Regional Arts NSW (RANSW) is launching a one-off scholarship for female regional arts practitioners. The Work of Art Women’s Scholarship, named after the 18-month long pilot business development program for women in creative industries across regional NSW run by RANSW with funding from Women NSW, is intended to support a woman working in the creative industries who might have had to otherwise relinquish a career opportunity. The idea for the scholarship was born in Orange Regional Gallery back in March 2024, when RANSW hit the road bringing women from the Work of Art program together in regional hubs across the state for business development and networking sessions.

During the course of the program, it became clear that female arts workers face unique challenges when it comes to accepting opportunities, especially those involving travel. Caring for family and travel costs often become barriers to work commitments. These hurdles were able to be overcome for Work of Art through support given for travel, childcare and accommodation. One Work of Art alumnus said that “the program has helped me to connect with other creative minds and share ideas and strategies to help move me forward. Knowing that there is support out there for our creative work is a must for positive mindset”. The desire to provide the support that they have received to other regional women was what drove the creative cohort to establish this scholarship during one of the Work of Art Showcase and Forum co-design sessions.

The Work of Art Showcase and Forum event will mark the culmination of the program on the 14th and 15th of November in and around the cultural precinct of Orange, NSW. The event will celebrate both the women in the program and the rich arts sector that has grown in regional NSW. To raise funds for the scholarship, RANSW is hosting an evening of drinks, nibbles and art at their Sip and Support Social from 6 to 8pm on Friday the 15th of November at Hive Orange in Orange, NSW. The Social will close two days of lively discussion about regional arts practice and will be a chance for both arts practitioners and the community to let their hair down in the middle of wine country.

The event will feature a live auction of work by women in the program, including paintings, ceramics, grants advice sessions and more. All proceeds from ticket sales and the auction will go towards the Work of Art Women’s Scholarship. Tickets for the Sip and Support Social, which include a 2-hour drinks package and nibbles, can be purchased via Humanitix: https://events.humanitix.com/work-of-art-showcase-and-forum. Entry is open to all, and purchase of a Work of Art Showcase and Forum ticket is not necessary to attend.

The auction will run in a hybrid format and bidding will go live at 12pm on the 1st of November. A competitive selection process for the Work of Art Women’s Scholarship will be run by RANSW shortly after the conclusion of the Work of Art program.