Maidstone Community Centre Writer in Residence Program

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Maidstone Community Centre is a Council run multi-purpose community centre that provides an exciting range of community programs and activities focused on enriching and supporting our community.

About the opportunity

The Maidstone Writer in Residence Program is a pilot program offering a local writer a four-week artistic residency in a dedicated office space, within the Centre. The writer may write, read, converse and think in the shared parts of the Centre (such as the lounge room and gardens) and will be provided with a private office space for more concentrated work.

The program is open to writers of all forms and styles who live, work or study in Melbourne’s West or can demonstrate a connection to the City of Maribyrnong. The residency is suitable for writers who are looking for quiet writing space but are also interested in engaging with community as part of their creative process.

Artists are encouraged to connect to the Community Centre programs and community members while in residence in the form of one community engagement offering, to maximise the benefits of the program for artists and the local community. This might be a workshop, reading of your work, or other activity.

Please note that as this is a pilot program, only one residency will be offered, during March 2026. Please ensure the dates could work for your schedule before applying.

Inclusions

  • Four-week residency in Maidstone Community Centre from Monday 2 – Friday 27 March 2026. Please note that the residency is available in business hours only.
  • Stipend of $1,000 toward artist fees and/or material costs for public programs.
  • Access to Community Centre resources including printing, use of meeting rooms (dependent on availability) and assistance with connecting to the community and Centre programs. 
  • Marketing support in sharing community engagement opportunities and residency outcomes.

Download program guidelines(PDF, 979KB)

How to submit an expression of interest

  • Fill out the form below by Wednesday 15 October.
  • Select the residency program you are interested in applying for and check you are available during the program dates.
    Maidstone Community Centre Residency runs from     Monday 2 – Friday 27 March 2026.
  • Applications close on Wednesday 15 October 2025.
  • Decisions will be advised within a month of applications closing.

Important information

Other residency programs are currently accepting expressions of interest at the same time. If you wish to apply for any of these programs, please visit our Artists in Residence page to scroll through the opportunities and read those program guidelines.

You will be required to submit a separate application for each Artist Residency you wish to apply for.

Make sure you select Maidstone Writer in Residence Program when filling out the section of the application form titled ‘About your residency’.

Artists will be informed of their application outcome within four weeks of submission. For further information, to discuss alternative ways to submit an expression of interest, or to discuss your application in more detail, contact Arts & Culture Maribyrnong on 03 9688 0200 or arts@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au

Application Form

 

Click here to view form.

 

Artwork pictured: Flourish by Justine McAllister, Maidstone Community Centre.

Photography by Nicole Reed.

 

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