Trash Art Bash: Permission to Flop
Creative development, artist residency
CuriousWorks and PYT Fairfield invites Expressions of Interest from creative folks for Trash Art Bash: Permission to Flop.
Apply now
Flop eras are necessary. Let us explain.
The best way for someone to eventually excel at their art form is to fail fast and learn from their failures. However, this is easier said than done. From time to resources to expenses, there are plenty of factors that prevent folks from this.
This is why CuriousWorks and PYT Fairfield have partnered together for our new and upcoming initiative – Trash Art Bash: Permission to Flop. Yep, you read that right. This is your sign to flop and unleash your inner performer.
Commencing from the 8th to 13th of February 2027, it is a week-long art jam for creative people to try new performance-based art forms – badly. Over the course of a week at PYT Fairfield, solo participants will be paired with creative mentors to learn and develop a new work. Whether it's performing, filming, writing, whatever - you don't have to be good, you just need to try.
This is for folks of any age who have never received an artist residency and grant - or maybe have been too afraid to apply.
The program will culminate in a fabulous Flop Night where you get to perform and present your work. Celebrate learning, trying and the bravery of failing. (Failure is the secret ingredient to growth).
The program will also have opportunities that are open beyond the selected artists and to the wider community. This includes skill-building masterclasses led by different industry mentors as well as a speed date mentorship day.
So, why does Trash Art Bash: Permission to Flop exist?
- The secret recipe to learning and growing as an artist is allowing yourself to try things and be bad at it… And continuing to try regardless. The art world is tough. It is competitive and art is often ‘valued’ when one has received commercial success – talk about warping our sense of worth! Art is valuable for art’s sake, and ‘successful’ art is not the only worthwhile art-making. That’s why this program is all about celebrating experimentation, and saying yes to the process and mess of it all!
- While Western Sydney is home to incredible artists and arts venues, opportunities to test, share, and present new work can be hard to access. Many existing pathways are tied to formal development programs, seasonal programming, or established relationships with venues. Also with creative hubs vastly spread out across the region, finding a space isn’t always straightforward especially when you just want to try things out to audiences, who are valuable goldmines of feedback. This program emphasises that presenting your work shouldn’t be a make-or-break moment. Instead, it should be a chance to learn, try again, fail again and fail better!
WHAT'S INCLUDED FOR YOU:
- 3x solo artists will be chosen for this intensive, one week artist residency at PYT Fairfield
- You will get paired with a creative mentor
- You will receive support and feedback from producers at CuriousWorks & PYT Fairfield
- Artist Fee: $1280 plus super / artist for the 1-week residency
- Materials Fee: An additional $500/artist
KEY DATES:
- EOI opens: Monday 14th of September
- EOI closes: 3pm, Monday 19th of October
- Applicants notified: Monday 9th of November 2026
- Meet a Mentor Speed Date Session & Masterclasses: 1st to 5th of February 2027
- Trash Art Bash week-long jam & Presentation - Flop Night at PYT Fairfield: 8th to 13th February 2027
APPLY NOW:
Please submit your EOI by completing this form.
Applications closes at 3pm, Monday 19th of October.
All applicants will be contacted by Monday 9th of November 2026.
Write to CuriousWorks Creative Producer, Miranda Aguilar with any questions at miranda@curiousworks.com.au.
Below, Miranda walks through the EOI form and gives their advice!
CREDITS
Trash Art Bash: Permission to Flop is funded by Create NSW's Creative Western Sydney Micro-Grants Program & Fairfield City Council's Creative Communities Grant.
Creative Producers:
- Miranda Aguilar (CuriousWorks)
- Daisy Montalvo (PYT Fairfield)
Header image: Behind the scenes photo from Sarah Leigh Carroll's Chronically Single project as developed during CuriousWorks' Testing Grounds 2023 program. Photo taken by Sivani Yaddanapudi.
Contact
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17 Kenyon St,
Fairfield, NSW, 2165,
Australia
Mail us at:
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Liverpool, NSW, 1871,
Australia
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02 9602 9568
ABN 49 717 992 269
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Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.
Our office is located on Darug land at Fairfield City HQ. We would like to acknowledge the Cabrogal Clan of the Darug Nation, the traditional custodians of the land. Our work takes us across Darug, Dharawal and Eora lands. Sovereignty was never ceded.