The Helen O'Sullivan Artist Fellowship

The Helen O’Sullivan Artist Fellowship is a new annual $25,000 fellowship that provides a woman artist with funds to develop and present new work through a Contemporary Art Organisations Australia (CAOA) Member institution.

The Fellowship is a focused, responsive nationwide annual program that will support the development of new work by contemporary women artists at a critical juncture of their career, whether they be emerging, mid-career or senior artists, and assist in the presentation and documentation of the work at a contemporary art space.

Helen O'Sullivan

Her Honour Helen O’Sullivan is a retired judge of the Queensland District Court. Helen began her career as a Junior Clerk in Toowoomba, prior to returning to school and graduating from a Bachelor of Commerce degree. Following her practice as a Senior Accountant in Perth, she graduated from a part-time Law degree and began practice as a Solicitor in Brisbane. In 1981, she was appointed Director of Continuing Legal Education at the Queensland Law Society, after which she commenced practice as a Barrister at the private bar. Helen was appointed to the District Court bench in 1991 and retired at the end of 2009. She famously declared herself ‘an unapologetic feminist’ at her swearing-in ceremony in April 1991. Originally reluctant to accept a judicial appointment, Helen eventually agreed, believing it to be the best pathway with potential to change the system.

Before accepting her judicial appointment, Helen acted as a duty lawyer for Legal Aid and as a volunteer at the Caxton Street Legal Service. She was a foundation member of the Women’s Legal Service and volunteer lawyer there for some years, and with Di Fingleton, she was the co-founder of the Financial Counselling Service. (via The Australian Women’s Register)

We are delighted that Helen’s championing of pro bono and community causes continues with Sheila and encouraged her to add her name to the Fellowship so that she is duly recognised for her support of Australian women artists.

The Fellowship Process

The Helen O’Sullivan Artist Fellowship, presented by Sheila Foundation, is an annual fellowship to support women artists with $25,000 to realise new work in exhibition with a CAOA member organisation.

CAOA member organisations are invited to nominate an artist from their forward program, whether in a group or solo show context, with an ambitious project to be realised with the funds. The artist may be emerging, mid-career or senior and must be an Australian resident and female-identifying.

The fellowship funds support:

  • Artist fees and direct financial support to enable the development of new work
  • Production and material costs associated with the creation of the commissioned work
  • Exhibition presentation costs through the host CAOA Member institution
  • Associated program delivery expenses to ensure the successful presentation of the Fellowship project

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