Chrissie Cotter Gallery - Information for applications

Chrissie Cotter Gallery (CCG) is available as a free gallery space to emerging and established artists, curators, cultural workers and community organisations. Chrissie Cotter Gallery (CCG) was established in 1996 as a space for local artists and groups to share their work with the community. Across three decades, the gallery has become an important and much-loved fixture in the Sydney art scene.

In 2026, Chrissie Cotter Gallery celebrates its 30-year anniversary.

Application information

2026 EOI Guidelines

Chrissie Cotter Gallery 2026 - EOI Guidelines (PDF) (PDF 4.4MB)
Chrissie Cotter Gallery 2026 - EOI Guidelines (word) (DOCX 1.1MB)

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Aims

The program aims to:
• Provide a no-cost, commission-free venue for artist or community-run exhibitions
• Create professional development pathways and a public profile for emerging artists and curators
• Engage the local community and art lovers from across Sydney with a diverse showcase of contemporary Inner West visual arts practice.

The Gallery

Chrissie Cotter Gallery is located in the heart of the Inner West, on Pidcock Street within the Camperdown Park precinct—just four kilometres from Sydney’s city centre. Nestled in a residential area, the gallery sits between the Camperdown Commons and the local tennis courts.

The standard gallery opening hours during exhibitions are Thursday to Sunday, 11am–4pm. Artists may propose alternate hours or special event open times, subject to approval.

The gallery is a well-equipped, welcoming space featuring:
• A small kitchen
• Accessible toilet facilities
• An accessible lift
• Built-in projector and small sound system
• Hanging and lighting systems, and a ladder
• 5 plinths (various sizes)
• Approximately 17 square metres of hanging space across three walls (ceiling height 3.1 metres). You can view the floor plan below.
• Parquetry flooring throughout

The nearest train station is Newtown, approximately a 15-minute walk away, and the gallery is serviced by several local bus routes, including those along Parramatta Road and Missenden Road. Note that no Wi-Fi is available onsite.

Download: Chrissie Cotter Gallery Floorplan (PDF) (PDF 220KB)

Opportunity

Chrissie Cotter Gallery offers artists, curators, and community groups the chance to exhibit their work free of charge, with no commission on sales. The space is best suited to 2-dimensional works, small sculpture, and projections; however, artists are welcome to propose exhibitions across all mediums and forms of expression.

Successful Applicants will:
• Plan and install their own exhibition
• Open the gallery to the public, and man the gallery during opening hours
• Hold a public opening event at a time that best suits the artist.
• Pay a bond of $200 prior to the opening date of their exhibition
• Include Inner West Council logos on the event invitation, and all marketing material
• Be responsible for all costs associated with their show such as the opening, publicity, staffing, cleaning and security
• Only exhibit the work of artists included in the original submission, any changes must receive prior approval from IWC
• Keep sold artworks in the gallery for the duration of the exhibition
• Take out insurance to cover their own exhibition content if required.

Inner West Council will:
• Provide the gallery free of cost for a 3-week hire period, with no commission to be charged on artwork sales.
• Promote each exhibition on Council’s website and social media platforms
• Ensure the gallery and its equipment are clean, safe, and ready for use.
• Program a diverse and innovative range of exhibitions.
• Provide two parking permits for exhibiting artists.
• Enter into a hire agreement with each exhibitor outlining key dates and terms.
• Cover exhibiting artists for public liability under Council’s general insurance policy for the term of their licence. However, artists are responsible for insuring their own artwork and exhibition content if required.
• Provide a detailed user guide for the venue.

Exhibition Stipend

Artists may also apply for a limited number of stipends of $500–$1,000, which will be awarded by the assessment panel to support public programming and/or access initiatives.

These optional funds can be used to:
• Deliver public programs such as artist talks, workshops, or community-led events that extend audience engagement
• Support access needs of artists or audiences (e.g. access services or resources/materials that improve the accessibility of your exhibition).

Applicants must clearly outline how the stipend will be used and how it will increase community impact, access, or participation. Please note: stipend funding is not guaranteed and will be assessed as part of the application process. Successful recipients must provide a brief acquittal report.

Eligibility

Applications are welcome from early-career to established artists, curators, and cultural workers presenting solo, collaborative, or group exhibitions.

Inner West Council encourages submissions from a diverse range of creative practitioners, including people across spectrums of ability, age, cultural identity, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

To be eligible:
• Applicants must be over 18 years old
• Must be an Australian citizen or resident with valid working rights
• Applicants must have the skills and capacity to deliver their proposed exhibition
• Each individual or group may submit one application only
• Applications must be submitted online via SmartyGrants; late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted.

Applications are invited from those who:
• Live in the Inner West local government area
• Have a studio space in the Inner West
• Do not live or work locally but can demonstrate how their exhibition will contribute to the Inner West’s creative, artistic, or cultural life.

Assessment Criteria

Applications will be assessed by a panel of creative industry professionals, including Inner West Council staff and at least one external independent peer.

Successful applications will represent a range of art forms. All applications will be evaluated against the following criteria, with weightings applied:

1. Artistic and curatorial merit — the quality, integrity, and originality of the proposed exhibition concept (35% weight)

2. Professional development — how the exhibition will benefit the exhibiting artist(s) or curator(s) practice (20% weight)

3. Feasibility — demonstrated capacity to deliver the exhibition as proposed (10% weight)

4. Community engagement and benefit to the Inner West community (35% weight)
• Reflects the diverse cultural life of the Inner West community
• May be linked to local community events, such as NAIDOC Week, Mardi Gras.
• The inclusion of public programming such as workshops, classes, talks and events at the gallery during the period of the exhibition.

How to apply

Please read the guidelines above before submitting your application.

Applications must be submitted online via SmartyGrants:
https://innerwest.smartygrants.com.au/CCG2026

You’ll be asked to provide the following materials:
• A clear exhibition proposal outlining your creative vision and intent
• CVs or bios and images of work for all exhibiting artists or collaborators
• To apply for the optional $500–$1,000 stipend, you must also include:
- A short statement outlining how the funds will be used and how the stipend will support access, participation, or community impact
- A budget (income & expenditure) showing how the stipend will be allocated, and how much funding you require to complete the activity
- A draft schedule of any proposed public programming or access activity.

Applications close: 3pm Monday 1 September 2025 (AEST)

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Get in touch

If you have any questions or you are unable to complete the application form online contact:
• Amylia Harris via email amylia.harris@innerwest.nsw.gov.au or phone 9392 5702; or 
• Belinda Walter via email belinda.walter@innerwest.nsw.gov.au or phone 9392 5784.

Timeframe

Applications close on Monday 1 September 2025, 3pm (AEST). Applicants will be notified in October 2025. Successful applicants will be allocated a 3-week exhibition window, between 27 January 2026 - 7 December 2026.