The Wandima Fellowship will return in 2026, offering a $20,000 professional development opportunity for an Indigenous creative practitioner.

Wandima is a Yuggera word meaning "rising or going upward", reflects a commitment to growth, elevation and deeper learning within a chosen field.

The Fellowship is supported by Queensland University of Technology and Brisbane Powerhouse and provides one outstanding Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander creative practitioner with a supported program of professional development, work experience and mentoring for up to one year.

Applicants can come from any area of arts practice, including artists, designers, directors, choreographers, musicians, actors and curators.

Arts administrators, producers, theatre technicians and production crew are also encouraged to apply.

Under the leadership of Brisbane Powerhouse's CEO and Artistic Director, and in consultation with its First Nations Advisor, the successful applicant will design a tailored program aligned to their goals. This may include internships or residencies at Brisbane Powerhouse, placements with other arts companies, creative development opportunities in Australia or internationally, and courses that build capacity and extend experience.

Funding can support travel, per diem living expenses, mentor fees excluding Brisbane Powerhouse staff, and structured placement or residency costs.

The Fellowship must be completed by 30 September 2026.

As part of the outcomes, the Wandima Fellow will undertake one engagement activity with QUT and deliver one public outcome with Brisbane Powerhouse, such as a performance, exhibition or speaking engagement.

'To have opportunities like this means the world to us'

Inaugural recipient, Wiradyuri woman, Nicole Reilly has used the Fellowship to develop her work-in-progress showing of ngurambang-giyalang (Home Belonging) on Country.

She described how the opportunity aligned with her practice.

"My supervisors at QUT really encouraged me to apply as I was talking about my on-Country project with them," she said.

"I'd recently wrapped up some nation rebuilding work with my mob out in Wagga Wagga, as part of our language reclamation practices, and I thought this opportunity was just perfect timing - even the name Wandima was in local mob language!

"The Fellowship has meant I have the capacity to create my performative work on and off Country, supported by both the practicality of having a creative fee involved and professional nurturing from the Brisbane Powerhouse team."

Ms Reilly said the funding has supported Wiradyuri creatives and knowledge-holders involved in the project.

"The fees are all going directly to Wiradyuri creatives and knowledge-holders, who are involved in an important work, discussing really deep linguistic concepts of Home and Belonging in our language," she said.

"The work is also about how it feels to bring your families home with you. To reconnect."

"To have opportunities like this, to be supported by Brisbane Powerhouse and QUT, means the world to us as we rebuild what was broken."

Applications for the 2026 Wandima Fellowship close on 1 March 2026.

Eligible applicants must be of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent and available to complete the program in 2026, with preference given to practitioners from Queensland and Northern New South Wales.

Expressions of interest must be submitted to Brisbane Powerhouse via programming@brisbanepowerhouse.org.