Image credits: Marianne Penberthy. Photography by Elliot Brown | Nicole Monks & Teangi Brown at Tasmanian Museum and Gallery (TMAG) Rosny Collections and Research Facility. Photo by Yarra Monks | Lily-Mae Kerley at The Royal Society of Tasmania (RST) Library. Photo by Nicole Monks
ART ON THE MOVE is pleased to announce the recipients of the Activating Collections Artist in Residence Program, delivered in partnership with the Museum of Geraldton.
Following a competitive selection process, two outstanding projects by Western Australian artists have been selected for residencies in Jambinu/Geraldton in 2026–27.
The selected artists are:
Marianne Penberthy will undertake a residency responding to the collection from her perspective as a person living with vision impairment. Marianne will re-imagine selected stories held within the Museum, translating them into new forms that activate other senses and offer alternative ways of experiencing the collection. Through her residency, Marianne aims to highlight the richness of non-visual ways of knowing and foster greater inclusivity in cultural spaces.
Yamaji Art / Nicole Monks will deliver a culturally-led residency focused on reconnecting with Yamaji cultural belongings and archival records held within the Western Australian Museum. The residency supports cultural authority, intergenerational knowledge sharing and community-led interpretation. The artists dedicate their residency to the late Dr Charmaine Papertalk Green-Smith, in recognition of her enduring cultural leadership and advocacy for Yamaji community.
This is the first time ART ON THE MOVE has partnered with the Museum of Geraldton to deliver the Activating Collections program. Artists are provided with up to $18,500 to undertake a significant creative research project in response to the museum collection, while engaging with the community through artist talks, workshops, or other public events.
ART ON THE MOVE Executive Director Ricky Arnold says “This is an exciting new partnership with the Museum of Geraldton, with rich collections and stories to be explored. A strong response to our call-out for artist research projects provided inspiring themes and explorations to work with. The exceptional response from local Mid-West artists showed the immense value those local artists place on the heritage of the area.”
“The commissioned projects range in scope, from re-connecting with lost, important cultural artefacts of the Yamaji people, to the individual responses and engagement processes for people with vision impairment. Immersion in the unique collections will create a springboard for exciting future cultural engagement.”
Museum of Geraldton Regional Manager Leigh O’Brien says “We are very excited to see how these research projects evolve as the artists engage with the WA Museum collections and their areas of interest, and also the opportunity to share these projects with the broader community.“
The 2026-27 Artists in Residence Program is made possible through the Regional Exhibition Touring Boost with support from the WA Government and delivered by ART ON THE MOVE.
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