Vida Lahey Memorial Travelling Scholarship Trust

Giving Philosophy

The trust's giving philosophy is to honor the artistic achievements and the significance of travel in the life and art of prominent Queensland artist Vida Lahey by offering an extraordinary opportunity for young or emerging Australian artists and art historians to develop their practice or research through travel, thereby contributing to a broader understanding of Australian art.

Tips for Applicants

Applicants must be over 18 years, have recently undertaken visual arts studies or be art history graduates from a recognised tertiary institute, and be Australian citizens or permanent residents (up to age 50, though emerging artists of any age are eligible). Required application materials include: names and contact details of two referees; a current CV (max 2 pages); a detailed travel itinerary and budget for research (max 3 pages); and a personal statement (max 1 page) demonstrating how the travel will further practice/research and contribute to an understanding of Australian art. Applicants should demonstrate a sound understanding of Australian art history or contemporary art practice.

Programs & Opportunities (1)

Notable Grants

• $40,000 to Matthew Perkins (2015) for research into the history of video art in Australia.
• $40,000 to Sara Morawetz (2017) for artistic research and practice, including site-specific performances in France, Spain, and the UK.
• $40,000 to Valerie Keenan (2019) to research Carl Lumholtz's work with Indigenous communities in Far North Queensland, including travel to Norway.
• Two $20,000 scholarships (2021) for domestic travel; one for research on the herstory of women on the colonial frontier, and another on diverse and disparate histories of Australian LGBTQIA+ art.
• $40,000 to Shivanjani Lal (2023) for research into Australia's role in the history of Fijian indentured labour and printmaking residencies in Canberra, Queensland, Fiji, and Bangladesh.

Financial History (1 years)