The Neil Balnaves Fellowship
$80,000 fellowship launched in Mosman for artistic innovation
Mosman Art Gallery and The Balnaves Foundation are proud to announce the launch of The Neil Balnaves Fellowship; in honour of the late Neil Balnaves AO.
A major initiative providing $80,000 to support the development of a significant piece of research or creative endeavour over a one-year period. The winning project must engage with Mosman’s artistic heritage and/or The Balnaves Gift to be selected and will go on to be included in the Mosman Art Gallery program.
Applications open for six weeks from Monday 18 August 2025, with the first Fellowship to be awarded late 2025. A second Fellowship will be awarded in 2027 with application dates to be announced.
Open to artists, curators, historians and writers, the Fellowship encourages a range of projects to be submitted including artwork, exhibitions, research project or text. The Neil Balnaves Fellowship offers a unique and critical opportunity for creative practitioners to work closely alongside Mosman Art Gallery. Designed to deepen understanding of Mosman’s cultural legacy and contemporary discourse in the visual arts, the Fellowship supports works that are ambitious, thoughtful and resonate with locals.
Mosman Art Gallery Director, Steven Alderton said: “The Neil Balnaves Fellowship is an exciting opportunity to unite artist practitioners with the community of Mosman to celebrate its rich history and heritage.
Neil Balnaves was an extraordinary man, whose ongoing passion and contribution to the arts has greatly benefitted Australians. This Fellowship will continue his legacy, celebrating the suburb he called home for many years.”
CEO of The Balnaves Foundation, Hamish Balnaves said: “The Balnaves family and Foundation are proud to support Mosman Art Gallery in this new and exciting initiative, to showcase the impact of Mosman’s artistic culture.
As a long-term resident who greatly admired the area, Neil’s personal art collection showcased the natural beauty of Mosman. These works were later donated to the Gallery for the public to enjoy and this Fellowship builds on that gift by connecting it to Mosman’s heritage. It’s a tribute to my father’s passion for visual arts and his contributions to make art accessible to all.”
About The Balnaves Foundation
The Balnaves Foundation is a private philanthropic organisation established in 2006 by Neil Balnaves AO. The Foundation disperses $5 million annually to eligible organisations that aim to create a better Australia through education, medicine and the arts with a focus on young people, the disadvantaged and Indigenous Australia.
More information www.balnavesfoundation.com
About The Balnaves Gift
In 2010 Neil Balnvaes AO pledged a million dollars’ worth of paintings from his personal art collection to Mosman Art Gallery and the people of Mosman. The Balnaves Gift is unquestionably the most important donation ever to be received by Mosman Council featuring sixteen Australian Impressionist and early twentieth century artworks significant to the Mosman.
More information: mosmanartgallery.org.au/collections/balnaves-gift/
Before entering please ensure that you read the The Neil Balnaves Fellowship_Guidelines for Applicants_
Applications close Monday 29 September at 5pm.
Enquiries
Kelly McDonald, Senior Curator, Assistant Gallery Director
e: k.mcdonald@mosman.nsw.gov.au
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