RAV in Residence

We can tailor the program to suit your needs, but typically we facilitate the following events for your creative community:

• A series of private 1-on-1 meetings with RAV staff, made by reservation
• A Network & Nibble event for up to 30 creatives and partner guests
• A visit to a local venue who is interested in supporting the arts
• Optional: Facililate an information session on topics relevant to your community e.g. funding and grant advice, marketing 101 and more.

Example: RAV in Residence – Building Professional Materials in Yea, October 2025

We partnered with Yea Arts Inc and Murrindindi Shire Council to present RAV in Residence: Building Professional Materials on Saturday 18 October 2025, 10am to 4pm at Yea Wetlands Discovery Centre. The idea and theme for the day was initiated by Yea Arts who had worked on a series of professional development activities for artists throughout 2025.

Led by Amelia Walin (Senior Curator, LaTrobe Institute) with RAV CEO Jo Porter and Director, Communications and Engagement Kate Gerritsen, this special event dedicated to local creatives will take participants through the nuts and bolts of writing artist statements, developing artist CVs as well as learning how to approach galleries.

The event was free for artists and creative workers to attend and Murrindindi Shire Council contributed to the cost of running the day with funding contribution by Commonwealth Government and the Victorian Government under the Commonwealth State Disaster Funding Arrangement (DRFA). Yea Arts worked with RAV to coordinate the day and spread the word locally. 14 participants attended and left the session with personalised plans and ideas for gallery outreach.

At 6pm, participants were invited to join RAV staff and members at the Country Club Hotel for a RAV Member Meet-up, followed by NIUSIA at the Yea Butter Factory.

RAV will:

• Organise and conduct the sessions
• Market the event to our network (RAV Members will have the opportunity to make early bookings)
• Provide you with marketing material for promotion to your communities and networks
• Manage bookings
• Meet with a RAV Member Organisation in the local area (within the LGA if possible)
• Survey participants
• Send you an evaluation after the event so you are able to report on fulfilling strategic objectives.

The LGA to cover costs* such as:

• Venue hire of suitable meeting rooms and networking space
• Accommodation
• Catering
• Staff travel costs and time.

*Cost

The event can be themed to a specific genre, theme, venue or interest area. Average costs: $3,500 for one day (add $500 to include an additional neighboring Council collaborator), $4,500 for two day (add $500 to include an additional neighboring Council collaborator). Local Government Areas may like to collaborate with a neighboring LGA to access price efficiency!

Lead times

Detailed events with guest speakers and multiple venues take a little longer to coordinate, whereas single events with RAV Staff speakers need less lead time. Please get in touch to discuss your event as soon as possible as some events have a lead time of at least 2 months.

If you would like to have a conversation about how RAV in Residence will increase creative activity in your community, please contact Nell Ustundag, Membership Engagement Coordinator, 1300 882 531 or by email: [email protected]