Three artists from the Northern Rivers will visit the Clarence Valley in 2026 as part of the inaugural Northern Rivers Artist Exchange Residency Program (NRAE), a partnership between Grafton Regional Gallery and Arts Northern Rivers designed to foster creative connection, collaboration and exploration through place-based practice.
Organisers say, “Following a competitive application process, artists working across visual art, multimedia storytelling and community-engaged practice have been selected for week-long, paid residencies at Grafton Regional Gallery between July and November 2026”.
The program offers selected artists accommodation, studio space and a stipend, supporting creatives from across the Northern Rivers to spend dedicated time in the Clarence Valley developing new work in response to local people, place and environment.
“Residencies like this are vital to nurturing regional creativity,” said Jane Kreis, Director of Grafton Regional Gallery. “We’re thrilled to welcome artists to Grafton to share in the rich culture, natural beauty and creative spirit of the Clarence Valley. This exchange is about connection — with community, with place, and with new ideas.”
Open to artists working across any artform, the residency prioritised practitioners whose work demonstrates strong connections to place, community engagement and responsive creative practice. Throughout their stay, artists will have opportunities to connect with the Clarence Valley landscape, communities and cultural networks while exploring new directions in their work.
“We’re excited to partner with Grafton Regional Gallery on a program that supports artists to connect with place and engage with the community. Congratulations to the successful artists and I Iook forward to watching their works evolve,” said Rosie Dennis, Executive Director, Arts Northern Rivers
Grafton Regional Gallery is delighted to welcome the following successful applicants in the coming months:
Dean Stewart (Residency Dates: Monday 13 – Sunday 19 July 2026)
Based in Ballina, Dean Stewart is a mixed media artist working with found objects and reclaimed materials, transforming memory-laden items into contemporary assemblages deeply rooted in the landscapes, histories and communities of the Northern Rivers. During his residency, Stewart will develop a series of works responsive to Grafton and the Clarence Valley through collecting found materials, conversations and local stories. He also hopes to engage the community through participatory workshops, inviting residents to contribute meaningful objects and stories that may become part of the resulting artworks.
Aria Kitchener (Residency Dates: Monday 21 – Sunday 27 September 2026)
Aria Kitchener is an Indigenous Bush Ranger and graphic storyteller living and working on ancestral Bundjalung Country, documenting ecological and cultural stories of Country through creative and educational storytelling.
Kitchener’s residency will explore the ecology of Country and its relationship with local mobs through multimedia documentation, illustration and storytelling. Working across photography, video and plein air drawing, the residency will support the early development of educational and creative resources grounded in cultural knowledge and on-Country experience.
Jan Davis (Residency Dates: Monday 26 October – Sunday 1 November 2026)
Jan Davis has been an influential contributor to the Northern Rivers arts community for decades as an educator, mentor and visual artist, with works held in major public collections including the National Gallery of Australia, Parliament House Canberra and regional galleries across the state. Davis’ residency will inform her forthcoming 2027 solo exhibition at Grafton Regional Gallery, exploring connections between farming communities of the North Coast and her East Gippsland childhood. During her time in residence, she will revisit local farming histories, reconnect with community and undertake research through drawing, photography and writing to enrich the exhibition’s development.
The NRAE Program reflects a shared commitment by Grafton Regional Gallery and Arts Northern Rivers to strengthen creative opportunities across the region and encourage meaningful artistic exchange by creating space for artists to immerse themselves in the Clarence Valley. The program aims to spark new ideas, deepen regional connections and celebrate the creative richness of the Northern Rivers.
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