Dr Polly Stanton is the 2025 Australian Antarctic Arts Fellow

Dr Polly Stanton is an artist and filmmaker. Her films and installations focus on contested sites and extractive zones, presenting landscape as a politically charged field of negotiation, entangled with history, technology and capital.

Polly will document and record the unique rhythms and dynamics of Antarctica’s remote landscapes and settlements through sound and moving image, creating a new large-scale audiovisual work and accompanying publication.

“I know for sure that travelling to Antarctica will push how I work both technically and creatively in such an extreme environment. I’m sure it won’t be easy, but I know it will be a life changing experience.”
— Polly Stanton

2023 Arts Fellow Leila Jeffreys will also travel with Polly to Casey station in Antarctica in November.

Leila is a contemporary artist working across photography, moving image and installation. She is best known for images of birds, photographed at human scale, that explore and subvert the conventions of portraiture.

Leila will research and photograph Antarctic birdlife for her forthcoming book Seabird – to be published by Thames & Hudson – with exhibitions of the work planned for Sydney and London. Her work is featured in two recently released Thames & Hudson photography titles, Aviary and Exposure.

“I hope to bring audiences closer to seabirds…not just as scientific subjects, but as sentient beings that reflect back something profound about ourselves and the world we share with them.”
— Lelia Jeffreys

The Arts Fellowship is supported by the Australian Antarctic Division, of the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW). The Arts Fellowship connects Australians with Antarctica and supports Australia’s implementation of the Antarctic Strategy and 20 Year Action Plan.

2026 Arts Fellowship ::
Expressions of Interest (EOI) Open 15 December  

The Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship is part of the Australian Antarctic Program and has been running since 1984, with additional support provided by ANAT since 2017. The Arts Fellowship aims to increase awareness and appreciation of Antarctica, the sub-Antarctic and the Southern Ocean.

As one of Australia’s most unique residency experiences, the Arts Fellowship enables artists and creative professionals to travel south to conduct research for the development of creative outcomes.

Communicating through various media including, but not limited to, visual arts, film, performance, writing and music, fellows share valuable insight to deepen understanding of the Antarctic region with Australian and international audiences.

ANAT supports Arts Fellows with $5000 towards their project.

Australian Antarctic Program
These fellowships are supported by the Australian Antarctic Division, of the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW). They aim to connect Australians with Antarctica and support Australia’s implementation of the Antarctic Strategy and 20 Year Action Plan.

MORE DETAILS
EOI Open 15 December 2025
EOI Close 1 February 2026

For more information about the Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship and how to apply please visit Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship – Australian Antarctic Program

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