Area School is a professional development program for Western Sydney emerging and mid-career artists and curators. Co-designed by Pari and Utp, Area School will comprise a series of programs running across 2026-27.

The first program is Area School: Study Tour, where a small cohort of Western Sydney artists and curators will travel to the 61st Venice Biennale. This is an opportunity for Western Sydney creatives to connect and engage with global conversations, as we collectively experience Western Sydney artist Khaled Sabsabi’s conference of one’s self at the Australia Pavilion curated by Michael Dagostino, and khalil in the main exhibition In Minor Keys curated by the late Koyo Kouoh.

The travel dates are 15-25 September 2026.

Submit Your Expressions of Interest Here
EOI closes on Sunday 19 July, 11:59pm

Notification Timeline
Shortlisted participants may receive a phone call to discuss their application between 23-24 July.
All participants will be notified about their application on the week of 27-31 July.

If you have any questions or would like to submit your application in a different format, please contact admin@utp.org.au

Watch this space for more Area School programs to unfold.

Study Tour Inclusions

We will cover participants’ return flights from Sydney to Venice, accommodation, travel insurance, local transport in Venice, activities during the study tour dates and an allowance of AUD$75 (~ EUR€45) per day. If you are selected, you will be expected to contribute to your own daily expenses if it exceeds this amount.

Eligibility

Emerging to mid-career artist or curator
From or living in Western Sydney
Aged 18 years and up as of 21 July 2026

We will prioritise First Nations, Culturally or Racially Marginalised, disabled, working class, trans, non-binary and/or gender diverse people.

Please see the sections below for more information.

Accessibility

  • We will work with participants to ensure our itinerary in Venice is accessible to all in the program.

  • Our accommodation will be shared apartments with multiple rooms on Lido Island. There are steps leading up to and inside one apartment block. Another apartment block is wheelchair accessible. If you require wheelchair accessible accommodation, please indicate in the Expression of Interest form.

  • We will be staying in Lido, the beachside island next to Venice Island. Lido is more spacious and has more modern accessibility options compared to Venice. For more information visit: https://www.visitlido.it/en/experiences/lido-without-barriers/

  • More than 70% of the city can be visited by wheelchair users in spite of bridges, stairs, cobblestones and narrow alleys that present mobility limitations. The main mode of transport is water bus with Vaporetto line 1 and 2 being the most accessible. Please see this link for more information: disabledaccessibletravel.com/venice-as-a-wheelchair-user

  • To learn more about accessibility at the Venice Biennale, please visit their webpage: labiennale.org/en/art/2026/accessible-biennale

Visa

  • For Australian citizens, no visa is required travelling to Italy for tourism, business, mission, invitation, study, or sporting event, who intend to stay for up to 90 days.

  • If you require a visa to enter Italy, please ensure you can organise this prior to travelling. Visa applications can be lodged no later than 15 calendar days before the start of the intended visit. For more information, visit the Italian Consulate’s webpage: conssydney.esteri.it/en/servizi-consolari-e-visti/servizi-per-il-cittadino-straniero/visti

This project is co-designed with Utp. This project is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW and the Neilson Foundation.
Pari is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW. Pari is assisted by the Visual Arts, Craft and Design Strategy, an initiative of the Australian, State and Territory Governments. Pari receives rental support from the City of Parramatta.
Utp is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW, Neilson Foundation and venue partner City of Canterbury Bankstown.