area on the upper level
• professional gallery hanging system on the upper level, professional gallery lighting

Facilities do not include

• wi-fi or internet access
• air conditioning

Artforms 

Primrose Park Artists’ Studios are suitable for a broad range of practices eg visual arts and craft, literature, arts writers, independent curators, interdisciplinary practices, new media and emerging technologies. While all art forms will be considered, the type of work produced must be conducive to the open plan nature of the spaces and not disturb other tenants in the studios or the adjoining tenant. The following are not permitted in Council operated spaces:  

• use of toxic or hazardous materials 
• materials that require extraction fans or emit fumes 
• materials that result in hazardous waste 
• processes, tools and equipment that emit excessive noise 

Community engagement

As part of councils Creative Spaces program, studio tenants gain access to paid, community facing opportunities to showcase their practice and connect with our community. As part of the tenancy agreement, artists are required to participate in at least one community facing activity co-designed with Council’s Creative Programs team and aligned with our broader arts programming. All engagements are professionally remunerated at NAVA rates.

Paid oppportunities may include, open studio events and artist showcases, facilitating workshops or community-led projects, delivering artist talks or presentations.

Professional development

Council will organise and fund at least two formal professional development opportunities over the course of the residency. This may include mentorship opportunities, structured visiting artist/curator programs, professional headshot, the opportunity to work with professional writer on artist bios or statements. Exhibition or commission opportunities may also be facilitated through Council. 

Studio usage expectations

There is an expectation of high usage. Tenants are expected to use the studio space for a minimum of 3 days per week (21 hours) 

Access, parking, transport

The studios can be accessed seven days a week between the hours of 7am and 9pm. Overnight stay in the studio is not permitted. 

There is a Council car park, however there are no designated spaces for studio artists. The car park accommodates visitors to the Arts Centre, studios, tennis courts and sporting fields. The centre is a 10 minute walk from Military Road where there are numerous bus stops.

Fees and tenancy conditions 

• Successful artists are required to enter into a licence agreement that sets out the terms and conditions of the tenancy. 
• Studios are offered for fixed term
• The studios can be accessed seven days a week between the hours of 7am and 9pm. Overnight stay in the studio is not permitted.  
• As part of the tenancy agreement, artists are required to participate in at least one community facing activity co-designed with Council’s Creative Programs team and aligned with our broader arts programming. All engagements are professionally remunerated at NAVA rates.
• Studio rent is $45 per week payable in quarterly instalments. A refundable bond is also payable.  
• Successful applicants require their own public liability insurance of $20 million for the period 
• Successful applicants require a current NSW Working With Children Check 
• Artists are responsible for insuring their property and contents 

Artist in Residence: Annabel Butler

Annabel Butler is figurative artist with a practice focused on drawing and painting. Annabel works on location in the tradition of en plein air painting as well as making studiobased assemblages and constructions that evolve out of the plein air paintings. Her current interest is the relationship between man and the natural world, specifically how human presence (or absence) can dramatically affect the psychological impact of a scene.

During her Primrose Park residency Annabel plans to expand a body of work that explores how human presence in her work (eg. figures, yachts, architecture) impacts the depiction of place. The proximity of the studios to the playing fields, tennis courts, yacht moorings and bushland walking tracks, provides an unparalleled opportunity to observe and paint the local community engaged in a variety of outdoor activities in and around Primrose Park.

Artist in Residence: Yvonne East

Yvonne East's practice is predominantly drawing and painting. She has a wide-ranging drawing practice from refined observational still life to large installation works on fabric. Her painting practice is primarily located around the human figure and portraiture, and she currently have work hanging in the 2024 Mosman Art Prize and the 2024 Kennedy Art Prize. A finalist in many national portrait prizes including the Archibald Prize and Portia Geach Memorial Award, Yvonne also has work in the National Portrait Gallery collection.

During her residency Yvonne plans to develop of a new body of work based on a deep immersion with the landscape of the Lower North Shore of Sydney where she lives and works. This work explores the embodied experience of mindfulness within the environment, visual phenomena including the Troxler's Fading and the psychological benefits of Shinrin Yoku (forest bathing).

Artist in Residence: Allie Jonscher

Allie Jonscher is early-career artist working in painting and its expanded forms of sculpture and installation using traditional and digital processes. Her practice is a conversation with technology grappling with what it means to be human in the digital age, with a specific interest in the uncanny. Her work aims to explore the entanglements of humans and technology, reflecting on how understandings of identity, selfhood, authorship and truth are altered and mediated in digital networks and by evolving technology. She produces intricately layered works that combine physical, machine, and digital painting practices grounded in abstract gesture and mark-making.

During her residency Allie will develop her current body of work collaborating with AI generative software to produce paintings and sculpture. 

Artist in Residence: Janet Parker-Smith

Janet Parker-Smith's artwork is rich in the processes of printmaking, including screenprint, etching and relief printing. She uses these processes to make unconventional hybrid works in the field of expanded print. The print works are often reproduced onto papers, fabrics and different soft substrates that are then sewn into wall-hangings and banners that are then embroidered onto. The works reference relationships, memory and the changing environment.

During her residency Janet will continue working with processes, imagery and mediums of familiarity to produce a new body of work based on text and image experimenting with the introduction of hand-made paper forms in juxtaposition with embroidered pieces.

Artist in Residence: Kate Riley

Kate Riley is an early-career artist working primarily in sculpture, making objects from found and recycled materials, mostly items salvaged from hard rubbish collection. Kate finds, alters and makes objects she views as "components". These are then playfully joined and examined over time in different combinations until the right "fit" is found. Kate's practice is driven by materials and processes. It is often about making something out of nothing and using making techniques like glueing, crocheting and sewing, which are also not typically associated with fine art.

The resulting sculptural objects are often non-sensical and whimsical. Kate plans to push her artistic practice, producing larger scale work. Kate has several group projects in 2025 and is also planning solo exhibition.

Eligibility and assessment criteria

The selection selection panel will review all applications and assess each based on the following criteria.

• Artistic vision and professional commitment – the applicant demonstrates a clear, sustained commitment to an artistic practice and is actively pursuing an artistic career
• Artistic merit – strength, quality and originality of work and ideas, as demonstrated in the overall quality of the application and supplied support material
• Value of residency – applicant articulates the value of residency and how it will support professional development 
• Suitability of practice - the applicant’s practice is compatible with shared studio use
• Use - applicant demonstrates commitment to attend the studio regularly 
• Contribution to our community and cultural life – the applicant’s potentional to enage with the community through Council's programs

The selection panel comprises staff from North Sydney Council's Arts, Events & Library Service Unit

Eligibility 

Applications are open to creative practitioners who: 

• are aged 18 years and over 
• reside in the Northern Sydney or Greater Sydney regions. Artists living in or with a strong connection to the North Sydney local government area, or those working towards outcomes that are locally based, are especially encouraged to apply. 
• Creative practitioners at all stages of their career can apply. 

Ineligible applicants 

Artists who have participated in North Sydney Council’s studio program in the last 12 months are ineligible to apply this round unless they have a confirmed project with an outcome in North Sydney local government area.

How to apply

Key dates

The next round of applications will open in September 2025.

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Eligibility

Applications are open to creative practitioners who:

• are aged 18 years and over
• reside in the Northern Sydney or Greater Sydney regions. Artists living in or with a strong connection to the North Sydney local government area, or those working towards outcomes that are locally based, are especially encouraged to apply.

Creative practitioners at all stages of their career can apply.

Ineligible applicants

Artists who have participated in North Sydney Council’s studio program in the last 12 months are ineligible to apply this round unless they have a confirmed project with an outcome in North Sydney local government area.

Selection criteria

The selection panel is comprised of representatives from North Sydney Council's Arts and Culture staff and another industry expert. Applications will be assessed on the following criteria:

• Applicant's creative vision, potential, quality of work, originality of ideas
• Impact of the studio residency on the applicant’s professional development
• Suitability of the applicant's practice and ability to work in a studio space in a collaborative manner
• Commitment to attend the studio regularly
• Applicant's capacity and interest in contributing to the cultural life of North Sydney by participating in open studies, facilitating workshops and/or community engaged projects

Fees and tenancy conditions

Successful artists are required to enter into a licence agreement that sets out the terms and conditions of the tenancy.

• Studios are offered for fixed term
• Studio rent is $45 per week payable in quarterly instalments
• Successful applicants require their own public liability insurance of $20 million for the period
• Successful applicants require a current NSW Working With Children Check
• Artists are responsible for insuring their property and contents
• Studios are non-residential. Overnight stays are not permitted
• Studios can be accessed from 7am to 9pm, 7 days

Keep up to date with arts and culture news, call outs and programs by signing up to our newsletter.