Asialink Arts Residencies Manager Eliza Roberts talks about artists, residencies, funding, sustainable growth and future models.
Ever since the arts residency program started in 1989 it has grown. ‘It was originally established in 1989 by the Australia Council for the Arts, with only three visual arts/craft-based residencies in Thailand and Malaysia,’ says Asialink Arts Residencies Manager Eliza Roberts, ‘but the program was devolved to Asialink in 1991. In the space of eight years the program expanded to include Performing Arts and Arts Management in 1996, and Writing in 1997. By the time I stepped in as Arts Residencies Manager in 2011, the program facilitated over 40 residencies for Australian arts professionals to Asia per annum, plus reciprocal residencies with Korea, Taiwan and Japan.’
