Professional Development Series: Self-Directed Residencies

with Courtney Coombs

14 April, 2019

Join current Outer Space studio artist, Courtney Coombs, as they unpack their strategies to get the most out of self-directed residencies. This discussion is suited to artists of all levels seeking to undertake residencies locally and internationally. Courtney will cover some of the ways they have undertaken residencies; reviewing the process of applying, seeking funding and what to do if you aren’t successful, realising new work in new places and how to keep the momentum from the residency going once you come home. This discussion will delve into finding the best residency for your practice, preparing to travel, getting the most out of your studio and the benefits of exhibiting afterwards.

Courtney Coombs makes art, writes, facilitates and collaborates to try to make sense of the world and their place in it. Their practice responds to the cis-heteronormative, patriarchal structures of both the art world and society more broadly using strategies such as subjective voice, personal narrative, humour and metaphor. Courtney is suspicious of the allure of expensive, shiny, impressive and/or ‘finished’ things and as such uses personal vulnerability, collaboration, intimacy, everyday items and gesture to explore human connection and/or disconnection. Courtney is also a founding Co-Director of the artist-run initiatives and collectives, No Frills* (2008-2010) and LEVEL (2010-2018). They graduated from QUT in 2008 with First Class Honours and in 2015 was awarded a PhD (practice-based research) in Visual Art from the same institution. Courtney has recently returned from overseas where they engaged in an Australia Council supported project that included two self-directed residencies (Averill Park, New York and Mexico City, Mexico) and as a research trip that took them throughout the central west of the United States of America visiting iconic Land Art pieces. They have participated in other short-term residencies in Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle, Cadiz and Los Angeles, and has recently been included in the Australia Council Helsinki International Artist Programme for 2020.

	This program is supported by the Creative Sparks Fund. The Creative Sparks Fund is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council to support local arts and culture in Brisbane.