Indigenous Languages creative arts residency

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, language holds cultural knowledge that connects communities to Country, ancestors, and traditions. In 2025 the Indigenous Languages Creative Arts Residencies at State Library of Queensland were created to celebrate, revitalise, and re‑imagine First Nations languages through contemporary creative practice.

The program supported emerging and established Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives to develop new language‑based work inspired by the State Library’s Indigenous language collections. Artists were provided with time, space, and resources to explore language, engage in cultural research, and create meaningful work that contributed to the preservation and renewal of Queensland’s First Nations languages.

Open to creatives across disciplines the residency encouraged projects that reflected both personal expression and community connection. Participants worked independently or collaboratively, balancing creative freedom with cultural responsibility, and developed projects that shared living language and knowledge in contemporary forms.

The residency operated through a hybrid model, supporting artists to work onsite at the Library, in studios, at home, or on Country, depending on project needs.

This program was funded through the Commonwealth Indigenous Languages and Arts (ILA) program.

What the residency provided

Successful applicants received:

An $8,000 stipend to support time, materials, and project development
One‑on‑one research support from State Library specialists
Access to creative spaces and tools, including The Edge digital lab
Opportunities to connect and showcase work through public programs and events
Support to bring Indigenous languages to life through art, performance, and storytelling.

Meet the 2025 round one residents

State Library is proud to announce the first recipients of the Indigenous languages creative arts residency. The inaugural residents have been selected for their language-rich, culturally grounded projects that reflect deep respect for community, Country, and intergenerational knowledge sharing. The round one 2025 recipients are Georgia Corowa, Boneta-Marie Mabo, and Dean Tyson. Read more about their projects.

Boneta Marie-Mabo, Recipients of Round 1 of the Indigenous languages creative arts residency (L-RDean Tyson and Georgia Corowa)

Recipients of round 1 of the Indigenous languages creative arts resdiency (L-R Boneta-Marie Mabo, Dean Tyson and Georgia Corowa).

Meet the 2025 round two residents

State Library of Queensland is proud to announce four additional recipients of the Indigenous Languages Creative Arts Residency. We are delighted to welcome Shaun Edwards, Ella Kris, Cheryl Leavy, and Sachem Parkin‑Owens as the recipients of the final residency round for 2025. Read more about thier projects.

Recipients of the Indigenous languages creative arts residency (LR, Sachem Parkin-Owens, Cheryl Leavy, Ella Kris and Shaun Edwards).

Recipients of round 2 of the 2025 Indigenous languages creative arts residency (L-R Sachem Parkin-Owens, Ella Kris, Cheryl Leavy and Shaun Edwards).

Need help or have questions?

We’re here to help. Email indigenouslanguages@slq.qld.gov.au