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  • Apply for the SquarePeg Studios Graduate Residency Program

  • Upcoming Residencies

     

    Summer 2025 – February to April 

    Winter 2025 – May to September 

    Spring 2025 – September to 8th December

     

    Applications for Graduate Residencies at SquarePeg Studios are now open.

  • Graduate Residency Program

    Have you or do you know anyone who has completed tertiary jewellery/object design related study in the past 2 years? They may be eligible to take part in SquarePeg’s Graduate Residency program.

    This opportunity is available to highly motivated recent graduates who wish to expand their practice in a supportive and creative studio environment. 

    Our Graduate Residency program started in 2011. We offer an internship like structure where, in return for a rent-free studio space and professional development mentoring, the successful applicants will also be expected to make a formal contribution to the studio. This may include assistance with social media, design, marketing, studio maintenance or gallery minding (depending on the successful applicant’s experience and interests).

    The program provides a successful applicant with rent-free studio space for 3 months to develop their own work and we would love for you to have an exhibition of your work in our gallery space - either solo or with other Graduate Residents. 

    The Graduate Resident studio space is in our well-equipped workshop, where you will be working alongside with our resident contemporary jewellers who are in various stages of their careers.

    Applicants will typically be high achieving tertiary graduates with visual art or design degrees who have completed their study in the past 2 years. The resident must be able to commit to being available for a minimum of three days at the studio and to be involved in group activities or meetings the studios may hold from time to time. 

    What is SquarePeg Studios?

    SquarePeg Studios is a contemporary jewellery workshop which is located in Marrickville.  A space for emerging and established jewellers to work together in a creative and supportive environment, the studio also runs a jewellery school and workshop access space.

    About the Residency

    The residency offers 3 months rent-free in your own dedicated studio space in our shared workshop. The successful Graduate Resident will have access to machinery, including a hydraulic press, drills, belt sander, flex-shafts, soldering area and kiln.

    Successful applicants will need to have their own hand tools and purchase their own consumables.

    The Graduate Residency at SquarePeg Studios represents an excellent context to apply for a grant for this period.

    Costs for the residency are a contribution fee for use of utilities of $60 per month which will be invoiced for the entire 3 month period. There is also a refundable key deposit of $30.

     

    Some considerations:

    Use of certain materials and techniques are not allowed at SquarePeg Studios due to noise and facility restrictions. You will need to state the types of materials you plan to use during the residency to ensure there are no OH&S issues.

    Each resident must attend a studio induction that will be arranged by the studio manager.

    Access hours are between the hours of 8am to 6pm seven days per week, however residents are able to work till 9.30pm when classes are on (generally 3 nights per week).

    SquarePeg Studios cannot provide insurance for individual tenants and it is up to the resident to organise their own insurance, especially public liability. For a suggested list of affordable insurance options for artists please contact us.

     

    Opportunities:

    Alongside the opportunity to work in our shared studio space with practising Contemporary Jewellers at various stages of their careers, Graduate Residents will be welcome to partake in our ongoing calendar of events. These vary depending on the time of year, but regularly include:

    • open studios where you can meet directly with an interested audience and sell your work
    • a chance to assistant teach in our classes if this is of interest to you
    • assistance to develop your practice
    • assistance to develop your website
    • pop-up shop in our gallery space
    • group show in our gallery space
    • solo show in our gallery space


     

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  • Please provide either two letters of support (at least one relating to your jewellery education or practice) or the names and contact details of two chosen referees.

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  • Please upload some images of your work - use file names which state your name and work description. For example; yourname_yourworktitle_description

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  • Applicants may be asked to visit the studio and meet with the Studio Directors to discuss the application.

    Please direct any enquiries to Emily Copp and Kim Elliott at:

    mail@squarepegstudios.com.au

  • Applications for the next Residency are considered on a rolling timeline

     

  • Here is what past Graduate Resident Leah Dawkins had to say about her Residency at SquarePeg Studios.

    "I completed my residency at SquarePeg Studios in August.

    Prior to that I had just come out of 3 years of study at TAFE and was feeling a little lost and overwhelmed at the idea that I was now out in the real world and had to fend for myself.

    I can honestly say at that point being offered a residency at Square Peg Studios was the best thing that could have happened to me.

    It was a completely different experience than the one I had grown accustomed to, pushing me outside my comfort zone.

    I was forced to work independently and to push myself to reach my own deadlines.

    I was given the freedom to experiment and further develop my own aesthetic resulted in a strong body of work that I am very proud of and that I feel wholeheartedly represented me as a designer.

    There is such a great sense of community at SquarePeg and the support I received from all the SP artists pushed me along.  There was always someone to help with technical problems, discuss and bounce ideas off or just share a cuppa.

    The body of work that I created at SquarePeg has given me the opportunity to stock such galleries, which was a long-term goal of mine.  Overall, I believe that SquarePeg gave me the confidence to trust in my artistic ability and in my chosen path."  

    Leah Dawkins

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