2026–2027 Australian Artists China Art Base Residency Program

Open Recruitment for Visual Artists from Tasmania and Victoria

2026–2027 Artist Residency Application and Residency Dates

Application period for 2026–2027: Open from 1 September 2026, with a deadline of 31 November 2027. Each residency is 30 days in duration, available during the autumn of 2026 and spring of 2027. Available residency periods (choose one):

• Spring: 1 April – 31 May

• Autumn: 10 October – 10 November

✱ application form down

I. Program Introduction

The 2026-27 Australian Artists China Art Base Hangzhou Residency Program is a non-profit cultural exchange initiative, built upon grassroots friendly cultural and artistic activities between Chinese and Australian artists, aimed at fostering artistic research and creative exploration. The program was initiated by the Contemporary Chinese-Australian Tasmanian Art Association (CCATInc), jointly planned and organised in collaboration with Zheimei·Jiangdi Art Park in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Sumo Cultural Creative Studio in Binjiang District, Hangzhou; and A Space Contemporary Art Center. It has also received support from the University of Tasmania's School of Creative Arts and Media, Contemporary Art Tasmania (CAT), and the Moonah Arts Centre. The program has previously run open recruitment for Tasmanian artists in 2024 and 2025, achieving positive exchange outcomes, and is now reopening applications.

In order to enrich artistic exchange between China and Australia and encourage artists to engage with international communities for cultural interaction, this program aims to facilitate mutual cultural and artistic exchange visits between Chinese and Australian artists. Through short-to-medium-term residencies at each other's art bases, artists engage in creative practice — particularly drawing inspiration from different cultural environments and geographical landscapes — and use their artistic knowledge and expressive skills to create and communicate what they see and feel through artistic forms.

CCATInc leverages its cultural resources and geographic advantages in China to provide international art and culture researchers with access to China's traditional cultural heritage. By integrating the diverse regional characteristics of Chinese culture and engaging with local communities, the program offers Australian artists who are interested in Chinese culture and art resources a convenient platform for in-depth research. This includes providing recruited Australian artists with studio spaces and facilities during their residency in China, introductions to traditional Chinese culture, language translation and coordination, as well as airport pick-up and drop-off services, personal insurance, and safety arrangements.

II. Residency Location Introduction

The Hangzhou residency base is located within Zheimei·Jiangdi Art Park, which can accommodate up to 5 international resident artists at one time, with 2–4 spots currently available for Australian artists. The base is situated in Hangzhou, the capital city of Zhejiang Province in eastern China. Hangzhou is a historically and culturally significant city with a 2,200-year history (it served as the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty 900 years ago), with a current population of 12 million, and is a core hub in the thriving Yangtze River Delta economic region.

The area is rich in natural scenery, including West Lake (a UNESCO World Heritage site), the Grand Canal (developed during China's Sui Dynasty), the spectacular tidal bore of the Qiantang River, and traditional watertown villages with ancient dwellings. It is also abundant in cultural and historical heritage: the region is home to the China Academy of Art (CAA), one of China's most prestigious art institutions and a centre for traditional Chinese painting, calligraphy, and international academic exchange. Transport links are excellent, with a well-developed high-speed rail and expressway network. Shanghai, one of China's major international cities, is just 55 minutes away by bullet train; the classical gardens of Suzhou are only 45 minutes away; and Jingdezhen, China's famous "Porcelain Capital," is approximately 1.5 hours by high-speed train. The region has a subtropical monsoon climate, with an average annual temperature of 16.4°C and four distinct seasons.

01. Natural scenery near the residency:

1. West Lake Scenic Area

2. Traditional watertown villages and natural environment

3. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) Scenic Area

4. Suzhou Classical Gardens

02. Cultural resources near the residency:

A. Introduction to Traditional Chinese Calligraphy and Painting

1. Hui ink production, inkstone craftsmanship, and Xuan paper techniques

2. Xiling Seal Engraving Society — an iconic symbol of Chinese culture

3. Ancient Jiangnan watertown dwellings and stone bridges (Shaoxing, Huzhou)

4. The natural landscape of Huangshan and its connection to and influence on Chinese landscape painting

B. Architectural Art and Cultural Forms

1. Structural features and forms of ancient Ming and Qing dynasty residential buildings

2. Residential architectural layout, design conventions, and daily living

3. Wood carving, brick carving, stone carving, and architectural decoration

4. Opera stages and local traditional theatre: Huangmei Opera

5. Ceramics, silver ornaments, and decorative everyday objects

03.Residency Resource Interactions:

1. Academic lectures and interactions between resident artists and local universities

2. Works may be included in exhibitions at Yi Space Art Gallery

3. Visit to Jingdezhen International Art District and Ceramic Creation Base

4. Artist exchange and studio visits at the China Academy of Art, Hangzhou

5. Visits to creative parks and art galleries in Shanghai

III. Studios

The studios are located in Fuyang District, Hangzhou, near the area depicted in Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains by Huang Gongwang, the famous Ming Dynasty painter, within Zheimei·Jiangdi Art Park. Accommodation management and cost sponsorship are provided by the park.

The park is a site for sculpture projects and cultural creative activities, connected to local artist events and commercial operations. It has its own exhibition venues and lecture halls, and regularly hosts activities such as plein air painting sessions, exhibitions, designer gatherings, and cultural and creative industry forums.

The park hosts resident artists from across China, as well as professional art teachers and designers from Chinese art universities who come for short stays, sketching, and cultural research visits. Four permanent resident artists currently live and work in the park, specialising in contemporary art, traditional painting, traditional arts, and architectural design (garden forms).

Art Base

Yi Space art gallery

Campus of China Academy of Art

Studio images — including bedroom