New Horizons – Emerging Voices in Landscape
December 12, 2025 @ 8:00 am - January 9, 2026 @ 5:00 pm
EOI NOW OPEN: New Horizons – Emerging Voices in Landscape
NERAM is calling for Expressions of Interest from emerging regional NSW artists to take part in New Horizons: Emerging Voices in Landscape, a ten-month mentorship and exhibition program designed to support the next generation of regional creative practitioners.
Developed by the New England Regional Art Museum (NERAM), this unique professional development opportunity will pair up to five emerging artists with acclaimed Australian painter Angus Nivison for an immersive creative mentorship, culminating in a public exhibition presented alongside Nivison’s major retrospective at NERAM in 2026.
About the Program
Over ten months, selected artists will engage in:
- A five-day intensive at NERAM and Nivison’s Walcha studio, including a masterclass, guided discussion, and one-on-one mentoring
- Ongoing remote mentorship and creative feedback sessions
- Curatorial and professional development support from NERAM’s staff—including artist statements, writing, exhibition preparation, and career planning
- Opportunities to participate in public programs, an artist panel, education activities, and digital storytelling
- A group exhibition of new work at NERAM presented in dialogue with a major Angus Nivison retrospective
Artists will receive:
- Residency Stipend
- Exhibition Fee
- Travel assistance
- Professional documentation of the program
- Project catalogue
- Mentored support from industry-leading practitioners
Who Can Apply
This EOI is open to:
• Emerging artists (first 10 years of practice)
• Living and working in regional NSW
• Working in any visual arts medium who’s subject or inspiration is the landscape (can be non-representational)
• Seeking to expand skills, networks, and professional experience
NERAM strongly encourages applications from First Nations artists and artists from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds, with at least one program place prioritised for these communities.
Key Dates
- EOI Open: 12 December 2025
- EOI Close: 25 January 2026
- Artist Selection Announced: February 2026
- On-site intensive: 23 – 27 March (artists must be available to attend the on-site intensive)
- Ongoing remote mentorship: April – September 2026
- Angus Nivison Retrospective: 31 July – 18 October
- New Horizons Exhibition: 2 October – 8 November (Opening night Friday 2 October)
How to Apply
Applicants are asked to provide:
• A short artist statement
• A brief CV
• Up to 10 examples of recent work
• A brief description of how the mentorship will support their practice (max 300 words)
Applications are to be sent to gallery@neram.com.au by COB 25th January 2026
Applications will be reviewed by a panel including NERAM representatives and project partners.
Angus Nivison is an Australian contemporary painter, renowned for his evocative, atmospheric explorations of landscape and memory. Based near Walcha in the New England region of NSW, Nivison has developed a distinguished career spanning more than five decades, with work held in major public and private collections across the country, including the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Newcastle art Gallery, the Australia Club and New England Regional Art Museum.
Nivison’s large-scale paintings capture the emotional and elemental forces of place. He is celebrated for his ability to translate his experience of the landscape into abstract, gestural, and deeply expressive visual language.
Nivison is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Wynne Prize (2002), and has exhibited extensively in solo and group exhibitions nationally and internationally. His long-standing commitment to regional arts practice make him an exceptional mentor for emerging regional artists.
His upcoming major retrospective at NERAM in 2026 will highlight the breadth and impact of his contribution to Australian art, offering a unique opportunity for mentees to learn from an artist of remarkable depth and experience.
The New Horizons Program is supported by the Australian Government through the Regional Arts Fund, and the Country Arts Support Program administered by Arts North West.
