Meet the 2026 Northern Rivers Artist Exchange Recipients
Arts Northern Rivers is pleased to announce the successful applicants for the inaugural Northern Rivers Artist Exchange Residency Program (NRAE), delivered in partnership with Grafton Regional Gallery. This new initiative has been developed to foster creative connection, collaboration and exploration through place-based practice, supporting artists from across the Northern Rivers to engage with the Clarence Valley.
“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.”— Rosie Dennis, Executive Director, Arts Northern Rivers.
Following a competitive application process, three artists working across visual art, multimedia storytelling and community-engaged practice have been selected to participate in week-long, paid residencies at Grafton Regional Gallery between July and November 2026. The program provides selected artists with accommodation, studio space and a stipend, enabling dedicated time to develop new work while responding to the people, environment and cultural context of the Clarence Valley.
“Residencies like this play an important role in supporting artists to deepen their connection to place and community,” said Jane Kreis, Director of Grafton Regional Gallery. “We’re thrilled to welcome artists to Grafton and to share the rich culture, natural beauty and creative spirit of the Clarence Valley.”
Open to artists working across all artforms, the residency prioritised practitioners whose work demonstrates strong engagement with place, community connection and responsive creative approaches. During their residency, artists will have opportunities to connect with local communities, landscapes and networks while exploring new directions in their practice.
The successful artists selected for the 2026 Northern Rivers Artist Exchange Residency Program are:
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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