The Lionel Gell Foundation Art in Science Initiative at the University of Melbourne is made possible through the auspices of its joint venture within the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity and the Victorian College of the Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts & Music.
The successful candidate will be an established creative practitioner engaged in practice that resonates with the work and values of The Doherty Institute / science and medicine. The scheme is open to all artists, not just visual artists.
This Initiative will result in the creation of artistic work to be presented in a public forum at the Doherty Institute. The proposed work must be created during the Initiative timeframe (it cannot be work you have already produced). The recipient will be provided with a grant of $50,000, paid in three instalments. The recipient will be a mid-career creative artist of exceptional talent, who has produced work of merit and whose practice resonates with the work and values of the Doherty Institute and the Victorian College of the Arts.
Timeframe:
1 February 2026 to 31 October 2026 (with exhibition opening date to be negotiated).
The Initiative timeframe will be 9 months (February to October) with presentation of work to be delivered by end of November/ early December. The recipient must be broadly available to conduct their activity from February 2026 to October 2026. Please do not apply if you will not be able to meet this timeframe.
The final output produced during the engagement will be displayed in a public forum at the Doherty Institute for a period of approximately 12 months. Work will remain the property of the artist. Mentorship from both the Victorian College of the Arts and the Doherty Institute will be provided.
Eligibility:
Candidates for the Initiative are expected to:
- Be a mid career, established creative practitioner (strong track record)
- Be an alumnus of the Victorian College of the Arts
- Propose work which will have a public outcome
- Be engaged in a practice that fosters dialogue between art and the fields of science and medicine
Payment and Benefits:
The grant will be payable to the successful candidate in three parts; comprising $20,000 at commencement (start of 2026), $20,000 at mid year progress report submission (around May/June) and $10,000 at final preparations of installation/exhibition delivery (to cover related artist material/ fabrication costs of the artist). The Doherty Institute will contribute up to a further $10,000 to cover the cost of the installation/exhibition/event. A mid year progress report will be required to release the second allocation and a completion statement will be required at conclusion of the activity.
A hot desk and small locker at the Doherty Institute will be available under a mutually agreed schedule. Due to access and space limitations, the work must be predominately created and stored offsite.
Please contact Scholarships Office via email at fineartsmusic-scholarships@unimelb.edu.au with any questions.
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