National Summer Art Scholarship

Online: 30 Nov 2024–1 Dec 2025
Onsite: 7–13 Dec 2025

The National Summer Art Scholarship (NSAS) program has provided a creative catalyst for hundreds of young people for over 25 years.

Over 12 months, NSAS participants meet for online for learning experiences and complete a week-long residency at the National Gallery of Australia in Kamberri/Canberra.

Applications are open to students in Year 10 or equivalent and who live in Australia. 16 students will be selected, two from each state and territory.

This program is made possible through the support of Learning & Digital Patron, Tim Fairfax AC.

• Applications open: Thu 1 Aug 2024
• Applications close: Sun 20 Oct 2024
• Applicants advised of outcome: Mon 4 Nov 2024

Online Residency: 30 Nov–1 Dec 2024

• Meet National Gallery staff and your fellow participants from across the country during this 2-day online residency.
• Hear from National Gallery curators and educators who share behind-the-scenes insights into current exhibitions.
• Participate in artist-led workshops.

Online Meetings: Mar, Jun and Sep 2025

• Join 3 online interactive meetings with Gallery staff and your fellow participants.
• Learn about the National Gallery’s art collection, including the largest collection of First Nations work in the world.
• Learn about career opportunities in the arts.

Onsite Residency: 7–13 Dec 2025

• Participate in a 6-day onsite residency at the National Gallery of Australia in Kamberri/Canberra.
• 1 x domestic return airfare to Kamberri/Canberra from your nearest airport.
• Accommodation and all meals, including a celebratory dinner at the end of the week.
• Get behind-the-scenes access to the National Gallery, including opportunities to meet staff from curatorial, conservation, registration, programming, digital and marketing teams.
• Learn about the National Gallery collection and exhibition program from curators and educators.
• Take part in artist-led studio workshops.

Your application must contain the following:

1. Artwork submission:

Share documentation of a recent work of art created by you that represents your artistic practice. Ensure the documentation adheres to the following guidelines:

• All files must be clearly labelled with your name.
• Photographs of your paper, painting, multimedia, or sculpture work must be high resolution. You are welcome to include detailed photos and process images.
• For audio and video works, please share an excerpt that does not exceed 1 minute in duration.

2. Artist statement (500 words maximum):

This statement should provide the selection panel with insight into your artistic approach, practice, conceptual framework, inspirations, and intentions behind the work of art you are submitting

3. Written response to a work of art from the national collection (500 words maximum):

Develop a written response to one work of art from the list below. Explain why you selected the work of art. This may include its appeal and significance to you as well as themes, artist intention and influence of your own artistic practice. We encourage you to research the work of art and artist

4. Application form:

Upload documentation of your work of art, artist statement and written response to the work of art from the national collection to a file-sharing platform like Google Docs, Teams or Dropbox.

• Ensure that the link is set to be accessible to anyone with the link by adjusting the privacy settings accordingly. This ensures that all panel members can review your documents during the selection process.
• Clearly label all files with your name.
• Once uploaded, share the link in the designated space provided in the online application form.

Complete the online application form to let us know more about you.

Choose one of the following works of art from the national art collection to develop 500 words (maximum) written response.

Explain why you selected the work of art. This may include its appeal and significance to you as well as themes, artist intention and influence of your own artistic practice. We encourage you to research the work of art and artist.

1. Archie Moore, Kamilaroi/ Bigambul peoples
Family Tree, 2021
Conté crayon on black board paint on Valchromat Board
488 h cm x 488 w cm

Archie Moore, Kamilaroi/Bigambul peoples, has a significant interest in themes of identity and concerns of racism. Family Tree, 2021, was acquired by the National Gallery in 2022. The work is large in size, at 4.88m x 4.88m. A giant blackboard drawing, Family Tree is inscribed with thousands of names in white chalk, representing the artist’s family tree. By physically writing the name of people, Moore gives life to, and remembers past family members – giving them a place in his life journey.

2. Wangechi Mutu
The seated IV, 2019
Bronze
201 h x 107.3 w x 80.6 d cm
Approx. 292.11 kg

I've chosen to stick with the subject of the female body as a platform for what we feel about ourselves as humans.' Wangechi Mutu

Wangechi Mutu is a Kenyan American artist who lives in New York. Her work, The seated IV, 2019, is a larger-than-life-sized female figure. It is one of four female figures produced for The NewOnes, will free us – a project for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

The series of works including The seated IV, comment on women and gender politics across time and cultures. As the artist observes, The seated IV demonstrates how women are powerful, can be leaders and ‘take us where we haven’t been before.’

3. Peter Tully
Ceremonial coat for the Grand Diva of Paradise Garage, 1980
Plastic, vinyl, acrylic fur, found objects
118 h x 50 x cm

Peter Tully is a seminal figure in Australian art, craft and design from the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s. As a pivotal figure in Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, of which he was the artistic director from 1982 until 1986, his work is at the forefront of performative art in this country. The themes of self and sexuality, personal and collective stories as well as identity and representation, are at the core of the artist’s work.

Tully’s practice sits at the intersection of art, design, jewellery, costume and fashion in Australia in the 1970s and 1980s. His collaborative work with other artists — such as -multi-disciplinary artist David McDiarmid, fashion designers Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson and photographers Fran Moore and William Yang — demonstrate his pivotal role in the artistic exchanges of the period.

Ceremonial coat for the Grand Diva of Paradise Garage c.1980 shows artistic influences of the various places which he travelled to and lived including Papua New Guinea, Europe, Southeast Asia, Egypt, Africa, India, United States of America (particularly New York). Recognising the gay community has his ‘tribe’, on his return to Australia, the artist created his ‘urban tribalwear’ - wearable art made of found objects. These works engage with cross-cultural fetishism and identification in a post-industrial society. Although Tully produced work over three decades ago, the influence of current environmental ideas is still startlingly relevant in his reused and found objects.

He worked predominantly in three key areas: sculptural assemblage, jewellery, and wearable art. Tully’s innovative techniques are pervasive and include the use of found objects, leather, bones and hair.

4. Julie Rrap
Drawn Out, 2022
Video, drawing, sound
12 mins
Sheet dimension 160 h x 230 w cm

Julie Rrap is an Australian artist who resides in Sydney. Her practice began in the 1970’s predominantly working in photography, mixed media and performance art. Rrap’s work is characterised by its exploration of historical, political, and feminist representations of the female body.

Drawn out, 2022, is a recent 12-minute video performance where the artist draws her naked body while in motion, repeatedly using Conté crayon over a large sheet of paper.

Together, the drawing and the video-performance produce a compelling, feminist self-portrait that is at once poetic and full of pathos.