TheLab @ UNSW EOI

Applications close 26 March: 11:59PM (AEDT)

 

About The Lab @ UNSW

After a hugely successful inaugural year of TheLab@UNSW, UNSW’s School of the Arts & Media is pleased to bring an expanded program back for 2026, in partnership with Sydney Fringe Festival.
TheLab@UNSW is an experimental performance hub housed in Studio One at the Esme Timbery Creative Practice Lab (CPL), showcasing interdisciplinary, experimental and innovative performance works by leading independent artists.

The 2026 season will feature two weeks of curated performances during Sydney Fringe, supported by structured development residencies and creative and production support through the Creative Practice Lab.

We are seeking:

  • Exciting and authentic experimental performance that demonstrates creative risk, curiosity and strong artistic intent
  • Artists who are emerging, mid-career, or senior
  • Works that demonstrate creative innovation and experimental approaches to making
  • Works that suit a festival model of presentation:
    • Shows must be under 60 minutes with no interval
    • The program will support 2 works per night in a shared billing with a 15-minute changeover between the shows
  • Performances that are suited to the technical and spatial parameters of Studio One at the Esme Timbery CPL
  • Please see Studio One technical specifications

Submissions will be assessed by a panel on artistic merit, innovation, and suitability for theLab@UNSW program. Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed before the final selection.

 

General Eligibility

The applicant must meet the following criteria before applying:

  • The applicant must be an Australian resident
  • The applicant must have a valid ABN
  • The applicant must be over the age of 18


The Opportunity 

A total of 4 new works will be selected for TheLab@UNSW 2026 program. Also on offer is 1 honorarium for a First Nations New Solo Work, and honorariums of up to $5000 for UNSW SAM Alumni.

All 4 new works will receive the following:
In Development

  • 2 x 1-week creative residencies at the Esme Timbery CPL to develop your project in situ
  • Access to the CPL props and costume stores, as well as other CPL resources where available.
  • Creative and dramaturgical support through the Creative Practice Lab, including access to the Designer in Residence, Artistic Coordinator, and the Creative Practice Lab production team.

In Presentation

  • Presentation in a curated 2-week season as part of TheLab@UNSW
  • In-kind venue hire of Studio One at the Esme Timbery Creative Practice Lab
  • Access to the standard Studio One tech set up, with basic lighting and AV.
  • A stage manager for your season
  • Front of House and bar staff for all performances
  • Waived Sydney Fringe registration fees
  • Artists will take 100% of the box office, minus internal standard Sydney Fringe ticketing fees.
  • Inclusion as a highlighted program within Sydney Fringe marketing

UNSW SAM Alumni Honorarium Opportunity

UNSW SAM Alumni may apply for an honorarium of up to $5,000 to support development and production costs of new work.

To be eligible for this, the applicant must have an UNSW SAM Alumni in the core creative team

Chris Mumbulla First Nations New Work

In addition to the core TheLab@UNSW program, UNSW School of the Arts & Media is offering the Chris Mumbulla First Nations New Work Honorarium – a residency supporting the development of a new solo performance work by a First Nations artist, culminating in a premiere at TheLab@UNSW as part of the 2026 Sydney Fringe Festival.

The selected artist will receive an honorarium of $6,000, structured as follows:

 

  • $2,000 for Residency 1
  • $2,000 for Residency 2
  • $2,000 allocated toward the production budget of the work

 

As part of the residency, the artist is expected to deliver one workshop for First Nations students during the season of the new work. UNSW SAM will organise for participating students to attend a performance.

The workshop is separate to the residency honorarium and this fee will be negotiated based on length, scale, and delivery requirements.

If you would like to chat about this specific opportunity, please feel free to reach out to:

Troy Reid, Production Assistant: UNSW Creative Practice Lab troy.reid@unsw.edu.au

Erica Brennan, First Nations Coordinator, Sydney Fringe: erica@sydneyfringe.com

Peta Joy Williams, First Nations Community Liaison, Sydney Fringe: petajoy@sydneyfringe.com

Contacts

For assistance with Eventotron, please contact artists@sydneyfringe.com.

If you want to talk about your application please contact:

Harriet Gillies, Artistic Coordinator: School of the Arts & Media, UNSW, h.gillies@unsw.edu.au

TheLab@UNSW 2026 EOI

Here you can read the full EOI for eligibility, selection criteria and program details.

Take a look

Apply Now!

Click through to our Eventotron application form

Previous Recipients

COSMIC VERTIGO (2025)
Shamstock (2025)
Jesus of Wollongong (2025)
STILL FALL (2025)
The Juliet Cycle (2025)

Sydney Fringe Festival is an open access festival which means anyone can choose to register a show.

 

We don’t gatekeep!

 

Our 2026 Artist Registrations are open 2 March to 30 March – so mark your calendars!