From 2018–2023, the Aboriginal Artist Residence Program:

• Hosted five Tasmanian Aboriginal artists
• Supported approximately 85 nights of residency time on the West Coast
• Fostered culturally rich projects that engage with country, history, and community
• Strengthened relationships between Aboriginal artists and the West Coast region, contributing to ongoing cultural knowledge sharing and creative exchange.

DENNI – musician
Will Stackhouse – visual artist
Adam Thompson – writer
Kartanya Maynard – writer, actor and visual artist
Nathan Maynard – playwright

The Aboriginal Artist in Residence Program laid vital groundwork for affirming the cultural authority and creative leadership of Tasmanian Aboriginal artists within The Unconformity. This legacy continues through ongoing programming that includes Tasmanian Aboriginal and other First Nations artists and workers at every level, from creation to curation to delivery, and through continued work towards sovereign space for Aboriginal artwork and discussion through Palawa-curated initiatives. Supporting Palawa voices, stories, and creative practices remains central to the festival’s purpose and future.

The Unconformity Aboriginal Artist in Residence Program was supported through Arts Tasmania by the Minister for the Arts from 2018–2023.