As a commitment to nurturing artists we provide a number of fellowships and residencies.

The Balnaves Foundation and Belvoir are committed to supporting new work by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander theatre artists.

In 2023 the Fellowship continues to evolve to meet the needs of the artistic community. The Fellowship is open to playwrights to write a new play and also to directors or writer/directors that can lead the creation of an Indigenous-led new stage work, whether that be a new play, an adaptation or through a devised process. It also includes an invitation to have a voice in Belvoir’s artistic decision-making.

This year, the Fellowship model will see the selected Fellow (playwright or director or writer/director) receive $45,000 over an 18-month period to create a new work as a resident artist at Belvoir in 2024/25, subject to negotiation with the Fellow’s availability and location.

In addition to the financial support for the Fellow, resources will also be provided to the project being developed. Creative milestones, placement within Belvoir, resourcing and collaboration will be discussed with the selected Fellow.

The Fellowship model seeks to be deeply collaborative and to support the selected Fellow to create a work for the stage, engage the Fellow in the experience of being in a company structure, and offers the opportunity to support other Indigenous artists through Belvoir’s creative development and programming processes.

The Balnaves Fellowship (previously the Balnaves Award) has long been recognised as one of the most prestigious playwriting awards in Australia, attracting entrants of the highest calibre. Previous recipients (including Leah Purcell, Nakkiah Lui, Ursula Yovich and Nathan Maynard) have submitted exceptional works that consistently affirms the depth of talent amongst our nation’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander theatre-makers, whilst bringing extraordinary works to the Belvoir stage.

I wish I had applied for the Balnaves earlier, it’s been the best environment to develop my work. It’s so rare to have an opportunity where you don’t feel like you have to bend yourself to fit in. Through this fellowship I have been able to articulate the work I want to make, develop my process and have the support I need. 
– Jorjia Gillis, 2020 Balnaves Fellow

The platform that the Balnaves Fellowship provides is unparalleled! It gave me the opportunity to explore my artistic voice in a way that is viable, and really examine the work I wanted to create. In conjunction with Belvoir they are able to give you access to this environment that is both creatively freeing, but also acts as a kind of safety net. This makes you feel able to explore each and every facet of your practice, while providing you the opportunity to seek mentorship, advice and support from other artists and practitioners.
– Thomas Weatherall, 2021 Balnaves Fellow

Since 2011 The Balnaves Foundation has supported the presentation of two Indigenous-led works per year as part of Belvoir’s annual season. The Balnaves Foundation is committed to working towards reconciliation and has supported numerous Indigenous arts projects including the creative development of I Am Eora and Black Diggers for Sydney Festival.

Recipients

2022 – Dalara Williams
2021 – Thomas Weatherall
2020 – Jorjia Gillis
2019 – Nathan Maynard
2018 – Kodie Bedford
2017 – Megan Wilding
2016 – Ursula Yovich
2015 – Katie Beckett
2014 – Leah Purcell
2013 – Jada Alberts
2012 – Nakkiah Lui

2023 Balnaves Fellow

The 2023 Balnaves Foundation Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Fellowship has been awarded to Birripi, Worimi, Waddi Waddi and Walbunga actor and director Guy Simon

The Andrew Cameron Fellow will work with the company’s Artistic and Programming team over a period of one year to support play development, auditions, rehearsals and season programming. The Fellowship is open to directors, actors, writers, dramaturgs or creatives interested in pursuing artistic leadership positions in the future.

Opportunities like these are rare in Australian theatre, but they’re invaluable. The chance to sit inside a company is a special thing – to eavesdrop on great artists, to form new collaborations, to see the connections between the work and the business and to develop a long-term relationship with Belvoir.” Eamon Flack, Artistic Director

The fellowship has been an important part of Belvoir since 2017 thanks to the generosity of, and in honour of, our former Chair, Andrew Cameron AM.

I’m passionate about succession in the arts and I believe it is essential for the industry’s ongoing success that emerging leaders have the opportunity to work within thriving companies like Belvoir. It’s no mistake that many Artistic Directors come from more junior positions in programming teams as there is no replacing that hands-on experience.” Andrew Cameron.

Belvoir is committed to supporting the development of artists who face structural barriers in accessing these opportunities. As part of the experience of working within Belvoir’s Artistic and Programming Team, the Fellow will also be offered mentorship by Artistic Associates and the Producing team to ensure they have appropriate structures of support. 

Applications from First Nations, Culturally and/or Linguistically Diverse, d/Deaf or hard of hearing, Disabled, Neurodiverse, and Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex (LGBTIQA+) artists are encouraged.

2024 Andrew Cameron Fellow

Margaret Thanos has been awarded the 2024 Andrew Cameron Fellowship.

The Associates Program is a capacity-building initiative for the Associate, Assistant and Observing Artists working across the annual Belvoir season, works in development, as well creative artists making their mainstage debut.

It includes a stream focused on POC participants delivered in collaboration with Co-Curious (lead by Belvoir Artistic Associate S. Shakthidharan and Belvoir Producer Zainab Syed).

The program sees these artists attached to mainstage productions or creative developments, mentored by senior artists and the company’s Artistic Associates. They are also invited to become a part of a community of affiliated artists comprised of directors, designers, playwrights, dramaturgs, stage managers and more. These associate artists are empowered to create their own pathway through the program via a series of curated opportunities that they can pick and choose from. This includes tickets to shows, invites to talks and masterclasses and show observation when available.

Our new Associates Program will be run by our Resident Directors Carissa Licciardello and Hannah Goodwin, and Producer Zainab Syed.

Announcing the Belvoir 2022 Artistic Associates