Powerhouse Industry Initiatives

Powerhouse continues to invest in Sydney’s applied arts, sciences and creative industries by supporting the development of new work, fostering innovation, facilitating connection with industry and enabling collaborations.

Our initiatives, spanning residencies, fellowships, design accelerators and think tanks are offered across all our sites. To stay informed about call-outs for applications, sign-up to Powerhouse news.

Carl Nielsen Design Accelerator

The Carl Nielsen Design Accelerator program, supported by a bequest from Carl and Judy Nielsen, recognises the achievements of Australian industrial designers working in sustainable design. Recipients will have access to industry mentorship, production facilities and expertise, research assistance or outreach support.

Castle Hill Residency

The creative residency programs at Powerhouse Castle Hill offer residents fully subsidised studio space to undertake self-directed research and create new work. Artists will also have the opportunity to collaborate with the Powerhouse team and engage with the Powerhouse collection.

Creative Industries Residency

The Powerhouse Creative Industries Residency Program offers residents subsidised workspace at Powerhouse Ultimo and the opportunity to collaborate with the Powerhouse team, engage with the collection and collaborate with fellow residents during their residency.

Generations Fellowship

Connecting artists with industry experts and mentors to create pathways in the music industry, the Generation’s Fellowship offers three NSW early career solo artists or groups a chance to carry out professional development. A partnership between Create NSW, the Powerhouse Museum and Australian music management and touring company, Astral People.

Holdmark Innovation Award

The Holdmark Innovation Award, presented by Sydney Design Week Principal Partner Holdmark, recognises excellence and innovation in engineering, architecture and the built environment. Presented annually at Sydney Design Week, the prize includes promotional opportunities and participation in Powerhouse public programming.

IN THE ROOM

Powerhouse has partnered with production company Co-Curious (producers of critically acclaimed drama Here Out West), to showcase and celebrate the stories of Western Sydney, for a major commissioned work titled In the Room. Alongside a team of creatives, Co-Curious will develop five connected 20-minute films to be viewed as one work. The resulting commission will premiere at Powerhouse Parramatta.

Powerhouse Design Residency

The Powerhouse Design Residency, established in partnership with Create NSW, offers support for early career designers and makers to undertake six months of professional development at the museum with access to financial support, industry mentoring, studio space, workshop facilities and the opportunity to engage with the collection.

Powerhouse-galang

Powerhouse-galang is an Indigenous-led think tank, collective and sovereign space. It was initially devised by Brook Andrew and led by its members to empower individual practices but also to be a space to support and share culture and creative practice and to challenge and embed our own Indigenous giira (future/futurism) into museums and their collections.

galang Residency

The galang Residency Program, established in partnership with the Cité internationale des arts, will support two Australian based First Nations creatives to undertake a 12-week fully subsidised residency in Paris, hosted by the Cité internationale des arts. The program is open to First Nations creatives and cultural practitioners working across a range of disciplines.

Powerhouse Photography

Powerhouse Photography is a new initiative dedicated to amplifying Australian photography and lens-based practice. This program continues the important work of the Australian Centre for Photography. Powerhouse Photography will be an ongoing series of programs, commissions, acquisitions, publications, learning and research activities.

Sydney Observatory Residency

The Sydney Observatory Residency Program invites practitioners across scientific and creative disciplines to create new work or research inspired by Sydney Observatory’s history, collection and disciplines. The program builds upon the rich history of research on the site that has inspired generations of scholars, scientists, artists and audiences.

Visiting Research Fellowship

Research Fellowships enable access to Powerhouse resources to support research projects. The Powerhouse is committed to advancing knowledge through research focussing on curiosity, creativity, collaboration and sustainability. Our evolving collection and program are key to the ways in which we inspire scholarly inquiry so we can share new knowledge with the public.